Head Straight for the ER!

(This post is actually LONG overdue. But, what's new?! :) Many of you followed this story as it unfolded on Facebook, but I wanted to get it into the blog so it would be in our published book I make once a year.)

Sunday, July 11, 2010, began like any Sunday morning. We all woke up and enjoyed some lazy time before getting ready for church. Parker seemed a little fussier than normal, but I just thought he probably had gas. No big deal. We went to church, then to lunch with family, and Parker seemed normal, just a little sleepy as he slept all through lunch. After lunch we went home, put Payton down for a nap, and Parker nursed and fell asleep on me. A little into his nap, I began to think maybe he wasn't feeling well. He was very fidgety and tossing and turning. It was then I noticed he was super hot, actually sweating on me.

I decided to take his temperature and it came back at 101.7. I nursed him, then took it again. It was 101.9. I immediatly called the pediatricians office, and they told me to head straight to the ER.

Grandma (Darron's mom) came down to be with Preston and Payton as we headed to the ER with Parker. Upon arriving, they took his temperature and it was still at 101.2. The ER doc did a quick check over and told us they would have to do a full work up because anything over 100.4 in a newborn was dangerous. Parker was only 3 weeks old at the time. A full work included a urinalysis (NOT a fun experience), chest x-rays and a spinal tap. Yep, a spinal tap! Needless to say, Darron and I were panicing inside. It was horrible to watch our sweet baby boy going through this. We shed many tears and just tried to comfort Parker as much as possible. He did great for what he was going through.

After all the tests were preformed, we were expecting them to send us on our way with orders to give tylenol or something. I guess we were in denial that something could really be wrong. It wasn't long before the ER doc came back in to tell us he was working on our admitting paperwork. "Wait, do you mean we're being admitted and will be staying here??!!" I asked. Because they had to wait on the results of the spinal tap, etc., we would be staying at least 24 to 48 hours. WHAT?? After the initial shock wore off, Darron headed home to get me some clothes and food (it was not past 9pm). He came back an hour later followed by his sister T. And before long we were being escorted upstairs to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (although the assured me we were only in the PICU because they had no rooms in the regular pediatric area).

Soon, the pediatric doctor on call showed up to tell us they weren't sure what was going on yet. They were checking for menengitis, chicken pox, and several other things. OR, it could just be a bad viral cold. But we would have to wait and see.

Darron and T both really wanted to stay with me, but I knew there was nothing they could do and there was only one bed. So at about 2:00 am they headed to T's to sleep. Thankfully, Becca was not working since it was summer time so she had gone to our house to take care of Payton and Preston for us!

The next several days were a blur. Dr. Tappel, our pediatrician, came in first thing Monday morning to meet with us. The first spinal tap was unusable so he performed another spinal tap. Parker's fever reached a high of 102.9 at one point. He was miserable. Just sleeping, eating, and moaning. Darron was a mess. His dad was turning 70 and the entire family was to go fishing to celebrate and Darron had to make the choice to miss what would be the last fishing trip with his dad. IV's were given, and changed, several times. Nurses were constantly in and out to hang antibiotic fluids and check his temperature. Dr. Tappel came by several times a day to check on Parker, and us. An ultrasound of Parker's head was performed to rule out any bleeding in the brain. We were put in a non-air-flow room until it was determined he did not have chicken pox.

Finally, on Wednesday or Thursday of that week, after exhausting all other tests and ruling out all other possibilities, it was determined that little Parker either had a bad viral infection that his body would work through, or bacterial menegitis which could be VERY dangerous if not treated. So, we ll agreed to air on the side of caution and continued treating for the menengitis, which meant 7 days of IV antibiotics. We had already been on the antibiotics since Sunday, so we needed to stay the rest of the week. No problem, as long as it meant my little man was being taken care of!

I left the hospital only one time that week while Darron stayed with Parker. Luckily, because I was nursing, the hospital gave me three meal vouchers a day to use in the cafeteria. So while Parker was sleeping, I would sneak away just long enough to grab some food and head back to the room.

I certainly wasn't lonely that week. I was SO BLESSED by so many people coming by the visit. We had numerous friends from church coming by to check on us and pray for Parker. We also had wonderful friends bringing us food, drinks, magazines, movies, music, and little gifts for Parker. The pastor and his family from our chuch brought a huge tub FULL of snacks and drinks. Another dear friend brought a bag full of homemade food and snacks. To say I was well taken care of is an understatement!

And I was also blessed by dear friends who took lots of time to come sit with me and keep me company. Darron came by everyday, but he was still having to work (he had his big audit that week) and he was also still being dad to Preston and Payton.

Marquel was a HUGE help. She kept Preston and Payton for us one day and spent LOTs of time at the hospital with me!

Darron had a hard time not being able to be with me and Parker all the time, but he did a fantastic job balancing work, us, and the other kids.

This is my sweet Parker in the ER after he had his IV put in. It took two tries to get it in and then they had to change it out midweek. Poor little guy. He was such a trooper!

The one positive about the hosital was that it got Parker sleeping in his own bed. Until this visit, he wouldn't sleep well unless he was in bed with me. He felt too terrible to care where he slept, so he got used to sleeping on his own. The nurses wouldn't let me hold him if I was asleep, so we had no choice. :)
It was so hard seeing him like this. I'm just so thankful they didn't have to put the IV in his head.

This was the ultrasound to make sure there was no bleeding in the brain. Praise the Lord it came by totally normal and Parker slept through the whole thing!

Becca was a complete lifesavor during this week. She (and Craig) stayed with Payton and Preston Sunday night through Wednesday afternoon and spoiled them rotten. Then, she spent time everyday at the hospital with me and Parker....I'm talking hours.....just keeping us company and being an emotional support for me. She was truly a blessing to our family.

Now it's November and Parker is 4 1/2 months old. It seems like forever ago that we were in the hospital. He's a big 16 pound, healthy baby boy. You would never have a clue he spent a week being sick.

While I don't ever want to experience something so scarey and uncertain with one of my children again, I am thankful for what God showed us during that time. Darron and I pulled together and were a strength for each other during a VERY stressful time, a time when it's easy to take out frustrations on each other. God showed us what He intended for a Christian family to be like..a family ralling around another family to pray, offer support, bring food, take care of kids, hug and love on, and just be there when needed. I had no idea that many people deeply cared about our family. I can't imagine going through an experience like this without having the love and support of a Christian family. And God also showed us that He is in control, that He has a plan, and that He is always with us.

This experience came during the mist of a storm for our family. Darron's dad was battling pancreatic cancer and each day was a new uncertainty. Just when we thought we were already in a valley, we found ourselves in an uncertain place with Parker and his health. But we never felt alone and we always had a peace knowing that our Father was surrounding us with His love and comfort. Praise the Lord!