Easter Morning

4.12.09




Easter morning was wonderful! We enjoyed watching Trey's excitement grow and grow as he opened each of his presents. Tian has been enjoying his presents with each bottle he drinks! (The "Grand"Bunny knows JUST what Tian needs! Thank you mom and dad!)

Easter Eve

4.11.09
Trey was looking forward to Easter for about a month! To be at Grandma and Grandpa Bend's home was extra special. My grandparents, GiGi and G.Pa were staying with my parents, helping with the property and birthing of the cows which was icing on the cake for us.

When at my parents home, Trey enjoys listening to bedtime stories in Derek's bed with my mom reading. Trey usually ends up falling asleep. This night, Derek was pretending to sleep while I took the picture!

We started a new Easter Tradition this year. We set out a carrot for the Easter Bunny!

deer

4.11.09
This is the sight we saw driving down my parent's driveway. This is why I sometimes don't understand why Justin travels miles and miles, and hours away to go hunting when I grew up with THIS in my front yard.



Mind you, this is only half of the herd! The other half is on the other side of our driveway!

Trey asked me, "Are those white-tail deer?"

General Store

4.11.09
There is this dinky town, about 40 miles outside of Bend on Highway 20 that has a rundown General Store with a red door. I have a thing for red doors I think! About 10 miles from here, Tian got hungry and couldn't wait another 30 miles! So, on the side of Highway 20, counting the cars and trucks with Trey, I fed Tian. At one point, Trey said, "This is boring!"

Onward Bend, OR

4.11.09
Onward Bend, Oregon, here we come! My first trip, by myself, with the two boys!

Easter Breakfast

4.11.09
Our ward held their annual Easter Breakfast and Egg Hunt. Justin went to the building early and helped with the breakfast's scambled eggs! (They were delicious I might add!) Trey leaped out of bed, asking to attend the Easter Egg Hunt this morning; he had been counting down the days to it. He and his friend Megan went around together with their matching Easter Pails, searching for eggs! (unfortunately, Megan's "M" fell off RIGHT before the big hunt! Sorry Megan!)
After the hunt, we were off to Bend, to celebrate Easter with my parents and my grandparents!

Trey and Megan waiting for the big hunt!





It was here that Tian sat for the first time, alone, for a picture!

Double Ear Infection AND Virus

4.16.09
On Tian's 7 month birthday, we were BACK in the ER. The night before, Tian spiked a fever and wanted to be held, sitting upright all night long. Tian never sleeps while being held, unless at church. Tian was supposed to be back to his normal self within about 24 hours, but he still didn't seem right. He is usually so happy and hungry. He hadn't wanted a bottle or eat in 10 hours. When he tried to suck on his bottle, he would start screaming. SO, back to ST. Charles for another visit. This time we entered the ER at 10am!

Because the ER and Pediatrician physician couldn't see his eardrums the first visit we had, I figured he had an ear infection. Before even cleaning out his ears, once again, an IV was placed. THIS time, three nurses evaluated his veins, and there was only ONE stick! Of course, in his head!

See the little white plastic cone on the side of his head: This was supposed to protect his IV! IT did it's job. This was the one and only IV needed!

Tian's White Blood Cell Count had elevated to 27,900 from 27,300 which concerned the doctors. So, after cleaning out Tian's ears which demonstrated some red, bulging ear drums, a RSV and Influenza test was taken by a swab up the nose. Next, it was for a chest x-ray. I got to see my new friend Samantha in the radiology department again. She recognized Tian's name and came and got us from our ER room! I told her I could do whatever she needed me to do! I forewarned my mom of the nasty contraption we were going to put Tian into. I don't think I told her he would scream bloody murder, but I should have! With the Pigostat, to have the baby scream is a GOOD thing! Their lungs work harder, demonstrating better lung patterns!





This is not Tian but some poor child I found on Google Images! Yes, this is a Pigostat, and this is what your child will be put in if they ever need a chest x-ray. Actually, this is WHAT they should put your child in IF they need a chest x-ray. The pigostat really does give the best results although it looks awful. My mom said it looked like some carnival ride gone bad!

