Oliver's Week
I wrote this post last week on my phone - uploaded pictures from my phone - and posted from my phone. I found out tonight...I never really posted. ARGH! Let's try again.
This has been a terrible week.
Rewind to last Friday. I picked O up from daycare and was informed he was really fussy and had rejected his afternoon bottle. His temperature was 99 under the arm.
This has been a terrible week.
And when I started typing this it was Tuesday and the week wasn't even close to over yet...I had no idea what the rest of the week was going to be like!
Rewind to last Friday. I picked O up from daycare and was informed he was really fussy and had rejected his afternoon bottle. His temperature was 99 under the arm.
Eh- I wasn't really worried. That night Andy had his fantasy football party and Eleanor went to open gym with a friend (woah - that felt weird to say!). Baby O and I were home alone. He rejected his evening bottle and wouldn't fall asleep. OK, clearly he was fighting something. I gave him some Tylenol and hoped for the best.
Well - we didn't have such a great night!
Saturday I was supposed to take the kids to Cedarburg with me so Andy could work on his "honey do" list...but we just wanted Oliver to chill out, so instead Andy sat on the couch most of the morning with a fussy baby. When I got home, I quickly relieved Andy - who went to do things with two arms...like eat lunch and shower! During my time with Oliver, I noticed his breathing seemed rapid and shallow. I took his temperature again and it was about 101/102 under the arm. After some back and forth we decided to call the nurse line. The on-call doctor recommended we go to Urgent Care.
So happy to have great neighbors! E went across the street, so Andy and I could both go to Urgent Care. We got in pretty quickly. Oliver's temperature was about 103 and the nurse noticed he was having chest retractions. He was wheezing with his breathing and there was a rattle in his lungs.
He was diagnosed with Bronchiolitis, which is caused by a virus RSV. You've probably had Bronchiolitis and/or RSV. You might even have it now. As an adult, it's called a cold. To a small child, it's something worse. And to an infant, it's horrible. The virus settles in the bronchioles, chasing difficulty breathing...a function critical to life survival!
Oh...and he had an ear infection!
They did a very deep nose suction to break up and extract the mucus. I mean the stuck the tube the length between Oliver's mouth and ear down his nose! It hurt to watch. And then they did a nebulizer treatment of albuteral. Oliver actually didn't mind the treatment and fell asleep...but mom and dad had a tough time watching.
We were sent home with a prescription for amoxicillin for the ear infection and some tips for how to survive Bronchialitis...including "Call 9-1-1 if your child's fingers turn blue." Awesome...it was a long night with Oliver and neither Andy nor I got much sleep.
On Sunday my parents came over for the Packef game and Oliver really seemed to be feeling a little better in the afternoon...he even gave us a smile or two. We had been keeping him pretty full of Tylenol, so we were hoping for the best. Regardless, Andy and I decided to go into the night with a plan. Lucky for us - my mom was spending the night and became part of our plan. Diane stayed up with Oliver from 8 - 10. Andy took the 10 to 2 AM shift and I took the 2 AM to 6 AM shift.
Sure, Oliver slept occasionally, but he was really restless and needed to stay in an upright position or the pressure from his ear, combined with the drainage down his throat, combined with the labored breathing, would cause him to wake up in a fit.
Diane was spending the night because Eleanor had off on Monday and we had planned to take the train to Chicago with Eleanor and go to the American Girl store. Andy convinced me to still go (more on that later - I want each kid to get their own post!). Andy's mom came and spent the day with Oliver so Andy could go to work and we could still take E to Chicago. Oliver did "OK" during day, but started rapidly declining as the day went on. We decided that my mom would come back out on Tuesday so that we could both work. THANK GOD for retired parents!
On Monday night Andy took the 8 to 1 shift and I was going to take the 1 - 6 shift. This would allow us both another 5 hours of sleep. Whatever happened on your shift was yours to deal with. The goal was to let the other sleep. Well my shift was HORRIBLE. Oliver didn't eat at all. The last time he had eaten was Monday at around 4 and it was 1 ounce. His breathing was very rapid at this point too. We were told that 60 breaths in 1 minute was time to take him to the ER. Oliver was averaging 50 and once I counted 54. I knew I was over tired and panic was starting to sink in, so I waited until Andy woke up to talk to him about calling the Nurse Line again. Oliver hadn't eaten in almost 18 hours and was feeling incredibly limp in my arms. His breathing was quickening and his "retractions" were getting deeper. Our ped. was the on-call that morning and suggested we come in that morning.
When we got to the clinic Dr. D listened to our story, listened to Oliver and felt that he - indeed - was getting worse. They gave him another treatment of albuterol and listened to his lungs. Dr. D also brought in Dr. Z for a "second opinion" of sorts. Oliver was right on the line of being sent to Children's but the docs were going to do everything they could to prevent that from happening. At this point none of us had slept. Oliver hadn't eaten. He couldn't breathe and Dr. D was saying things like the "The next 24 hours are critical". At this point, honestly, Andy and I just wanted to go to Children's. We wanted him on an IV for fluids. We wanted him constantly hooked up to a pulse-ox machine so we could tell immediately if his breathing was too quick.
