With her parents there to care for her Heidi seemed to liven up for the first day or so. Rick had been the only to leave the hospital, and then only long enough to get things from the house which Evelyn requested. Another such journey was underway, and as Evelyn made out a list for him, of things to get from Heidi�s room, Rick sat in bed with his daughter gently wiping her nose. �And when I return, I�ll bring Isabella with me,� Rick said as he put his handkerchief down on the bedside table, then gently slipped her oxygen mask back over her little face.
Having the mask over her face was not something Heidi liked, and she managed to remove it. �No face,� she said as she coughed and gasped for air. Rick put his left hand behind her back, and gently pushed her to sit more upright. With his free hand he guided the mask back over her nose and mouth, and waited until she settled down again before easing her back against the pillow.
�Icky face,� Heidi said in a pouty tone, as she rested her left cheek against his chest.
Rick knew she wasn�t fond of her oxygen mask, but also knew the doctors felt it important for her to wear it so she didn�t have to work as hard to breath. He gave her a gentle squeeze as Evelyn came with her list.
�I think that is most of what we will need for the next few days,� Evie said as she handed the paper to her husband, looking at their baby. When Rick got up she took his place next to Heidi, taking the book of children�s stories from the bedside table, then began to read the story of The Ugly Duckling.
~*~
On the home front, Jonathan was once again in charge, but only had Alex to look after. He was worried about his young nephew, because Alex wasn�t his usual active self. Since their arrival home, Rick and Evelyn had focused their time and energy on Heidi, and while Jonathan understood that, he also knew that Alex needed the love of both of his parents. The only problem was, Jonathan didn�t know how to tell them they were neglecting their oldest child.
In the Parlor he found Alex looking at a catalog. Jonathan stood at the bottom of the steps for a little bit then walked over to where Alex was sitting close to the fire place on one of the burgundy couches. �What do you have there partner?� Jonathan asked as he took a seat on the left side of his nephew.
�Just one of mum�s catalogs,� he said as he shut it, and put it down on his free side.
�See anything in there worth purchasing?� Jonathan asked, willing to get him something in order to see a smile on his nephew�s face.
�Not really. I think I�ll have a walk,� he said not much in the mood for any conversation. He left Jonathan sitting alone and at the front door as he was putting on his shoes, his father walked in. �Hey dad, I thought maybe we could...� Alex was cut off as Rick took off his coat and left the Foyer to get what was on their list.
He was so focused on Heidi that he didn�t know the hurt he was causing his little boy.
Angered and tired of being neglected Alex left to see his best friend, hoping that with her he could just forget everything and have a good time.
~*~
The worst part about staying in the hospital was how often the nurses came to check on her daughter. Evelyn knew they needed to monitor her health, but she didn�t understand how Heidi could get any decent amount of sleep with their visits every hour. Now she held her distraught daughter trying to soothe her, after getting yet another needle prodded into her.
�Bad lady,� Heidi sobbed against her mother�s left shoulder.
�Shh, they didn�t mean to make you hurt my angel,� Evelyn said as she sat down in the rocking chair.
Tired, and feeling miserable Heidi continued to cry until she was asleep. As Evelyn stood up to put her in bed, Dr. Stanley came in, and Evie sighed. �Couldn�t you come see my daughter with your nurses?� she asked as she sat down on the bed cradling her daughter in her arms so that the doctor could see Heidi.
Dr. Stanley listened to her breathing without rousing her, then had Evie unbutton her nightgown so he could get her temperature, again without waking her. When he finished he wrote some things down on a pad of paper, then looked at Evelyn. �The infection is still present in both lungs,� he said. �We just need to keep doing what we are. Unfortunately aside from the injections of penicillin and the oxygen there isn�t much else to be done,� he said as he got ready to see his next patient.
All Evie could do was nod her head, and once he was gone, and once Heidi was in bed covered by blankets she had Rick bring from home, the young mother sat down in the rocking chair shutting her eyes. They had been lucky with Alex. He had gotten the occasional cold, and one or two nasty viruses, but for the most part he was a healthy little boy.
Evelyn dosed off, and the next thing she knew her daughter was screaming, and that sent her to Heidi�s side as the nurse prepared to take her temperature. �Can�t you be more gentle?� she asked as she pushed the nurse out of the way. She took the thermometer from the young nurse then settled beside her baby, and after a few moments Heidi was once again calm allowing her momma to hold the thermometer under her arm.
As she finished, Rick came with a suitcase, and after setting it down, he walked over to the bed. �How is she doing?� he asked noticing that Heidi was asleep.
Evie kissed her daughter�s soft forehead then looked up at her husband. �Dr. Stanley say�s her lungs are still full of infection, and her fever has risen. I just want her to be well Rick. She should be playing with her babies, not lying in this bed.�
Taking Evie�s hands in his Rick pulled her to her feet then into his arms. �We�ll get her through this Evie,� he said, as he kissed her lips then led her over to the couch. �Why don�t you get some sleep?� he asked as they sat down.
