Lonely - April 22

You know, I realize that J was very ill this week. And as much as he was a trooper for pulling through with flying colours, I hadn't realized how much J's illness would effect E. 


She's never been without J. Ever. I mean sure, an hour here and there if I could sneak out for groceries with just E, but really, since she's been old enough to be "aware," she has always had J at her side. 


This past week was tough on us all. We pretty much couldn't leave J's side for fear of him being sick or just being so weak he'd fall over. The day I spoke with my doctors office and they told me to take to the hospital right away, I left her for almost 8 hours while I dealt with J. That's the longest I had ever been away from her. By probably 5 hours!
E was so patient. She sat quietly, watching J, trying to get his attention, chirping at him and patiently waiting for him to come over and smother her in hugs and kisses. She waited and waited. For an entire week. 
I've realized these past two days just how much she missed him. 
To see the two of them together just melts my heart. If having kids was just about that, I'd have a whole football team! 

I hope their love lasts forever! 

Kim

Finally - April 21

Finally. J is feeling better! 
After another long evening at the hospital, he's home and seems 100% back to himself. 


I took him to our family doctor yesterday and she was really concerned about his lethargy. He couldn't do anything for himself and it had been going on since Saturday. I tried to tell her his energy that day was an improvement, then she was really worried. She said children can succumb to dehydration. 
She gave me a plan. He had to drink 500 ml before 5pm. It was noon. Otherwise he was to go back in for more hydration. 
Sure, I thought he was doing so much better. He hadn't thrown up in over a day, the diarrhea had stopped too. He wasn't contagious anymore. Obviously he's better! 
I was wrong. 
I took him to visit Grandma 21 briefly while we picked up E from her house. J wasn't able to walk on his own so taking two babies to the doctor wasn't going to happen. 
I stopped at Second Cup to buy him a hot chocolate. The doctor had told me he needed sugar and fluids, hot chocolate seemed perfect. 
Of course, he wouldn't drink it. He couldn't even keep his balance and fell off a kitchen chair, flat on his face on the tile floor at Grandma's. 
I brought him home and put him down for a nap. Despite his need to fluids, he couldn't keep his eyes open. 
He slept for over 3 hours. I tried to wake him 3 times and each time I literally couldn't keep him awake. His eyes rolled back and he fell asleep again. 
Then I was worried!
I had C take him back to the Stollery after work. I definitely had not gotten 500ml into him, maybe 50ml. 
This time they got in much faster than Monday. C said the doctors were great. This time instead of IV hydration, they were thinking they'd need to put a tube down his throat to rehydrate him and allow his bowels to get the food and get moving again. 


They were able to give him an ultimatum. First, they'd try oral rehydration. 5ml of pedialyte every 2 minutes for an hour. He freaked out and wouldn't take the pedialyte but agreed to have milk instead.
C gave him 5ml of milk, every 2 minutes for an hour. 
He perked right up, I could hear him singing songs in the background of my phone updates. Wow. What a relief. 


It is amazing what calories and fluids can do!! 
He got home late last night, wanted to play with E and gave her hugs. I saw my first real smile in a week! 

J having breakfast this morning. I don't think I've ever been so pleased to see him scarf down his Cheerios!! 

Tired - April 19

J continues to be sick. 

We are exhausted to say the least. I can't even imagine how he must feel ... well I have an idea. Seeing him flopped all over the house is enough to make your knees weak. 

If he doesn't turn a corner soon, we'll be back to the hospital for more hydration.

I think being in the health care field and knowing how dangerous dehydration can be makes it easier for me to try and stay on top of it, but it makes it harder knowing what we are fighting when he refuses to drink anything. 

He went to bed at 6:30 last night. 

Hopefully this is it. 

No words of the day since Friday ... so sad. 

Veruca Salt - April 18

I met a real life Veruca Salt today. It was HORRIBLE!
Do you remember her? From Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory?! I don't remember Vercua Salt in the Johnny Depp version, but I mean the original movie. 
She was in the waiting room of the ER today. A horrible little girl. British accent and over and over with the "but Mummie," and "but I don't. want. to!" and not to be out done by "I want to leave straight away! Take me home!" and the incessant whining in a british accent. 
Seriously I was ready to loose it. 
It's bad enough having your own sick kid at the hospital but having to listen to this Mummie try to console the whinyest little girl I have ever seen was about enough to make me leave ... or at least find a new seat far away. 
Too bad the waiting room was completely full. 
2 HOURS I had to listen to them both. 


I think if Jude had been whining too and not passed out on my lap, I might have moved or even stood somewhere else. 


Phew! Rant over! It's been a long day. 

J waiting while I ran around preparing to take him to the hospital. 

Lots of wires to keep a check on his ticker.

IV in and running and alert enough to read his favourite story!  Hooray!

This flu is a nasty one. 

Remember the importance of hand washing!! 

Kim

Poor sick boy - April 17

My poor boy has the flu. 
I' m not sure where he picked it up. With the speed it came on, I'd have thought it was almost immediate but we hadn't left the house in two days prior. 
Friday, he threw up from 4:30 until 9:30 when I finally decided to head to the Stollery. 
We had an episode similar to this last year and we waiting all night before taking him in in the morning. This time I didn't want to wait so long. 
I called my mom for company and a bucket holder for J. We made a stop past Health First on our way and it wasn't very busy so we stayed there. 
It took us until 1am to get home but they got him all "fixed up." The medication Zofran/Ondansetron  they gave him is used on almost all my cancer patients but I see it much more effective on my little guy. Lucky for me!! 
He slept until noon Saturday and we had to wake him at 10:30 this morning for breakfast. 
He's been cuddling or sleeping now since he's been home. Almost two full days. He hasn't left his Daddy's arms! 
He's so tired and dehydrated he can barely sit up without needing to lean on something.
It is so sad. He's been drinking lots of water but can't seem to catch up. 


I know I complain about him being "busy" some days but I'd love to have my busy boy back. 
We have been lucky enough to keep this contained to J (fingers crossed) with lots of hand washing and LOTS of laundry! 

E keeping me company while the boys slept and I caught up on laundry.

I hope he's "back" soon. 

-Kim