So we are finally home. This past week has been super crazy. Thomas had his tonsils out on Tuesday. He struggled from the beginning to eat anything. On Thursday he did really well, so we were hoping to have turned the corner. Unfortunately that was not the case. Friday morning started /out okay, but quickly started going downhill. By Saturday afternoon, we were having to force fluids in him by the syringe. Sunday morning dawned, only to find a lethargic and nearing non-coherent Thomas. He was refusing everything. He took his meds, then went right back to sleep. When he awoke a few hours later, he wouldn't even get out of bed. At this point, we knew he needed some help. We loaded up the car with both boys and enough stuff to hopefully get us through the afternoon and headed to the children's hospital ER.
He was quickly taken back around 11:30 (try 15 minutes from the time we signed in, had seen the triage nurse and were sitting in our room). It only took one look by the dr to confirm that he needed an IV started right away, He had lost 5 lbs in 5 days. He slept off an on. Nathanial and Brady were in and out of our room trying to keep Brady happy. After the initial bolust of iv fluids (a bolust I learned was a huge influx of fluids over a 30 minute period, then returning to a regular drip)and a dose of morphine, Thomas was still in pain and not drinking or eating anything. He wouldn't
At around 5:00, it was decided to call the ENT surgeon on call. After discussing our options with him, it was then determined that Thomas would not be able to be released until he could hold his own on fluids. They arranged for a bed upstairs. While Nathanial and Brady went home for things to entertain us overnight and into the next day, Thomas and Jodi were ushered up onto the Post-Op floor.
Well, needless to say, nothing much changed that night. They kept the fluids pouring in and tried to encourage him to drink but he refused. All day monday, we spent trying to encourage him to drink. Nothing worked. Around 4:00 the dr changed his pain meds. The next dose drew a dramatic change in Thomas. Withing 20 minutes he was drinking chocolate milk, eating pretzels dipped in pudding, and being cheerful. It was wonderful until he started exhibiting signs of a mild allergic reaction.
That put off another phone call to the on-call surgeon. They then decided to take this new drug off his orders and replace it with plain tylenol, since the tylenol with codeine wasn't helping either. I just about went into a panic. How could they take away what had made him feel better to the point that he was eating the first time in a week?
After calling my personal pharmacy information number (my mom), we came up with a possible solution. After speaking with the doctor, we got to keep the blessed Loratab, just coupled with a bit of Benedryl.
So we finaly figured it out. Thomas does not respond to Tylenol 3 or Morphine (it must be genetic on Jodi's side). And once the pain was under control, Thomas returned to normal.
So what I learned was not to doubt my instinct. I knew something more than just "not wanting to eat out of fear" was to blame. And I'm glad our wonderful nurse was able to convince the doctor to make it work.
We are very grateful to be home. We are also so grateful to have such an awesome children's hospital so close by. They were wonderful and truly made our time there almost enjoyable.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
Thomas's Surgery
On Tuesday, Thomas had to go and get his Tonsils and Adenoids taken out. The poor child was scared to death and really didn't want to have to do it, but it really needed to be done to help his sleep and breathing.
We are so fortunate to be only 15 minutes away from the local children's hospital. They were so awesome. We got there and checked in pretty quickly. Thomas played while he was waiting and was super disappointed when we made him leave his car and go back into the pre-op room. After the nurse got his vitals (which took a while because we wouldn't let her look in his eyes or mouth), and after the anesthiologist came in, we got to go on a treasure hunt. We were told to follow the fishes. We walked down the hallway, turning several times and ended up in a room full of toys for children of all ages. Each child undergoing surgery gets to pick one toy out of the toy room. Thomas saw an airplane and snatched it up. He was super excited. I am sure the nurses were a bit annoyed. He was zooming that thing all over at the top of his lungs. They also brought out the anesthesia mask with a strawberry scent to it so he could play with it while he waited.
About 20 minutes before the procedure, they came and gave him a sedative to help alleviate some of his anxiety and to help him relax. When he got his tubes out last year it made him super giddy, this time it just made him tired. He was almost asleep when we left him outside the operating room.
Our doctor was really good and came out to let us know that the surgery was done. Thomas's right tube was actually out too, so they replaced it. They were unable to replace the tube in his left ear because there is still a large(larger than the tube) hole in his eardrum which may have to be repaired later on if it doesn't heal on its own.
