Sick baby boy

                               

     Sick Baby Boy

Dylan has been a sick little guy for about three weeks. He started out being just really grumpy, and having low fevers. He was waking up at night screaming and pulling at his ears. I took him to the doctor and he had an ear infection. He started an antibiotic, and seemed to improve a little. He was still really clingy, grumpy, and wasn't sleeping. He started having a cough, and not breathing as well at night. He was having high fevers that weren't going away even with IBU. I took him back to the doctor and he didn't think that Dylan was even sick. He was a little annoyed at first for us taking a sick baby appointment, with a kid that was so happy. Dylan was jumping on my lap and grinning anytime anyone looked at him. His temp. was 102.6, so the doctor ordered some tests to find out what was causing the fevers. He had to get a catheter for a urine test, that didn't work very well. In the ten minutes after putting his clothes back on after the weight check he had peed, so no urine for the test. It was a horrible test that Dylan hated. Then he had to have saline put up his nose and suctioned out. He usually likes this, don't know why he's a weird kid, but was upset about being held down, and cried and cried. Then he had to go and get x-rays. This was insane, I had no idea how hard this is for a baby. They sit them in a harness and have a plastic tube come around him and pins his arms up over his head. I had to stand there watching my baby scream holding his hands up above his head. It was so sad. The guy doing the test cheerfully said that we would get a good x-ray since he's screaming so good. I just wanted to get my baby out of there. He looked like he was in one of the tubes that you put your money in at the bank. It was so sad. Then he had to go and get blood work taken. They had to use two veins in each arm because they weren't getting enough. I don't think he has good veins. I hate having people hurt my little baby. It's so hard because he reaches for me to save him and I just have to help hold him down. Worst day ever. After that I got to just hold him and cuddle him while we waited at the pharmacy. As soon as we got home the doctor called with the test results. He has pneumonia, ear infections, an upper respiratory infection, and is anemic. I feel so bad that he was that sick. He sure wasn't looking or acting that sick. One of the big heads up, was that he didn't want to be in his jumper, he just wanted me to hold him all the time, but especially at night. They started him on an antibiotic and wanted him to come back the next morning to see if they wanted to admit him for the weekend. We were there at 7:30 the next morning and met with a different doctor. She listened to his lungs and said that he sounded fine and we were okay to go home. I said that we were here because he had pneumonia and she said that she would go look at his chart. I was so mad, she was ready to send him home when he had a high temp. and was really sick and she hadn't read his file yet. She came back in and said your right he has pneumonia and that I just needed to let the antibiotic work. I know that walk in appointments are inconvenient to them, but that's part of their job. I was so mad that I went to the waiting room and demanded another doctor. We waiting a little longer and then saw another doctor that listen to my concerns and said that he might have to be hospitalized. He gave him a breathing treatment, and after that Dylan's breathing was much better, and he felt comfortable to send him home for the weekend. He wanted him to go to the ER if he was having any trouble breathing or a fever over 103. So we went home for the weekend and in the middle of a sleepless night went to the ER when Dylan was coughing so hard that he couldn't catch his breath. They gave him a breathing treatment there and a inhaler and mask to help with his lungs at home. We were back in the ER the next night. I don't know if it would have been easier to have him admitted into the hospital, or easier to keep him home where he was more comfortable. Monday morning we were back at the doctor, another new doctor. This time he had the first doctor that found the pneumonia come in as well and they made up a treatment plan. They ordered us a breathing machine for our house, that was delivered earlier, from the same company that gave me IV supply's when I was pregnant. Good to see them again. lol. They changed his antibiotic yet again to a stronger one that works faster. This one has been working pretty good. When we got home my mom was there. She came to help me out. There is so much that you can't do when you have a sick baby. I had to go to the post office to get some packages that were going to be sent back soon, and go grocery shopping. It was such a blessing to have her come and help for a few days. It was so nice having someone to help hold Dylan. He loves his Grandma. She did lots of cooking and some cleaning that I just haven't been able to do with holding a baby all the time. Dylan loved spending time with his Grandma. She always tells him stories, and sings him songs. The ladies that she works for let her have a few days off, and she drove by herself. She doesn't like to drive, and so it was a very big deal that she came and helped us out. We had a good friend go to the store for us and buy and set up a rocking chair. We don't really have room for one, so we never bought one. It's been so nice, Dylan sleeps much better sitting up, and I've been able to sleep as well. So much better then pacing the floor. We had the missionary's come and give him a blessing and it was really special. We had so many people praying for him to get better. We have really felt blessed with all the offers of help though the squadron, family, friends, and church. We just had his well child check, that turned in to a sick baby appointment. His Doctor was very upset that we had been in and seen four different doctors and been to the ER twice and no one had let her know that her patient was that sick. He's lost some weight while he was sick and so he's now: 14 lbs 2 oz and 24 inches. He is at 0% for weight, 0% for height, and 72% for head, not good for being nine months old. So since he's starting to feel better I'm having him eat as often as he wants to start gaining some weight back. He has to take iron for his anemia for awhile. I guess it's very common with preemies. It did make me feel better that he didn't get it from me not eating meat. After his doctor appointment we had to go sign some papers for our team to get new shirts, so we ran in just for a second. He was sitting on my lap, and I feel this warm wet feeling on my pants. Yep baby pee, doctors don't know how to put diapers back on right. lol. We walked out of the office with his blanket hanging down over my pants. Can't believe the baby just peed my pants. lol. He has been having massive diarrhea, a side effect from the antibiotic, so it could have been so much worse. We're almost out of diapers again, I feel like I just bought some, but with diarrhea he's going through so many. It's the kind that leak out the sides and explode out of the top. Last night at four in the morning I was sitting there with Dylan waiting for him to stop pooping, and watching as the poop stain went higher and higher on his pajamas. So many diapers and so much laundry. I found out that he's teething, he's getting his top teeth in, so that's not helping his mood or him having a fever. This is the first day without him having a fever over 101, so we're pretty excited about that. The breathing treatments are helping him so much, and he's starting to sleep in his bed again for at least part of the night. Things are looking up as he's starting to feel better. We can't be around crowds of people for three to five weeks, but after that can be back to normal. Well our normal world of lots of hand sanitizer. lol. In the last few weeks we've had five doctor appointments, two visits to the ER, and so so many sleepless nights. I'm so happy that Dylan is starting to feel better. It's been nice to have a cuddly baby for awhile. He's already turning back into the squirmy baby that I know so well. On another happy note, his daddy is coming home soon.

the face of a "sick" kid

at the hospital, after getting blood work done on both arms, poor baby

                                At the ER around 3:30 AM. Before and after breathing treatments.

 This face is why doctors don't take us seriously. He smiles anytime anyone looks or talks to him.

 Yes this is poop all over my baby. He had terrible diarrhea, several times a day, from the antibiotic. I took these pictures to show his daddy what he was missing. So he had lots of baths, it helped to keep his fever down too. Bath time is his favorite.

 

 We read lots of stories. The story's that his dad sent him, with him reading the book are his favorite. Dylan loves to read them over and over. He always helps with laundry, he's such a good little helper. Those are his socks in his mouth.

 Stetson has been so concerned about Dylan that he helps him read books and always comes in to visit, even though he's not supposed to. He thinks if he army crawls in, and then hides under the toy I can't see him. Very sneaky. Stetson is a huge fan of the books that when you step on it, it reads you a story. He and Dylan are such good friends.

 Breathing treatments are so hard. Dylan was okay practicing with the mask on, but didn't like it on for more then three seconds. I had to feed him until he was asleep and then put it on his face for him to get the full effect.

4 AM and wide awake