�How can I when she is so fragile?� Evie asked, though even as she said that, she yawned, and rested her head against his left shoulder. �Perhaps we should take her home.�
~*~
Megan�s house was a two mile walk through the woods, and Alex was glad to find his best friend home. In her room they sat listening to a new record her father had gotten for her while away in France.
�It has a more lively tune then most of the music they play on the Radio,� Alex said as she turned off her phonograph.
�I know I rather fancy French tunes,� she replied as she plopped down on her bed noticing his grin. �You make fun of me one more time today and I�ll deck you one,� Megan said. To make certain he understood her, she held up her left hand, balling it up in a fist.
�All right, you don�t have to get so huffy,� he said as he got up and walked over to her desk. �I�m bored. Why don�t we go into town?� he asked, feeling in the mood to get into some mischief.
Megan eyed him. �Are you out of your mind? Don�t you remember the last time we did that? We got caught and we both got spanked for it.�
He sat down at her desk. �I can guarantee that we won�t this time. My parents are busy with Heidi, and Your dad is off on business. My Uncle is likely asleep, so we should just get our bikes and be off to town,� he said.
Not wanting Alex to go on his own, and hoping that this one time they would not get caught, she agreed to go with him. After telling Nanny Catherine that she was going to spend the day with her best friend, the two of them got her bike from out of the shed then headed to Alex�s to get his bike, and then have a nice adventure.
~*~
By riding their bikes, the journey into to town took thirty minutes. Once in town the two headed to Mr. Grinsby�s Toy store. Neither of them cared that they were practically teenagers, nor did most of the kids who visited that place.
Mr. Grinsby made all the toys on his own time, and had a vast array of interesting things for people to see. On display he had a working train set, with two trains that went around a huge track. He had set up on a table a hand carved Ferris Wheel that moved on it�s own. On a thin string hanging a little down from the cieling was a man on a motorized bike which went back and forth. Those things Mr. Grinsby kept for his patrons. On the several shelves in his shop were various wooden toys, all of which he let children play with.
For a while Alex and Megan watched the displayed items, then when hunger pains hit they decided to go to a sweet shop close by, and get some candy and some sodas for on the way back to Alex�s house.
~*~
Toward dinner Rick decided it best if he go home and eat with Jonathan and Alex. Heidi had taken a most of the soup Evelyn offered her, and finished a full cup of juice. Their baby was now asleep in her mother�s arms as Evelyn rocked her, and once Rick had his shoes put on, he walked over to them. �I�ll see about bringing Alex by after we eat so you can see him,� Rick said softly.
�That is precisely the reason I want to move her to the house, so that we can be there for both of our children,� Evie said as she accepted one of his kisses.
�We�ll see what we can do tomorrow,� he reassured. Then after another kiss to both his wife and his daughter Rick left to be with his son.
~*~
Amazingly Megan and Alex managed not to get caught going to town or getting back to his house. They were both listening to one of Jonathan�s stories about life in Egypt when Rick walked in to the Parlor looking like a zombie.
�Dad,� Alex said as he ran to his father and gave him a hug. Usually he avoided any displays of affection, but these past few days he had missed both of his parents.
Rick returned the hug and ruffled Alex�s hair. �I�ve missed seeing you,� Rick said as Alex moved away from him.
�Me too. Is Heidi better?� he asked, hoping that were so.
�She�s been more active since your mum and I got there, but Doc still says she has infection in both of her lungs. Hi Megan,� Rick said noticing her gathering her things.
Jonathan noticed too. �I�ll drive you home if you want me too,� he offered.
�But my bike is here,� she said.
�Alex and I will put it in our shed for it to stay until you can get it back to your house,� Rick said.
Once his friend was gone, Alex went with his father to the kitchen where Marie was serving up a hearty helping of beef stew. Both of them sat down at the table and Marie served them the stew with bread fresh from the oven. �How is Heidi fairing?� Marie asked as she brought them their drinks.
�Not as well as we want,� Rick resplied as he started on his meal. �Marie would you mind fixing some of this for Evelyn?�
She smiled at him. �I would be happy to do so,� she replied leaving the two O�Connell men to themselves.
�Why can�t Heidi just get better? I mean I�ve had colds before and it�s the pits but I eventually get better,� Alex said not really understanding the complexity of pneumonia.
Rick realized he was eating too fast, and slowed down a little. After swallowing the food he had in his mouth he answered Alex as best he could. �What Heidi has is worse than when you get a cold. She has an infection in her lungs, which makes it hard for her to breath, and it�s not as easy to treat as a cold. Your sister is strong though, and I imagine in a few more days she should be doing better.�
Once they were ready Rick told Marie to send Jonathan to the hospital in a couple of hours, thus giving Alex time to spend with Evelyn, then the two of them left for the Hospital
~*~
A new problem arose that night after Alex�s visit. Heidi started to have horrible coughing fits, and nothing helped to soothe the tickle in her throat. On top of that her fever rose to 102.1, and once again they had to use towels soaked in ice water to wipe over her arms and her legs.
