We had quite the new experience this past month. I caught a bit of a cough that made my throat sore and I was miserable for a few days. Within a week of my catching it, Teryn caught it too. I could sense his misery setting in on the night of December 8th but I had volleyball games that night so I left him home for Tyson to take care of him. We set up the humidifier, rubbed his chest with Vicks, and made sure to give him regular hits of Tylenol to prevent a fever. The next day he was still miserable but his symptoms were minimal so we just made sure to keep him hydrated and let him rest. Later that afternoon, we could feel that he was getting hot so we took his temperature and he was at 102, despite our regular Tylenol doses. We did what we could to keep him comfortable and lower his fever. The next day, Saturday, I had a Relief Society activity first thing that morning so I had already planned to leave Teryn with my mom. He had a miserable night and was having a more and more difficult time breathing so I dropped him off in his pajamas with a sippy cup full of grape juice and a handful of movies to just sit and watch. (Guess which one he chose? Toy Story 3 of course!) I was gone 3 hours and when I came back to pick him up, my mom said he only got up 3 or 4 times during the time I was gone. Normally, he is always going going going so getting up only 3 or 4 times in a 3 hour period would have been odd, but the fact that he was watching Toy Story 3 made sense. I've mentioned before that it's the only movie he will sit down and watch from beginning to end, so I didn't think much about his lack of activity- -especially since he was sick. As soon I walked in though, he started whimpering and reaching for me so I snuggled him up in my arms and he just laid on me while we continued to watch the movie. My heart was breaking for my little boy, but I was convinced from the way he sounded that he was simply catching the cough that I had earlier in the week so I still wasn't too worried. Plus, I was enjoying his desire to cuddle and be close to me. He never sits still for two seconds, so I was taking in every minute that he wanted to be snuggled.
Well, after the movie was over I gathered his things so I could get him home and ready for a nap. When I got home, Tyson and I tried to get him to eat but he seemed so uncomfortable and moody that we gave up. We took his temperature and he was down to only 101 from 102 so we decided it would be a good idea to call the pediatrician's office before Sunday to get an opinion on what we needed to do. Tyson stayed with Teryn and got him to sleep while I called and talked to a nurse. I described Teryn's symptoms and the nurse recommended that we get him in to be seen before they left the office for the day. It was 1:45 and they wanted us there by 2:30 so we woke Teryn and jumped in the van for a quick trip to Vernal. Poor little guy just zonked out on the way there. He looked so helpless. I still didn't know how concerned to be and I didn't know what to expect from the doctor's visit. I thought it would be just a quick in-and-out before they left their office, but we soon learned that there was more to be concerned about than we realized.
The first thing the nurse checked was Teryn's oxygen level and it was down to only 83%. The doctor came in and immediately admitted Teryn to the hospital. The nurse brought in an oxygen tank and mask for Teryn to use until we made it to the hospital and he did not like that one bit. He fought and fought and fought us while trying to put it on which only made his breathing worse. Tyson and I were actually quite amazed at his strength and perseverance. He was not going to let us put that mask on his face for the life of him until I started humming primary songs. He calmed down enough that we got the mask on him and then I kept humming so he would stay relaxed until we could get him to the hospital. Luckily, our pediatricians office is actually hooked to the hospital so it was just a short walk to his room once paperwork was complete and the hospital was ready for us to arrive.
We got to his room and soon learned just how much of a fighter he is when it took 4 adults to restrain him so the nurses could do what they needed to do. It started with another oxygen machine that had the nostril inserts instead of a face mask. Then it was the oxygen monitor they had to strap to his toe. Then it was the IV. Because he's such a fighter, we thought an IV in his ankle would be more manageable than in his arm because we could hide it under the blankets once it was in. First attempt in his right ankle. Failed. Next attempt in his left ankle. Failed. Last attempt in his right arm. Success, but only temporarily. Later in the evening, I could see his arm was swelling so we called a nurse in to check on it. The IV had infiltrated his arm so they had to pull it out and try again. Nice. Finally, the fourth attempt in his left hand was successful and he managed to leave it alone for the duration of his stay, except the nurse wrapped his hand and forearm around a splint so the IV would stay where it needed to be and the cast-like dressing got in the way of him being able to read books or do anything else with his hand. That was frustrating for him.