I hope Samantha didn't think I was a control freak, but I put Tian in the pigostat and positioned him the best I could. I am sure she was thinking, "You freak. This is MY job." But, I could have retaliated and said, "Yes, but this is my child, and I want the BEST picture for him, thank you very much!" They had a chest x-ray room IN their ER! Something we should have gotten when we opened our new ER! (I know my co-workers can agree with me on this one!!!)

Tian's chest x-ray came back clear as ever. His RSV and Influenza tests came back negative. His throat looked clear, although they couldn't see any farther then his tonsils.

With his elevating White Blood Cell Count, the doctors could only figure it was due to the double ear infection and a virus that had grown within his vocal chords. Not only had he been crying for virtually 2 days straight, he had a virus in his vocal chords, making him very hoarse. He was barely audible when he cried which was so sad.

We were set up with a Pediatrician for the following day, for a follow up. We were given a prescription for Amoxicilin with a diet of Pedialyte, rice cereal, and bananas again.

4 hours from admission, we were discharged again. Hopefully to never return to that sweet ER! Poor little Tian. He was a new baby after just his first dose of antibiotics. I can't imagine a world without antibiotics. Thank heavens for medicine!

Thank you mom again for coming with me to the ER! When we first arrived at the ER, the *dumb* triage nurse wasn't going to let my mom come back with me. She said it was "against policy" to have more then ONE visitor in the exam room. (which I was very confused about. How come my mom was able to come with me just 48 short hours ago? The only explanation for this policy was given by Samantha, our radiology friend. She said the night shift is cool, the day shift are haters! HMMMM!) I was so sad. I followed directions and went back by myself. When the nurses began to prep Tian for the IV, I knew we were going to be there for awhile and asked if my mom could come back with me. The nurses agreed that their policy was ridiculous and let her come back. I am so appreciative of her selflessness and loving ways. This was a Thursday, one of the busiest days of the week for her. Not only with being the Relief Society President, but with the responsibilities of my youngest brother and his activities. She didn't seem in the least bit fazed to spend the morning and mid afternoon with us! Thank you mom!

Sleeping

4.14.09
After our night in the ER, Tian came home and slept. He slept and slept AND slept for SIX hours! He woke up once to eat, and he drank THREE bottles of Pedialyte! There was always someone by his side; therefore, he is now quite the needy boy, expecting someone to be with him always!

Our night with Intussusception

4.14.09
Tian woke up at 12am for a bottle, ate his bottle and went back to sleep soundly. About an hour later, Tian woke up screaming! I picked him up, started walking with him to calm him down, but soon realized this wasn't a tired cry or a hungry cry. This was a cry due to pain, and I didn't know what to do. Grandma GiGi was woken up, Grandma Bend was woken up, and the three of us tried to calm the little guy down. We turned on the tv, turned on the fireplace, rubbed his back, NOTHING would work. He would cry and cry his little heart out for a while, stop crying for a minute, and then cry again. After two hours of crying, he vomited (projectile!) and took a short nap for about an hour. He woke up screaming once again, not wanting his bottle and still in pain, so after arranging for GiGi and G.Pa to take care of Derek and Trey, my mom and I headed to the ER at about 4am. On the ride to the ER, we found Tian has a liking to the song "The Boys Are Back" from High School Musical.
Thankfully, the ER was quiet, they got us right back, and strangly, Tian was calm. Once the sweet nurse named Erin took Tian's weight (which was 18 pounds, 13 ounces) and took his temperature (which seemed normal, although I don't remember the degrees) Tian began screaming again. The pediatrician met us, looked in Tian's ears and was unable to see his ear drum due to earwax. (so gross, but I am NOT about to be cleaning out a 6 month old's ears. Dangerous!) They thought even IF Tian's ears were red to some degree, he wouldn't be screaming like he was.