Heidi fought for the first few minutes then simply cried as her parents worked to get her fever to go down. Her little cheeks were flush from the heat, and that along with her crying made it difficult to breath even with her oxygen mask on.
Around five that morning, Nurse Frances came to check Heidi�s temperature and found that it was down, but not enough to please her. She left Rick and Evelyn to continue to wipe the small girl�s arms and legs, not telling them what they wanted to know, which was what was happening.
Close to Heidi�s bed, Rick dipped the towel they were keeping on her forehead into the cold water, then rung it out. He stifled a yawn as he walked back to the bed and noticed how tired Evie looked. �Do you want to lay down, just until Doc comes in?� he asked.
Evie merely nodded her head, letting him have the wash cloth she was using for Heidi, then walked over to the sofa at the end of the bed against the far wall. As soon as she was laying down, sleep found her, and for that Rick was grateful.
After putting the cold towel on Heidi�s fevered head, Rick got two washcloths wet then started to rub one up and down her left arm while wrapping the other around her right wrist. Heidi�s labored breathing filled the room and Rick noticed that her tiny lips were cracked due to her breathing from her mouth.
He slipped the oxygen mask off of her face, and pressed the cool cloth to her parched lips, then put the mask back on her, and continued to rub her arms and legs with the cool cloths.
When Dr. Stanley arrived, Rick left his baby to wake Evelyn, thankful that Doc was willing to wait for them before examining their little girl. �Evie, Doc�s here,� Rick said as he knelt beside the couch stroking his right hand against her cheek.
Evelyn opened her eyes, and let Rick help her to her feet then the two of them walked to the bed. Dr. Stanley was already taking Heidi�s temperature, placing the thermometer under her arm, and was listening to her chest. �I need to sit her up,� he said as he moved away from her reading the thermometer.
That movement woke her, and she cried and coughed as Dr. Stanley tapped on her back then listened to her breathing. When he finished Evie got a clean nappy put on her then lay next to her holding her so she sat practically upright. While holding her, Evelyn felt how warm her body was, and wished there were some magic incantation they could say to make her better.
�Her lungs are completely filled with fluid, which is why she has such a high fever. I�ll give her another injection of penicillin, and will start her on three a day instead of two,� he said as he nodded for Nurse Frances to proceed.
For the shot, Rick held Heidi over his lap on her belly as she screamed, and he let his own tears fall as the shot was administered to her. Once it was over he lifted her against his chest then stood up as Evelyn followed him to the rocking chair with her oxygen mask, and the canister. �I�m sorry baby,� Rick said as he sat down. She continued to cry and cough while Evelyn wiped her face and nose then put her oxygen mask on her.
Nurse Frances came back in the room with two bottles, one of baby aspirin, another of a powerful cough syrup. The aspirin was easy to get Heidi to take, the cough medicine was another battle after which Heidi fell asleep against her father�s shoulder, worn out from being sick and having to be poked and prodded.
~*~
Later that morning, Evelyn and Rick decided Heidi would go home. They both knew how to take her temperature, and as for giving her shots, they hired a nurse to go with them, and help out. When they told Dr. Stanley their decision he was less than supportive.
�Do you not realize the risk you take by having her outside in the chilly air? You will lose her if you do such a thing,� he said as Evelyn packed Heidi�s things.
�We have taken that into consideration, and my wife and I feel that having her home will be better for her. We have a nurse coming to stay with us until she is better.
There was nothing the doctor could do to get them to stay at the hospital with her, and once he realized he wasn�t going to convince them to keep her there, he wrote up a prescription for the cough medicine, and gave it to him. �Keep her covered up when you take her outside and try to get her indoors as fast as you can,� he said. �I�ll be by every few hours to see how she is fairing.� He gathered his things then left.
As Evelyn was finishing getting Heidi dressed for home, Jonathan came in to the room. �I have the car waiting in front of the hospital,� he said as he grabbed a suitcase.
Rick nodded his head and got the oxygen unit, then followed Jonathan out of the room with Evelyn and Nurse Frances following behind them. �Did you get a fire started in her room?� Rick asked as they walked down the hall.
�All nice and toasty. Maggie was by to clean and said she will help out as far as that is concerned,� he added as they got on the lift to go down to the first floor of the hospital.
In his car, Rick got everything loaded in the floor of the backseat, then went back inside the hospital gently taking Heidi from Evie�s arms so she could put her coat on. It was quite chilly outside, and it looked like it was going to rain. Rick only hoped that it would hold off until they got Heidi safe inside the house. Once they were all in the car, Jonathan pulled out onto busy street, then headed to the manor, hoping that Heidi would get better soon.