In the end we were told to watch him closely. We were reminded that Bronchiolitis was very predictable and day 3 - 6 were the worst. If he really came down with this on Friday, then we were on day 5. We were told to come back tomorrow. And of course to call if anything changed. To help with the dehydration, we were told to give him a 1/2 and 1/2 mixture of Pedialyte and formula/breast milk.
When we got home we gave Oliver 1 oz of a formula/Pedialyte mixture and he gobbled it down. My mom encouraged that, rather than going right into work, I would only benefit the entire family if I got some sleep. Andy too. So we went upstairs and napped for 2 hours. So did Oliver. Andy and I both went into work for awhile and Oliver continued to nap and sip Pedialyte/formula cocktails. Imagine! Never eating anything but breastmilk and formula and then in the matter of a few days getting bubble gum flavored amoxicillin, grape flavored Tylenol and grape flavored Pedialyte. I swear my child has been ruined!
We decided that my mom would come back out AGAIN on Wednesday - because she couldn't come out any other day that week. Oliver was almost a different baby late that afternoon/evening. It's amazing what a little hydration can do for a kid! That night, we continued our 5 hour split shifts. With each of us getting an additional 45 minutes or so during our shift.
Wednesday we were back at the doctor's. However, we were both feel little more hopeful than the day before. Exhausted, but hopeful! Dr D was off on Wednesday and so we saw Dr. Z. He said Oliver's lungs still sounded horrible, but that his retractions were less obvious and his breathing was much more regular. He felt comfortable that we had "bottomed out" and that we were beginning our slow climb back. He assured us it would be a slow climb and that Bronchiolitis really just knocked it all out of a kid!
Grandma spent one more day with Oliver and that night we all agreed that he was seemingly in much better spirits!
Wednesday night we stuck with our 5 hour shifts. Oliver was still doing Pedialyte cocktails, on a regular routine of Tylenol and was still just a little uncomfortable. However, Andy was able to get Oliver to sleep in his crib for about 1.5 hours. That's 1.5 hours with his cool mist vaporizer, which could only help his congestion!
Thursday Grandpa Bach got to spend the day with Oliver! I just think that's SO special. Something about a Grandpa spending the day with his sick grandson! Oliver was on the upclimb and even had some straight formula. That night, Andy put Oliver to bed in his crib and climbed into bed in the extra bedroom! We stuck to our 5 and 5...but given Oliver's sleep pattern, Andy didn't come get me until 4 AM!!!!
Friday Oliver woke up very congested, yet with a runny nose. Perhaps an entire night with the cool mist is starting to break all that up! Oliver spent one more day at home with Grandma Rindt, Aunt Sara and cousins. He took some good naps, had some good laughs and ate a 4 oz straight formula bottle.
1 week ago this entire debacle started.
1 week ago I had no idea we were in for the week from hell.
I literally started typing this post on Tuesday and it has taken me until Friday to get it finished.
I barely know my name - Our house is a disaster - and we are beat! Andy sounds horrible (but insists he doesn't feel as bad as he sounds) and I feel that achy feeling starting to sink in. We will both be in bed soon...but for now...we are going to sit on the couch next to each other for the first time since last Thursday!
We have very few plans this weekend and are looking forward to some more recovery and hopefully some naps! I don't know how people with very sick children do it. This was one week of uncertainty. One week of watching my poor baby. One week of sleepless nights. I just can't imagine. My heart breaks for families that deal with this on a regular basis and I'm SO SO thankful that our little guy is slowly getting back to his happy, smiley self.
Thanks for all the text messages, thoughts and prayers. This parenting thing....oy! It's tough!
Sure, Oliver slept occasionally, but he was really restless and needed to stay in an upright position or the pressure from his ear, combined with the drainage down his throat, combined with the labored breathing, would cause him to wake up in a fit.
Diane was spending the night because Eleanor had off on Monday and we had planned to take the train to Chicago with Eleanor and go to the American Girl store. Andy convinced me to still go (more on that later - I want each kid to get their own post!). Andy's mom came and spent the day with Oliver so Andy could go to work and we could still take E to Chicago. Oliver did "OK" during day, but started rapidly declining as the day went on. We decided that my mom would come back out on Tuesday so that we could both work. THANK GOD for retired parents!
