Updated
Tuesday, November 2, 1999
It wasn't
an ear infection -- our first trip to the ER
Late Wednesday,
after Katie had taken Jackson around to meet her friends and clients,
we realized that he was acting a little different than usual. He was
getting fussy, but we just thought he had a long day -- and around
7 pm is the universal fussy baby time, so we just figured it was one
of the 'bad days' instead of one of the 'good'. Well, we knew Thursday
morning that things were not really normal, but the situation hadn't
gotten that bad yet. As Thursday wore on, however, it was obvious
that Jackson was in some kind of pain -- we just couldn't do anything
to keep him calm and help him relax.
By now, it had
been over 24 hours of our son crying more than normal and really not
sleeping well. I decided that it was time to call the doctor. Because
it was just after closing time, the answering service had to page
the doctor on call. Over 40 minutes later -- filled with inconsolable
screams from Jackson -- we got a call from one of Dr. Campbell's partners.
From what we described, he thought Jackson might have an ear infection,
and he asked us to call Friday morning for an early appointment. In
the mean time, we were to treat the discomfort with Tylenol and make
the best of it.
Well, that was
a tall order. I'd say that Katie got maybe two and a half hours of
sleep. I got a bit more, but was still constantly wakened by horrific
cries from Jackson. Needless to say, it was a long night. We called
the doctor as soon as they opened for business and got the earliest
appointment available -- 10:15. Well, we tried to feed him, but he
really hadn't taken anything since 2 am. With that as the case, we
got him changed, packed up and brought him to the doctor. It was obvious
that he was in the most pain he'd ever been in, so we were happy to
get to the office and hopefully get some news.
Well, we got
in to see Dr. Campbell at about 10:30 and she looked him over and
said that she really couldn't understand why he was feeling bad, but
that she would run some tests. She ordered a blood test and a urine
test. The blood test took 2 tries, and after over two and a half hours
of sitting in a tiny room with a crying child, Jackson still wasn't
able to eat or urinate -- we would have to go home and come back at
around 3:30 to get more information.
So we did --
I took care of Jackson from then until Katie got back from work and
went to the doctor. I was planning on going, but we had to get some
things from the store for the group of people who were coming to our
house Friday night, so Katie asked me to go to the store and get things
ready while she went to the doctor. We thought everything would be
routine, so it really wasn't a big deal.
Well, it wasn't
routine. I got a call at the store at about 4:15 from Katie telling
me she was on the way to the emergency room at Texas Childrens' on
orders from the doctor. They couldn't tell what the problem was, and
thought he needed emergency care. Well, I basically dropped what I
was doing and rushed to the hospital. On the way, I called one of
the couples that was coming over and told them where the key would
be -- and told them what was going on. Then I went in and tried to
find Katie and Jackson in the emergency room.
Once I finally
found them, Katie told me that she was really needing to pump her
breast milk -- she hadn't been able to feed Jackson and her breasts
were starting to hurt. Well, I knew she needed the pump from the house,
but I wanted to make sure they got into a spot in the emergency room
and were being seen before I left. We finally got a room and the nurse
took all the basic information. I decided that it was best that I
get over to see Carolyn before she left work to let you know what
was going on -- what little we knew -- so I took off to go see her
and get the pump.
What was going
on in my mind? I was afraid.
The doctors couldn't
figure out what was wrong with our son, and the only thing I knew
was that it was serious enough that we were in the emergency room.
I really didn't know if things were going to be ok or if we were really
in a critical situation -- but I was prepared for the worst. When
doctors can't tell you what is going on, it's never a good sign. With
all that going on, and the physical and emotional state Katie and
I were both in at the time, the only thing on my mind was getting
the best care for my son. Quite frankly, I didn't care who the doctor
was that took care of him -- I just knew that Texas Childrens is the
best pediatric care hospital in the US, and I wanted to do everything
I could to get through this.
Well, when I
got back from getting the pump, they were already in the middle of
inserting a tube for blood work and an IV. I'm not one for blood --
especially from my little baby -- so I didn't take that very well.
Anyway, after that was over, Katie excused herself to pump and I took
Jackson to the x-ray area so they could look at his intestines.
Basically, they
thought he might be 'plugged up' or more appropriately, that his bowels
had somehow telescoped in upon themselves and weren't letting anything
pass. To check, the PA on duty put on a latex exam glove, took some
KY gel and popped a pinky up the ol' keester -- and out shot a HUGE
load! I really think it startled the PA, it was so much.
In the end, that
was it. After about an hour and a half, he calmed down and was able
to start feeding a little. He was beat tired, though. At about 9:30
that night, we took him home and over the next day or so, he started
feeling like himself again.
Whew -- I'm glad
that's over.
So, now
that that's over, how about Halloween??
We had a blast
on Halloween! Jackson was feeling 100% better, so it was really a
treat.
Tim, Christina,
Kyle, Tom, Laura, Taylor and Spencer -- and Carolyn -- all came over
for the evening. I cooked red beans and rice and a big batch of Shephards'
Pie and it seemed everyone had a good time.
Taylor came dressed
as a Dinasour, as did Spencer and Kyle (the little ones in matching
outfits). Jackson was a lion. We all went around the block to the
neighbors houses and did the best we could 'trick or treating' --
it's kinda different when it's just 4 parents, 3 infants and a 3 1/2
year old. Several of the neighbors dressed up in scary costumes to
sit on the porch and pass out candy, which just about scared the shit
out of Taylor -- but it was funny, though.
So, I know you're
ready for the photos -- here they are!
