It was almost two weeks ago when Darrin was complaining to the daycare about a sick kid being at school. The director shrugged it off and said that they could not send home every kid with a runny nose and cough. Two days later, Brandt had a green, snotty nose. Knowing that Brandt has asthma and chronic sinusitis, we quickly took him to see the pediatrician last Friday. The doctor prescribed Omnicef, along with his breathing treatments. As the weekend went on, however, he worsened. He developed a productive cough, rapid breathing, inability to sleep, and a persistent fever. Brandt was coughing and crying all night. First thing Monday, Darrin had him back at the pediatrician's for another check. A chest X-ray found a large amount of fluid in his lungs, and he was switched to Augmentin. Fevers still continued, so we alternated Advil and Tylenol--but that was only ridding the fever for a couple hours at a time.
Finally, Wednesday night we could see that Brandt was not getting any better. He was continuously crying, and the only time he was comfortable was during his breathing treatments--which he would fall asleep during. We called the doctor, and they said Brandt would need to be seen again and have another chest X-ray. We decided to take him in first thing Thursday morning. Yet, we still had to make it through the night. It was a long night with no sleep. Fevers continued to soar, while fatigue was rapidly plaguing my exhausted body. At 2:00am, Darrin came in to take over. We talked for a bit and decided that something was seriously wrong. The antibiotics clearly weren't working, and Brandt was just getting worse. Darrin decided to take Brandt to the ER.
The ER did another chest X-ray and compared it to the X-ray from Monday (since our pediatrician and the hospital are in the same medical group, the previous X-ray was on file). They found that even more fluid was continuing to fill his lungs. Immediately, they wanted to run an IV for steroids and antibiotics. Only, with Brandt being such a "healthy" boy, they had a difficult time finding his veins. They stuck him in one site, wiggled and jiggled the needle around, but weren't able to make contact with the vein. They repeated this in three other sites before they finally got the IV hooked up to his foot. In the other foot, a respiratory monitor tracked the oxygen levels in Brandt's toe.
After contacting our pediatrician, the hospital decided to admit Brandt to the main hospital for pneumonia. But, because we weren't at the main hospital, we had to wait for an ambulance to transport us. I rode in the ambulance with Brandt while my mom and Darrin drove behind.
Once we finally arrived at the main hospital's pediatric tower, we were taken to a respiratory and observation unit to stay. It was a very intimidating room. We were greeted by a giant jail-like crib with an oxygen tent around it. Two shaded windows allowed the doctors and nurses to observe his vitals and behavior--in the event that respiration should start to decline. But, this was our home for the next few days, so we tried to make the most out of it.
The following 60 hours was all just a blur--partially because of exhaustion and partially because it was just one giant disaster after another.
The first night was exceptionally rough. Monitors were sounding every half hour. Sometimes it was the respiratory monitor slipping off his toe, while other times his respiration would dip. Still, other times, the IV line would become obstructed. Nurses were in and out for vitals, and the respiratory therapist was in every four hours for breathing treatments.
The next morning, the IV, which was so cleverly placed in Brandt's foot, got ripped out while he was sleeping. It took thirty minutes and attempts at five different sites before the nurses got another IV in. And by the time that was done, Brandt was soaked in sweat and passed out in my arms. Only, this time the IV was in the bend of his arm, and two hours later, it popped out again. Back to hunting for veins. Problem was, they had already collapsed three veins and bruised many others. The nurse tried wiggling and jiggling the needle at two sites before she finally decided enough was enough. And during all of these, Brandt was screaming, and fighting, and calling out "muh-muh" while I was having to hold him down. It was awful.
The second night was much easier. We were no longer awakened by monitor alarms, and Brandt's breathing was finally stable. The nurse and respiratory therapist still made their rounds. But, then, since he no longer had an IV for meds, this meant shots instead. And, there is nothing more heart-wrenching than holding your baby down at midnight while he gets two shots of antibiotics. It was too much, although much quicker than the thirty minutes of exploratory vein hunts for the IV. Still, I got some sleep, and my mom stayed with me to help.
But, by the third morning, we had all had enough. Brandt was tired of being restricted to the jail crib, I was mentally broken, and Darrin was bored with his TV selections (haha). We had been living off take-out, and the room seemed to be shrinking more and more by the minute.
And, FINALLY, at 1:00PM Saturday, we got the green light to go home. Of course they sent us home with some new antibiotics and steroids, and we have to continue breathing treatments every four hours. We also have to return to the pediatrician for a check-up on Monday. Still, I was so happy--I could've given that nurse the biggest hug of her life.
Oh, but if you want a good laugh, I got one for you! Every time, we requested more diapers and wipes, I would pack away some of the diapers! So, I ended up coming home with 50 free diapers--not to mention the like 100 free diapers the IV made him soak through in the three days we were there! I figured they were getting pretty rich off me anyway--150 diapers wasn't really setting them back much. :P
So, here is the tally thus far:
Three office visits: $60
Ambulance ride: TBA
Impatient Care: $500
Five antibiotics/steroids: $50
Two Breathing meds: $40
Take-out/Dining: $150
Having a healthy son: PRICELESS!
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