I was able to watch everything they did without too much sadness, but I lost it when they went up his sinus canal to suction it out and clear his airway. I hope I never have to experience that again.
While everything was going on I tried to stay close enough that I could sing quietly in his ear and keep him calm. Ever since he was born he's loved music and it's amazing how it calms him. Primary songs allowed us a few tender moments amidst the chaos of it all.
Once they got him set up and settled in, they started doing tests so they could diagnose what was going on. His heart rate was reaching as high as 180 bpm and as I mentioned before his oxygen level was down to 83%. They tested for RSV and it came back negative, but by x-ray examination and monitoring of his vitals they let us know that he had croup and pneumonia and he would need to stay at the hospital for a minimum of two nights. That was quite the wake-up call for me. I'm pretty much completely inexperienced in the sick department. I don't remember ever even having a fever, let alone croup or pneumonia. I've never experienced anything that rest, hydration, and time can't fix, so to learn that my little boy needed help that I wasn't able to give was a completely new concept and it broke my heart. I'm still convinced that what he caught was exactly what I caught just days before but his immune system wasn't able to fight it like mine was and it quickly took it's toll. It was so sad to see him so helpless and miserable. The way he whimpered and cuddled with his eyes closed was heartbreaking.
Thankfully, Grandma Michelle lives just minutes away from the Vernal hospital so she came to the rescue with dinner for Tyson and I and a little DVD player with Toy Story 3 and circus animal cookies for Teryn. Seriously, that saved the day. After all his trauma, he was so happy to have his Toy Story and cookies. It would have been an extra miserable hospital stay without them. Thank you so much Grandma Michelle!
While she was there, Tyson left to pick up a few things and the radiologist showed up to take Teryn for a few x-rays while he was gone. Luckily Grandma Michelle was there since I'm pregnant and unable to be in the x-ray room, but unluckily for Grandma Michelle that meant she got to be the one who fought Teryn to keep him where he needed to be for the x-ray. I can't say it enough- -he is a F.I.G.H.T.E.R., the little stinker! After a few attempts they managed to get x-rays clear enough to examine and we went back to the room.
Michelle left shortly after that and then later that evening Grandpa Greg stopped by. By then Teryn was calmed down and so into his movie that he wouldn't even look at him. Night came and we decided to put Teryn in a hospital crib rather than him sleeping with either of us in a bed. The crib looked like one you'd see in a hospital in Nazi Germany and seeing Teryn in it made me even more sad. They gave us some baby scrubs for him to sleep in and we settled in for the night. It was a L.O.N.G. night. Teryn was in and out of sleep every 15 or 20 minutes, whimpering every time he woke. He would try to re-situate and move around but all the cords he was hooked to got in the way. A nurse finally came in and added 7 feet to each cord to give him some wiggle room and that helped a lot so we were able to get a little bit of sleep. By morning his oxygen levels were in the high 90s and his heart rate was back to normal. He was feeling much better, which made the day even more miserable. He didn't understand what the heck was going on and he was feeling well enough that he just wanted to get out of there but we still had another night so we did what we could to keep him occupied and happy. He watched Toy Story 3 another two times as well as a few other Disney movies. Every time he tried to stand up in his bed and move around he got so frustrated that he was tied down. By then he would cry and reach for me or Tyson every time a nurse or any other unfamiliar person came in the room. He fought us every time we tried to give him medicine too. It was traumatizing, for all of us.
That night Grandpa Greg, Grandma Betty, Lance, and Lexi came to visit and Teryn was in a much better mood. He was a little hesitant to interact at first but he was giving them high 5s and smiling before they left. We were all very happy to have the company.
