Bennett loves the pumping cups and has to have his own when I pump. He always makes you smile! We have been trying to keep the germs at bay at our house, but they are still managing to make their presence known. The first perfectly nice weekend with warm weather had us all in the house because the boys were not feeling well. We all ended up getting the virus that was living in our house. And when I say everyone, I mean everyone. Elliott started sleeping a lot and not eating very much, so after a quick visit to the doctor (and an almost ride in an ambulance!), we headed to the ER. Me and the 3 boys...on the windiest day ever! Thank goodness we held each other's hands, otherwise, we may have lost Bennett in the wind.
They gave Elliott a quick breathing treatment to help open up his airways and calm down his respirations. I did ask why the mask was a pink dinosaur but this is all they had and they informed us it could also be a dragon. Whatever...it was still pink.
He was so sleepy.
Brett came to get the boys and my sister came to keep me company. We thought it was going to be a lot of waiting and watching him breathe. But he wasn't getting any better with some oxygen, so they sent us upstairs to the pediatric floor.
Elliott on oxygen and a feeding tube. He had no interest in eating, so they put in a tube to keep him full. (orange tube on the right side of his face)
Woke up after our first night in the hospital to an IV in his head! Scary site, but they did a great job of getting it in there. And it kept him hydrated.
To help him breathe better, they had respiratory therapist come and basically beat his chest and back to break up the mucus. Then he got suctioned out. He loved the therapy part, hated the suctioning part.
Had to keep his feet out since he would randomly run hot (aka fever).
his x-ray. He shows a blockage on his right side (left above). They started treating him for bacterial pneumonia. We had to wait a few days to determine if he had a virus, and he did.
Parainfluenza virus,basically the flu.
Since he was working hard to breathe, they send us down the hall to the PICU. There, he got on high flow oxygen, This pushed the oxygen in his lungs so he could relax and not work so hard to breathe.
Still on high flow oxygen and now a J tube which goes further in his digestive track so he can still get nutrients. He had so much tape on his face. (yellow tube on the left side of his face)
Again, the feet out. We figured out he liked that (thanks Cliff) and kept them out when we could.
He did get to try sleeping on his tummy. I think he will like it when he cam flip himself over that way.
After the weekend, we got there on Wednesday, he started feeling better. He was more active, but they couldn't let him eat since he was on the high flow oxygen. He was not happy with that.
Finally off the good stuff, the high flow oxygen. And back on regular oxygen. You can see his face again!
momma and elliott
he was really good about pulling out the oxygen tube from his nose. Here, it landed on top of his nose!
J tube out. Feeding by mouth again! He was happier.
They kept him on the oxygen, but kept turning it down so he was getting less and less.
Finally got the IV out. You can see his head is all red from the tape. They did a great job of putting that IV in...he didn't even bruise. And those nurses know how to swaddle. I learned a thing or two.
Elliott! They took him off the oxygen a few times and his O2 level would drop more than they liked, so they put it back on. But by Wednesday, a week in the hospital, he was taken off the oxygen and did great. The boys all came up to see us on Wednesday. We decided to stay the next night to make sure he would be OK with sleeping and breathing on his own.
Yeah! The day we left, Thursday. Full belly, no oxygen, can't lose!
All packed up and ready to head out. After a week in, we were all ready to be back home again.
And we were back up to 8 lbs in weight! We lost about half a pound because he wouldn't eat, so I was glad we left back up to weight.
at home and doing great.
Brett stayed home with the Graham and Bennett and did a great job. I stayed in the hospital so I could keep up the milk supply and pump around the clock. We had tremendous help from our parents and sister and I want to say a huge thank you for that. It was great to see familiar faces during such a scary time.
We also had some of the best nurses and doctors while at the hospital. They took great care of him, (and me) and I felt like we were in the best hands possible. I also met a few other moms and we all kept each other's kids in our prayers.
A HUGE thank you so everyone who prayed and sent good thoughts our way while Elliott was in the hospital. We are so blessed he got great care and is doing so great.
He had his post hospital check up today and is doing great. He had lost some weight since he was not eating, but we are now up to 9 lbs!!!