On Monday night Andy took the 8 to 1 shift and I was going to take the 1 - 6 shift. This would allow us both another 5 hours of sleep. Whatever happened on your shift was yours to deal with. The goal was to let the other sleep. Well my shift was HORRIBLE. Oliver didn't eat at all. The last time he had eaten was Monday at around 4 and it was 1 ounce. His breathing was very rapid at this point too. We were told that 60 breaths in 1 minute was time to take him to the ER. Oliver was averaging 50 and once I counted 54. I knew I was over tired and panic was starting to sink in, so I waited until Andy woke up to talk to him about calling the Nurse Line again. Oliver hadn't eaten in almost 18 hours and was feeling incredibly limp in my arms. His breathing was quickening and his "retractions" were getting deeper. Our ped. was the on-call that morning and suggested we come in that morning.
When we got to the clinic Dr. D listened to our story, listened to Oliver and felt that he - indeed - was getting worse. They gave him another treatment of albuterol and listened to his lungs. Dr. D also brought in Dr. Z for a "second opinion" of sorts. Oliver was right on the line of being sent to Children's but the docs were going to do everything they could to prevent that from happening. At this point none of us had slept. Oliver hadn't eaten. He couldn't breathe and Dr. D was saying things like the "The next 24 hours are critical". At this point, honestly, Andy and I just wanted to go to Children's. We wanted him on an IV for fluids. We wanted him constantly hooked up to a pulse-ox machine so we could tell immediately if his breathing was too quick.
In the end we were told to watch him closely. We were reminded that Bronchiolitis was very predictable and day 3 - 6 were the worst. If he really came down with this on Friday, then we were on day 5. We were told to come back tomorrow. And of course to call if anything changed. To help with the dehydration, we were told to give him a 1/2 and 1/2 mixture of Pedialyte and formula/breast milk.
When we got home we gave Oliver 1 oz of a formula/Pedialyte mixture and he gobbled it down. My mom encouraged that, rather than going right into work, I would only benefit the entire family if I got some sleep. Andy too. So we went upstairs and napped for 2 hours. So did Oliver. Andy and I both went into work for awhile and Oliver continued to nap and sip Pedialyte/formula cocktails. Imagine! Never eating anything but breastmilk and formula and then in the matter of a few days getting bubble gum flavored amoxicillin, grape flavored Tylenol and grape flavored Pedialyte. I swear my child has been ruined!
We decided that my mom would come back out AGAIN on Wednesday - because she couldn't come out any other day that week. Oliver was almost a different baby late that afternoon/evening. It's amazing what a little hydration can do for a kid! That night, we continued our 5 hour split shifts. With each of us getting an additional 45 minutes or so during our shift.
Wednesday we were back at the doctor's. However, we were both feel little more hopeful than the day before. Exhausted, but hopeful! Dr D was off on Wednesday and so we saw Dr. Z. He said Oliver's lungs still sounded horrible, but that his retractions were less obvious and his breathing was much more regular. He felt comfortable that we had "bottomed out" and that we were beginning our slow climb back. He assured us it would be a slow climb and that Bronchiolitis really just knocked it all out of a kid!
Grandma spent one more day with Oliver and that night we all agreed that he was seemingly in much better spirits!
Wednesday night we stuck with our 5 hour shifts. Oliver was still doing Pedialyte cocktails, on a regular routine of Tylenol and was still just a little uncomfortable. However, Andy was able to get Oliver to sleep in his crib for about 1.5 hours. That's 1.5 hours with his cool mist vaporizer, which could only help his congestion!
Thursday Grandpa Bach got to spend the day with Oliver! I just think that's SO special. Something about a Grandpa spending the day with his sick grandson! Oliver was on the upclimb and even had some straight formula. That night, Andy put Oliver to bed in his crib and climbed into bed in the extra bedroom! We stuck to our 5 and 5...but given Oliver's sleep pattern, Andy didn't come get me until 4 AM!!!!
Friday Oliver woke up very congested, yet with a runny nose. Perhaps an entire night with the cool mist is starting to break all that up! Oliver spent one more day at home with Grandma Rindt, Aunt Sara and cousins. He took some good naps, had some good laughs and ate a 4 oz straight formula bottle.
1 week ago this entire debacle started.
1 week ago I had no idea we were in for the week from hell.
I literally started typing this post on Tuesday and it has taken me until Friday to get it finished.
I barely know my name - Our house is a disaster - and we are beat! Andy sounds horrible (but insists he doesn't feel as bad as he sounds) and I feel that achy feeling starting to sink in. We will both be in bed soon...but for now...we are going to sit on the couch next to each other for the first time since last Thursday!
We have very few plans this weekend and are looking forward to some more recovery and hopefully some naps! I don't know how people with very sick children do it. This was one week of uncertainty. One week of watching my poor baby. One week of sleepless nights. I just can't imagine. My heart breaks for families that deal with this on a regular basis and I'm SO SO thankful that our little guy is slowly getting back to his happy, smiley self.
Thanks for all the text messages, thoughts and prayers. This parenting thing....oy! It's tough!
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