They took Teryn off oxygen before he slept that night and whether or not he could make it through the night without it would determine his discharge. Tyson had to work the next morning so he left after we got Teryn settled for the night. I pulled his crib up close to my bed so I could be as close to him as possible and we both slept fairly well considering the frequent nurse visits. There were a few times when I woke in the night and looked over to check on him only to find him sitting up in his crib watching me sleep. It was kind of funny, actually. By then he was feeling 100% better and probably wondered why we were still there. He has never slept in the same room as me ever, so to have me by his side was odd. We both enjoyed it.
It was a good night and since Teryn made it without oxygen the doctor discharged us around 8:00 am. We probably would have been discharged around then no matter what, but we didn't have to take an oxygen tank home with us since he made it through the night without it so that was good news.
Teryn had one last fight when the nurses came in to unhook him from everything but once I took his scrubs off and put his pajamas on it started to click that we were going home and he was so happy. When we got home he ran around the house as if he had just been released from prison. He was still coughing, but his breathing was back to normal. He rested quite a bit for the next few days and he watched Toy Story 3 at least a few more times. He had 2 antibiotics to take for 5 days and by then he was pretty much recovered. All I can say is thank heaven for modern medicine! Over the course of everything that happened, I couldn't help but think of mothers with children in the same situation hundreds of years ago. Especially in the moments when Teryn looked at me with such helplessness. At least I knew he was in good hands and everything would be OK....I can't imagine my child looking at me so helplessly and me knowing that there was nothing that could be done and knowing I would lose him. Thanks to such thoughts, I shed my fair share of tears over the course of our stay at the hospital. I'm just so grateful for the knowledge the world of medicine has that enables them to help people. Especially children. Especially my son.
I only had my phone to take pictures so these aren't the best quality but they illustrate a bit of the whole experience. Notice the two blankets Teryn never parted with. They earned themselves the name Dotty & Spotty. Neither is one or the other- -together they make Dotty & Spotty. They must have become his best friends while we were at the hospital because he's taken them everywhere with him since.
Well, after the movie was over I gathered his things so I could get him home and ready for a nap. When I got home, Tyson and I tried to get him to eat but he seemed so uncomfortable and moody that we gave up. We took his temperature and he was down to only 101 from 102 so we decided it would be a good idea to call the pediatrician's office before Sunday to get an opinion on what we needed to do. Tyson stayed with Teryn and got him to sleep while I called and talked to a nurse. I described Teryn's symptoms and the nurse recommended that we get him in to be seen before they left the office for the day. It was 1:45 and they wanted us there by 2:30 so we woke Teryn and jumped in the van for a quick trip to Vernal. Poor little guy just zonked out on the way there. He looked so helpless. I still didn't know how concerned to be and I didn't know what to expect from the doctor's visit. I thought it would be just a quick in-and-out before they left their office, but we soon learned that there was more to be concerned about than we realized.
The first thing the nurse checked was Teryn's oxygen level and it was down to only 83%. The doctor came in and immediately admitted Teryn to the hospital. The nurse brought in an oxygen tank and mask for Teryn to use until we made it to the hospital and he did not like that one bit. He fought and fought and fought us while trying to put it on which only made his breathing worse. Tyson and I were actually quite amazed at his strength and perseverance. He was not going to let us put that mask on his face for the life of him until I started humming primary songs. He calmed down enough that we got the mask on him and then I kept humming so he would stay relaxed until we could get him to the hospital. Luckily, our pediatricians office is actually hooked to the hospital so it was just a short walk to his room once paperwork was complete and the hospital was ready for us to arrive.
