As a former Brownie/Girl Scout, I think I can say after the last two weeks I have definitely earned my "Parenting Badge". I guess I shouldn't have written a post, "It could always be worse"... because yes, yes it could. We went from Blake's nasty battle with RSV, struggling to breathe at times, to Brady's nasty battle with RSV who has such a bad cough, couldn't keep anything down. Then on Monday Brady got a stomach bug and with every feeding not only was he throwing up but was getting sick the other end, to put it nicely. (Can you put that nicely?) Then since THAT wasn't enough, I caught the stomach bug and was up the entire night getting sick. I guess I just wasn't sleep deprived enough. Then since THAT wasn't enough, yesterday Brady was feeling so puny, he decided he just couldn't eat. That is what worried me the most. I had been trying since he got sick to give him Pedialyte. He wouldn't take it. Yesterday, I tried nursing him, tried bottle feeding him, tried Pedialyte. Nothing. I called the doctor and even though we were scheduled for a follow up visit the next morning, I felt it couldn't wait and they agreed. Once the doctor saw Brady she promptly sent us to the emergency room at Children's Hospital. She was awesome and didn't alarm me or upset me but simply said she'd feel more comfortable with them evaluating Brady to see if he needed fluids. She called them to let them know we were on our way.
I tried not to panic and was really calm actually on the drive over there. I knew this is what we needed to do to get Brady well and that is all that mattered. I was a little upset that I was having to do this alone because Brad had to take care of Blake (no one else to watch him) but I also knew this is what being a parent was about and I had to be strong for Brady. We arrived and checked in and the waiting room was filled with everyone in the metroplex it felt like. We waited for awhile and I saw people being called back to triage and then sent back to the waiting room and I started to worry we'd be there FOREVER before being taken back to a room. A minute later we were taken into the triage room and the one nurse in there took two looks at Brady and got help and before I knew it there were five nurses huddled around us checking him up and down. Their demeanor was scaring me a bit...I could tell from their actions they were very worried about Brady. They did not send us back to the waiting room, but escorted us promptly to a room where all five of the nurses followed, continuing to check his stats and get him hooked up to the monitors. My eyes started to fill up with tears, I tried my hardest to hold them back and be strong for Brady.
The doctor came in a few minutes later and she couldn't have been more awesome. I guess the benefit of going to Children's is they specialize in dealing with these little ones and the little ones' scared mommies. I think she knew exactly how to act, what to say to keep me calm. It didn't hurt I was wearing a Stars hat and she was a huge fan so chatted me up about hockey, distracting me a bit. She told me Brady was obviously dehydrated and we would get an i.v. going and get him fluid and see how he did from there.
I got Brady dressed in a hospital gown. I hated to see him in it yet he did look pretty cute. The i.v. nurse came in and I hated to see her, but knew its what had to be done to get Brady better. She was awesome though and got the i.v. on the first try (thank God!). Brady SCREAMED with his very hoarse voice and stared at me the entire time with this look like, "Why are you letting them do this to me?!" Tears started rolling down my face. I knew this needed to be done, but didn't make the pain any less seeing my baby, only 3 months old, in so much pain. I pray I never have to see that look in his eyes ever again. Once they were done making him upset with that they upset him again by vacuuming out his nose. Yes, VACUUMING. He was NOT a fan. I wouldn't be either! It did help clear his nose though of all that congestion, so again, I knew it had to be done. After he had one dose of fluids in his IV and his nose was cleared, I tried nursing him. SUCCESS! It wasn't nearly as long as normal, but it didn't matter. I was just relieved he would eat at all. And he didn't throw it up. The doctor was very encouraged by that and so once Brady finished all of his fluids through IV she released us to go home. Hallelujah!
I pray Brady can get 100% very soon and I pray neither of my boys have to go through something like this ever again. The lack of sleep, the sickness I've had, none of that matters. I can get through that stuff. I just need healthy babies.
And now for my Oscar acceptance speech...Thank you to all of you that texted me with your good thoughts and prayers. That helped me stay calm and keep it together more than you know. And my mom via phone, thank you. And especially YOU, who stayed with me via text the entire time with your infinite wisdom and good thoughts, having been through that kind of night (and worse) yourself a few too many times.
If you are a parent and ever have to take your sweet baby to the ER, I highly recommend going to Children's (I was at the Plano location). The doctor and nursers were phenomenal.
Here is a picture of my little man laying on my legs (his favorite position ever) with his poor little i.v. in his hand. Not the best quality with my camera phone...
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