Our road to Children's Hospital: In the ER...
If our time at the pediatrician flashes before my eyes like movie stills...then our time in the ER races through my head like the movie is on fast-forwarded. It's a jumbled mess with everything happening at once.
You most likely are aware that Children's is a teaching hospital, so when you tell your story once, be prepared to tell it a million times. Each person makes an introduction providing name and "job title", but heck if I absorbed any of them! They all could have been the custodial staff for all I know.
There is one Dr. we see frequently - let's call her Dr. Smith and then the like high level Dr who checks in occasionally, let's call her Dr. M...because that was her name, but I can't remember the rest.
Anyway - The first thing that happened in the ER was another albuterol nebulizer. I remember Andy looking at me and saying, "Should I do it?" referring to taking a picture...I told him sure - why not. For some reason, we'll want to remember this evening...Looking at this picture now breaks my heart. Looking at Oliver here, literally makes my heart hurt. He can't even open his eyes. He can't hold himself up. And I can hear his breathing in my head still now...
After listening to his lungs pre and post nebulizer, they decided to do a chest x-ray to either confirm or rule out pneumonia as well. Andy mentioned he thought it could be pneumonia...funny, because I never once thought of it.
On the walk to the x-ray room, the medical staff prepped us for how difficult it would be to watch Oliver get these xrays. They stripped him down to his diaper, strapped him into a little chair, strapped his head back and his arms up. Kind of like he was riding the world's worst rollercoaster. But they moved FAST! For the front xrays he faced Andy - Andy's arms were up in the air just like Oliver's and he was laughing and saying "WEEEEEEE". I was crying behind him. Then they rotated him quickly for a side shot and it was my turn to step it up. Arms up - big smile - trying to show my baby boy there was nothing to be scared of. As one tech rushed to unstrap Oliver from the chair, the other rushed to unstrap my vest and pull it off me. As they were handing Oliver into the safety of momma's arms, somehow they dressed him back in his gown and draped his blue blanket back over him. Oliver gripped on to me. I mean - these people are good! They "torture" the tiny humans and then rush to put them back together and into the one place they feel comfortable. Their job sucks. Thank God for them!
Little did I know - the worst job ever was yet to come.
Once xrays were done, it was time to get the IV in Oliver so we could start fluids. We were well past 24 hours since Oliver had eaten anything and he hadn't really drank anything either. As we prepared for the IV, I remembered the EMT prepping me for how hard it would be watch Oliver getting an IV. He said even as a professional, it was hard to do it. And Oliver was extremely dehydrated, so his veins were flat and difficult to find.
The nurse gave Oliver a numbing spray that popped like an exploded can of soda. It scared him and then he screamed as the stuck the needle in and tried to get a blood return. Nothing. But when they pulled the needle out, blood spouted out! They tried again...nothing. So they moved to the other arm. Nothing. Something about ballooning and "door traps". I don't fully know. But I guess when you are really sick and dehydrated your veins can respond like this. I know SEVERAL nurses (actually an obscene amount!) who are probably reading this and understanding what I'm trying to say. They also are probably laughing at my misinterpretation and weird explanation...but this is the way an overwhelmed momma heard it. 3 times they stuck Oliver - with 2 different types of numbing spray - and wiggled the needle around.
At some point a family care member joined our room - she had bubbles and light up spinny things - books and toys. Anything to distract Oliver who was just screaming. This is also when I knew things were bad with Oliver because no tears were coming out and his lips were dry and cracking. Even the inside of his mouth seemed dry.
Finally I yelled "Enough"!! You have to give him a break. He was screaming, I was bawling. And nothing was working. They brought in an IV Tech and warned us that they were going to try giving Oliver his IV without the numbing spray. Sometimes that flattened the veins even more. I also had Andy take Oliver at this time. Sitting on my lap was not helping anything. I couldn't keep myself calm enough and he felt that. Dad can stay calm A LOT better than mom can. 4th time was a charm. They got Oliver's IV into the crook of his arm, took the blood samples they needed and then started the IV fluids.
Somewhere during this time, they also swabbed his nose for 4 different tests. And I don't mean like the tip of his nose - like stick a cotton swab way up there. Oliver screamed.
And then it was all over. The lights got turned down, we wrapped our baby close as can be. We shushed, we hummed, and we sang quietly. We willed away every doctor and nurse for 10 minutes. And we got our baby to sleep.
Andy began texting our family members to let them know what we currently knew. Dr. S had come in and confirmed he had pneumonia and they were testing for RSV, a few other things I can't remember (some incredibly obscure...like MRSA and something else HUGE...Dr. S was more than confident he didn't have any of those things, but with the high fever, rapid heart rate and quick breathing, they basically had to). Dr. S asked if he has received his flu vaccine and I lost. my. shit.