We got to his room and soon learned just how much of a fighter he is when it took 4 adults to restrain him so the nurses could do what they needed to do. It started with another oxygen machine that had the nostril inserts instead of a face mask. Then it was the oxygen monitor they had to strap to his toe. Then it was the IV. Because he's such a fighter, we thought an IV in his ankle would be more manageable than in his arm because we could hide it under the blankets once it was in. First attempt in his right ankle. Failed. Next attempt in his left ankle. Failed. Last attempt in his right arm. Success, but only temporarily. Later in the evening, I could see his arm was swelling so we called a nurse in to check on it. The IV had infiltrated his arm so they had to pull it out and try again. Nice. Finally, the fourth attempt in his left hand was successful and he managed to leave it alone for the duration of his stay, except the nurse wrapped his hand and forearm around a splint so the IV would stay where it needed to be and the cast-like dressing got in the way of him being able to read books or do anything else with his hand. That was frustrating for him.
I was able to watch everything they did without too much sadness, but I lost it when they went up his sinus canal to suction it out and clear his airway. I hope I never have to experience that again.
While everything was going on I tried to stay close enough that I could sing quietly in his ear and keep him calm. Ever since he was born he's loved music and it's amazing how it calms him. Primary songs allowed us a few tender moments amidst the chaos of it all.
Once they got him set up and settled in, they started doing tests so they could diagnose what was going on. His heart rate was reaching as high as 180 bpm and as I mentioned before his oxygen level was down to 83%. They tested for RSV and it came back negative, but by x-ray examination and monitoring of his vitals they let us know that he had croup and pneumonia and he would need to stay at the hospital for a minimum of two nights. That was quite the wake-up call for me. I'm pretty much completely inexperienced in the sick department. I don't remember ever even having a fever, let alone croup or pneumonia. I've never experienced anything that rest, hydration, and time can't fix, so to learn that my little boy needed help that I wasn't able to give was a completely new concept and it broke my heart. I'm still convinced that what he caught was exactly what I caught just days before but his immune system wasn't able to fight it like mine was and it quickly took it's toll. It was so sad to see him so helpless and miserable. The way he whimpered and cuddled with his eyes closed was heartbreaking.
Thankfully, Grandma Michelle lives just minutes away from the Vernal hospital so she came to the rescue with dinner for Tyson and I and a little DVD player with Toy Story 3 and circus animal cookies for Teryn. Seriously, that saved the day. After all his trauma, he was so happy to have his Toy Story and cookies. It would have been an extra miserable hospital stay without them. Thank you so much Grandma Michelle!
While she was there, Tyson left to pick up a few things and the radiologist showed up to take Teryn for a few x-rays while he was gone. Luckily Grandma Michelle was there since I'm pregnant and unable to be in the x-ray room, but unluckily for Grandma Michelle that meant she got to be the one who fought Teryn to keep him where he needed to be for the x-ray. I can't say it enough- -he is a F.I.G.H.T.E.R., the little stinker! After a few attempts they managed to get x-rays clear enough to examine and we went back to the room.
Michelle left shortly after that and then later that evening Grandpa Greg stopped by. By then Teryn was calmed down and so into his movie that he wouldn't even look at him. Night came and we decided to put Teryn in a hospital crib rather than him sleeping with either of us in a bed. The crib looked like one you'd see in a hospital in Nazi Germany and seeing Teryn in it made me even more sad. They gave us some baby scrubs for him to sleep in and we settled in for the night. It was a L.O.N.G. night. Teryn was in and out of sleep every 15 or 20 minutes, whimpering every time he woke. He would try to re-situate and move around but all the cords he was hooked to got in the way. A nurse finally came in and added 7 feet to each cord to give him some wiggle room and that helped a lot so we were able to get a little bit of sleep. By morning his oxygen levels were in the high 90s and his heart rate was back to normal. He was feeling much better, which made the day even more miserable. He didn't understand what the heck was going on and he was feeling well enough that he just wanted to get out of there but we still had another night so we did what we could to keep him occupied and happy. He watched Toy Story 3 another two times as well as a few other Disney movies. Every time he tried to stand up in his bed and move around he got so frustrated that he was tied down. By then he would cry and reach for me or Tyson every time a nurse or any other unfamiliar person came in the room. He fought us every time we tried to give him medicine too. It was traumatizing, for all of us.
