Praising God for His Protection

Friday was one of those days I will never want to relive!  A couple days prior, Katelyn came down with a typical cold (although her cough always sounded a little "barky"....little did we know that was our first sign of what was to come).  Craig and I both received a call at work from his parents, who were graciously baby-sitting that day, saying they were really worried about her.  Katelyn woke up from her nap wheezing and lethargic.  Craig raced to meet them, and I made a call to her pediatrician who informed me that we needed to go straight to Urgent Care since her breathing was compromised.  When I met up with Craig and Katelyn, I almost broke down.  She was so emotional (scared because she couldn't catch her breath), drenched in sweat and the most clingy I had ever seen her.  We spent the next three hours there, which consisted of a breathing treatment, a liquid steroid, and much observation.  She never "got over the hump", although was showing signs of improvement.  Unfortunately, she had a rebound affect to the medications she had taken and was worse than ever.  She was gasping for breath, experiencing retraction in her chest (majorly caving in with every breath), and scared to death.  In tears I had Craig run for help, and instantly we knew the staff was as afraid for her as we were.  They called an ambulance to transport her downtown to Devos Children's, started an IV in her little arm taped to a board for stabilization, and put her on oxygen.  I took my first ambulance ride, and couldn't stop praying and singing/humming "Jesus Loves Me".  We were so impressed with all of our staff/doctors that day, but especially with the ones assigned to us at Children's.  We were escorted to the "Elmo" room and had people constantly coming to see us so they could help our little one.  An incredible peace joined us there (thanks to so many who knew the situation and were already praying), and Craig and I both knew things were going to be okay.  Katelyn calmed down, was  given another breathing treatment and was spoiled with slurpies, and Sesame Street movies.  By 12 am, the doctor requested Katelyn take a walk around the hospital in her little gown, while her pulse-ox was monitored.  She did great, waving and saying hi to those who passed by.  We were released by 12:30 and home by 1am thanking the Lord for how the night had turned out.  It's moments like these when you realize that your children are not your own, you cannot be in control of all things, and that God created them and loves them and is the only one who in in charge in a moment like that.  We are thankful that he heard our prayers and provided such a quick healing for her.  She's been resting all weekend and every day is more herself.  That was a day we hope to never relive, but one that we will always remember.  We don't want to forget the reminders God spoke to both of us that day.