Here we go -- I don't vaccinate my family against the flu. I won't get into my reasons why and you will never tell my about why I should or shouldn't. I don't do it. HOWEVER, I was going to vaccinate Oliver this year. He has a history of respiratory problems and I made the decision to do it. HOWEVER, Oliver hasn't been regularly off an antibiotic basically since October and I refuse to give Oliver a vaccine when he's on an antibiotic. Again, this is a conversation that you and I will never have. It's what I believe and want - and so it's the way it is. Even Andy knows not to "argue it". Oliver will be vaccinated...just not on an antibiotic. Dr. Dan knows our plan, agrees to and supports it. And Dr. S..she was awesome. Andy was holding Oliver and couldn't help his wife through her mental breakdown...and Dr. S just wrapped her arms around me and said, "This isn't your fault". I've treated several children that have received the flu vaccine and STILL end up in the hospital with the flu. There is NOTHING you could have done to prevent your child from getting sick. You are a good parent and you are doing good things for your child". Little did she know, this praise was only going to make my meltdown spin into epic proportions. It just all boiled down to this one point. I was helpless. My son couldn't breath without oxygen. His heart rate was through the roof. He was just treated like a human pin cushion and was now hoarse from screaming. What happened??
Once I became sane again, Andy and I switched positions and I got to cuddle our sleeping baby. They were also starting two rounds of antibiotics...heck if I remember the name of one and the other was rocephin - a medication Oliver had received in the past. There were still several tests pending, but Dr. S explained their results wouldn't change the immediate course of action. At this point, we were treating the pneumonia and assuming we were also treating RSV.
Each antibiotic was administered in 30 minute increments. We already knew we were being admitted and were also told that we were going to the ICU - for a few reasons, one of which was the fact Oliver still needed to be on oxygen. His pulse/ox was still very low, but his heart was already starting to come down with the fluids and oxygen. Oliver also needed to be in "isolation".
I know we were in our room around 10:25 PM because I remember looking at the large clock in the room thinking...On August 25, 2014 at 10:31, this little guy came into my life. If today was August 25, 2014...he wouldn't even be born yet.
Isn't it weird what you remember so vividly and what you don't?
There was an influx of doctors coming and going for awhile. Each listening to Oliver and listening to us tell our story...again. Oliver was DUN. He wanted to sleep...we wanted to sleep.
Next chapter....
You most likely are aware that Children's is a teaching hospital, so when you tell your story once, be prepared to tell it a million times. Each person makes an introduction providing name and "job title", but heck if I absorbed any of them! They all could have been the custodial staff for all I know.
There is one Dr. we see frequently - let's call her Dr. Smith and then the like high level Dr who checks in occasionally, let's call her Dr. M...because that was her name, but I can't remember the rest.
Anyway - The first thing that happened in the ER was another albuterol nebulizer. I remember Andy looking at me and saying, "Should I do it?" referring to taking a picture...I told him sure - why not. For some reason, we'll want to remember this evening...Looking at this picture now breaks my heart. Looking at Oliver here, literally makes my heart hurt. He can't even open his eyes. He can't hold himself up. And I can hear his breathing in my head still now...
On the walk to the x-ray room, the medical staff prepped us for how difficult it would be to watch Oliver get these xrays. They stripped him down to his diaper, strapped him into a little chair, strapped his head back and his arms up. Kind of like he was riding the world's worst rollercoaster. But they moved FAST! For the front xrays he faced Andy - Andy's arms were up in the air just like Oliver's and he was laughing and saying "WEEEEEEE". I was crying behind him. Then they rotated him quickly for a side shot and it was my turn to step it up. Arms up - big smile - trying to show my baby boy there was nothing to be scared of. As one tech rushed to unstrap Oliver from the chair, the other rushed to unstrap my vest and pull it off me. As they were handing Oliver into the safety of momma's arms, somehow they dressed him back in his gown and draped his blue blanket back over him. Oliver gripped on to me. I mean - these people are good! They "torture" the tiny humans and then rush to put them back together and into the one place they feel comfortable. Their job sucks. Thank God for them!
Little did I know - the worst job ever was yet to come.
Once xrays were done, it was time to get the IV in Oliver so we could start fluids. We were well past 24 hours since Oliver had eaten anything and he hadn't really drank anything either. As we prepared for the IV, I remembered the EMT prepping me for how hard it would be watch Oliver getting an IV. He said even as a professional, it was hard to do it. And Oliver was extremely dehydrated, so his veins were flat and difficult to find.