His tonsils and adenoids were really big, so hopefully his sleep will be less interrupted and he will be able to stop snoring so loudly.
Today is day 4 of recovery. He seems to be getting better. Day 2 was really rough, he refused to drink anything and dehydration was setting in. He is drinking fine now though, and is starting to act more like his normal self (hence the last picture taken this morning after I got out of the shower).
We are so fortunate to be only 15 minutes away from the local children's hospital. They were so awesome. We got there and checked in pretty quickly. Thomas played while he was waiting and was super disappointed when we made him leave his car and go back into the pre-op room. After the nurse got his vitals (which took a while because we wouldn't let her look in his eyes or mouth), and after the anesthiologist came in, we got to go on a treasure hunt. We were told to follow the fishes. We walked down the hallway, turning several times and ended up in a room full of toys for children of all ages. Each child undergoing surgery gets to pick one toy out of the toy room. Thomas saw an airplane and snatched it up. He was super excited. I am sure the nurses were a bit annoyed. He was zooming that thing all over at the top of his lungs. They also brought out the anesthesia mask with a strawberry scent to it so he could play with it while he waited.
About 20 minutes before the procedure, they came and gave him a sedative to help alleviate some of his anxiety and to help him relax. When he got his tubes out last year it made him super giddy, this time it just made him tired. He was almost asleep when we left him outside the operating room.
Our doctor was really good and came out to let us know that the surgery was done. Thomas's right tube was actually out too, so they replaced it. They were unable to replace the tube in his left ear because there is still a large(larger than the tube) hole in his eardrum which may have to be repaired later on if it doesn't heal on its own.
His tonsils and adenoids were really big, so hopefully his sleep will be less interrupted and he will be able to stop snoring so loudly.
Today is day 4 of recovery. He seems to be getting better. Day 2 was really rough, he refused to drink anything and dehydration was setting in. He is drinking fine now though, and is starting to act more like his normal self (hence the last picture taken this morning after I got out of the shower).
Monday, September 14, 2009
9 Months old!
Brady is now 9 months old. He is learning new things all of the time. Today he started clapping. He crawls into everything, loves pulling up and seeing the world from a little higher. He is also scarfing down food like you wouldn't believe. He seems to not like a lot of texture, he refused the russet potatoes we had for dinner last night.
He is finally grown some. At 4 months, he was 18 lbs 4 oz, and 28" long. At 6 months, he was 19 lbs 12 oz and 28.5" long. And at his appointment today, he weighed in at 22 lbs 4oz!(between the 50th and 75th percentile) and is 30 " Long (90th percentile). He is going to surpass his cousins Catherine and Avery fairly soon.
He is tons of fun and always has a smile for everyone.
Thomas is going into surgery tomorrow. He has to have a tube placed back in his ear (his eardrum ruptured a few weeks ago so they are going to replace the one that fell out last October), and also is going to get his tonsils and adenoids removed. He is super nervous about it. Anytime we talk about it he clams up. So if you would be willing, he could definitely use some prayers during the next few days.
Nathanial is on yet another antibiotic for his now-confirmed Pneumonia. He had been feeling better after the first dose up until the end of last week. So hopefully this new antibiotic will kick the pneumonia to Timbuktu.
He is finally grown some. At 4 months, he was 18 lbs 4 oz, and 28" long. At 6 months, he was 19 lbs 12 oz and 28.5" long. And at his appointment today, he weighed in at 22 lbs 4oz!(between the 50th and 75th percentile) and is 30 " Long (90th percentile). He is going to surpass his cousins Catherine and Avery fairly soon.
He is tons of fun and always has a smile for everyone.
Thomas is going into surgery tomorrow. He has to have a tube placed back in his ear (his eardrum ruptured a few weeks ago so they are going to replace the one that fell out last October), and also is going to get his tonsils and adenoids removed. He is super nervous about it. Anytime we talk about it he clams up. So if you would be willing, he could definitely use some prayers during the next few days.
Nathanial is on yet another antibiotic for his now-confirmed Pneumonia. He had been feeling better after the first dose up until the end of last week. So hopefully this new antibiotic will kick the pneumonia to Timbuktu.
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