That night Grandpa Greg, Grandma Betty, Lance, and Lexi came to visit and Teryn was in a much better mood. He was a little hesitant to interact at first but he was giving them high 5s and smiling before they left. We were all very happy to have the company.
They took Teryn off oxygen before he slept that night and whether or not he could make it through the night without it would determine his discharge. Tyson had to work the next morning so he left after we got Teryn settled for the night. I pulled his crib up close to my bed so I could be as close to him as possible and we both slept fairly well considering the frequent nurse visits. There were a few times when I woke in the night and looked over to check on him only to find him sitting up in his crib watching me sleep. It was kind of funny, actually. By then he was feeling 100% better and probably wondered why we were still there. He has never slept in the same room as me ever, so to have me by his side was odd. We both enjoyed it.
It was a good night and since Teryn made it without oxygen the doctor discharged us around 8:00 am. We probably would have been discharged around then no matter what, but we didn't have to take an oxygen tank home with us since he made it through the night without it so that was good news.
Teryn had one last fight when the nurses came in to unhook him from everything but once I took his scrubs off and put his pajamas on it started to click that we were going home and he was so happy. When we got home he ran around the house as if he had just been released from prison. He was still coughing, but his breathing was back to normal. He rested quite a bit for the next few days and he watched Toy Story 3 at least a few more times. He had 2 antibiotics to take for 5 days and by then he was pretty much recovered. All I can say is thank heaven for modern medicine! Over the course of everything that happened, I couldn't help but think of mothers with children in the same situation hundreds of years ago. Especially in the moments when Teryn looked at me with such helplessness. At least I knew he was in good hands and everything would be OK....I can't imagine my child looking at me so helplessly and me knowing that there was nothing that could be done and knowing I would lose him. Thanks to such thoughts, I shed my fair share of tears over the course of our stay at the hospital. I'm just so grateful for the knowledge the world of medicine has that enables them to help people. Especially children. Especially my son.
I only had my phone to take pictures so these aren't the best quality but they illustrate a bit of the whole experience. Notice the two blankets Teryn never parted with. They earned themselves the name Dotty & Spotty. Neither is one or the other- -together they make Dotty & Spotty. They must have become his best friends while we were at the hospital because he's taken them everywhere with him since.
Oh. So sad! So scary too. My kids have bad colds, and Bris has a bad cough...hope it doesn't turn into that! So sorry you all had to go through that. Hope everyone is feeling better!
ReplyDeleteoh my gosh what an awful experience! Ryan has had some hospital stays and they can be so scary. I am so sorry you guys had to go through this but thankful for modern medicine and that hes okay and happy again :) hang in there!
ReplyDeleteOh Dani! I had a very similiar experience with Justin right before he turned 2. Only it was two times in 3 weeks and he got transported form the doctor's office to the hospital in an ambumlance. He then had to have 8 yes 8 nebulizer treatments ina matter of 2 hours and then 1 every 2 hours around the clock for the next 3 days while he was in the hospital. Scary. I hope Teryn is doing great and that he recovers quickly.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness-- you are such a good Momma. That would be such a heartbreaking thing to see/ go through. And poor little man to have to feel that way.
ReplyDeleteSo glad he is getting back to his old self.
Poor little guy! Glad that we is getting better, the hospital is absolutely no fun, but you are right, we are so blessed for the current medical care. Its why Kaelyn is still here, along with lots of prayers and miracles of course ;) Love you guys.
ReplyDeleteOh man! Somehow I totally missed this post!!! Just reading about it makes me sad I didn't know sooner!! Poor guy!!! I am so glad he's okay!!! I wish I was closer so I could have helped out! I'm so happy he's alright. I can't even begin to imagine life 100 years ago without modern medicine!! SOO grateful, too! Happy everyone's feeling better. :0) Sending my prayers for baby #2 and a safe delivery!!!
ReplyDelete