The nurse gave Oliver a numbing spray that popped like an exploded can of soda. It scared him and then he screamed as the stuck the needle in and tried to get a blood return. Nothing. But when they pulled the needle out, blood spouted out! They tried again...nothing. So they moved to the other arm. Nothing. Something about ballooning and "door traps". I don't fully know. But I guess when you are really sick and dehydrated your veins can respond like this. I know SEVERAL nurses (actually an obscene amount!) who are probably reading this and understanding what I'm trying to say. They also are probably laughing at my misinterpretation and weird explanation...but this is the way an overwhelmed momma heard it. 3 times they stuck Oliver - with 2 different types of numbing spray - and wiggled the needle around.
At some point a family care member joined our room - she had bubbles and light up spinny things - books and toys. Anything to distract Oliver who was just screaming. This is also when I knew things were bad with Oliver because no tears were coming out and his lips were dry and cracking. Even the inside of his mouth seemed dry.
Finally I yelled "Enough"!! You have to give him a break. He was screaming, I was bawling. And nothing was working. They brought in an IV Tech and warned us that they were going to try giving Oliver his IV without the numbing spray. Sometimes that flattened the veins even more. I also had Andy take Oliver at this time. Sitting on my lap was not helping anything. I couldn't keep myself calm enough and he felt that. Dad can stay calm A LOT better than mom can. 4th time was a charm. They got Oliver's IV into the crook of his arm, took the blood samples they needed and then started the IV fluids.
Somewhere during this time, they also swabbed his nose for 4 different tests. And I don't mean like the tip of his nose - like stick a cotton swab way up there. Oliver screamed.
And then it was all over. The lights got turned down, we wrapped our baby close as can be. We shushed, we hummed, and we sang quietly. We willed away every doctor and nurse for 10 minutes. And we got our baby to sleep.
Here we go -- I don't vaccinate my family against the flu. I won't get into my reasons why and you will never tell my about why I should or shouldn't. I don't do it. HOWEVER, I was going to vaccinate Oliver this year. He has a history of respiratory problems and I made the decision to do it. HOWEVER, Oliver hasn't been regularly off an antibiotic basically since October and I refuse to give Oliver a vaccine when he's on an antibiotic. Again, this is a conversation that you and I will never have. It's what I believe and want - and so it's the way it is. Even Andy knows not to "argue it". Oliver will be vaccinated...just not on an antibiotic. Dr. Dan knows our plan, agrees to and supports it. And Dr. S..she was awesome. Andy was holding Oliver and couldn't help his wife through her mental breakdown...and Dr. S just wrapped her arms around me and said, "This isn't your fault". I've treated several children that have received the flu vaccine and STILL end up in the hospital with the flu. There is NOTHING you could have done to prevent your child from getting sick. You are a good parent and you are doing good things for your child". Little did she know, this praise was only going to make my meltdown spin into epic proportions. It just all boiled down to this one point. I was helpless. My son couldn't breath without oxygen. His heart rate was through the roof. He was just treated like a human pin cushion and was now hoarse from screaming. What happened??
Once I became sane again, Andy and I switched positions and I got to cuddle our sleeping baby. They were also starting two rounds of antibiotics...heck if I remember the name of one and the other was rocephin - a medication Oliver had received in the past. There were still several tests pending, but Dr. S explained their results wouldn't change the immediate course of action. At this point, we were treating the pneumonia and assuming we were also treating RSV.
Each antibiotic was administered in 30 minute increments. We already knew we were being admitted and were also told that we were going to the ICU - for a few reasons, one of which was the fact Oliver still needed to be on oxygen. His pulse/ox was still very low, but his heart was already starting to come down with the fluids and oxygen. Oliver also needed to be in "isolation".
I know we were in our room around 10:25 PM because I remember looking at the large clock in the room thinking...On August 25, 2014 at 10:31, this little guy came into my life. If today was August 25, 2014...he wouldn't even be born yet.
Isn't it weird what you remember so vividly and what you don't?
There was an influx of doctors coming and going for awhile. Each listening to Oliver and listening to us tell our story...again. Oliver was DUN. He wanted to sleep...we wanted to sleep.
Next chapter....
I popped over from Julia's day in the life post. After reading your day I wanted to check on how Oliver was doing... Oh my goodness!! I hope he get the care and treatment he needs. Children's hospitals are amazing places that you never wanted to experience for yourself. Reading your story brought back memories of when my three year old daughter had to be hospitalized for a kidney infection a year ago. Thankfully we were only there for four days but those were some of the scariest days. I felt so helpless. Sending you love and support from Kansas from one mom to another. And hugs to your daughter!
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