Next, it was to the IV! Poor little guy! He was stuck in the arm twice, in the foot once or twice (I forget!) and finally after many failed attempts, ended up calling a neonatal nurse down from upstairs and was able to get an IV in Tian's scalp.

Tian fell asleep like this. Staring at my mom, so sad.

Looking back at these pictures, I just hurt for our little guy. This doesn't even look like our easily pacified Tian. So much pain. The brown "tape" around his head is called CoBan and it was "supposed" to hold his IV in place. Pretty lame, considering the IV slid out of his vein and was needed to be placed for a SECOND time into a different vein in the head. The second IV was placed by a pediatric Life Flight trauma nurse. She was so sweet, patient and loving.

While the nurses were having difficulty with the IV, I asked if a Sarah Mattix was working that evening in Phlebotomy. They said she was and that they would tell her we were admitted. Sarah was a friend of mine from High School and we still keep in contact. I hadn't told her we were in town, feeling terrible THIS was how we were going to be meeting each other!




Doesn't Sarah look good for working a 11 hour shift during the night? Don't mind me; I look like a tired mom who had been awake since 1am. Only getting an hour and a half worth of sleep, due to staying up late, chatting with my sweet, caring, loving friend Abbey! Just like we were back in high school! Poor Tian looks miserable. Notice the bandaid on Tian's left heel from ONE of the IV sticks.


After the IV was placed, Tian began receiving fluids and soon later, pain medication. At this point, we were told he might have Intusussception, a telescoping of the bowel, and many tests needed to be ran. Through the IV, blood was taken, and Tian had a White Blood Cell Count of 27, 3000. A KUB (x-ray including the Kidneys, Ureter, and Bladder) was taken portably in the ER room, which didn't demonstrate anything abnormal.

A pediatrian, by the name of Dr. Chun was called in. My mom, as well as all of the nurses and ER physican all spoke highly of Dr. Chun. I was surprised when a caucasian man, around 65 years of age, walked through the door with jeans and a fleece. He too confirmed the diagnosis as Intusussception and said a Air Barium Enima was ordered, and we were waiting in line for radiology. A 13 year old girl with a lacerated liver was in radiology at the moment, and she was in a more traumatic situation then we were. (Of course, I didn't begin to argue with a liver bleed!) While we waited for Radiology, Dr. Chun performed a rectal exam on Tian which he said his bowels felt very tight at first, but when he was complete, the bowels felt loose. He also took a stool sample (I know, WAY too much info!) which demonstrated some blood. I asked him if the blood was a result of the rectal exam, but he said no. The blood was from the bowel.

I asked Dr. Chun if the high White Blood Cell Count could be caused from #1. Cancer or #2. Appendicitis. He said cancer is usually very slow growing and doesn't necessarily cause pain. And with Appendicitis, the pain is usually a dull pain on the lower right quadrant of the abdomen and demonstrates a White Blood Cell Count of only 10,000. At this point, I was so scared, hoping that we could find out what was causing Tian so much pain.

Before we were taken to Radiology, the pain medication was administered through Tian's IV and he began to calm down. I met the nicest Radiologic Technologist named Samantha. We quickly became friends and exchanged radiology information.



Off to Radiology and riding in style. Get that baby a blanket!

I informed them of my profession and they let me assist in Tian's procedure. I left the tipping to Samantha. The radiologist was very straight forward and informative. He assured me air was able to move throughout the entire bowel and he didn't suspect Intusussception. Meaning, Dr. Chun corrected the problem with the rectal exam.

While speaking with the nurses in the ER, I asked them how many cases of Intusussception have they seen. One nurse, who has been working in the ER for 3 years said she has seen MAYBE 3 cases.


After 6 hours in the ER and some good pain medication, Tian was a happy camper. We were given instructions to feed Tian bananas, rice cereal and pedialyte. This would be Tian's first time eating bananas, and just like any other food he has tried, (except for Barley!) he loved them! He also loved the tiny bottle he had in the ER full of Pedialyte.

Happy boy with Grandma Bend
The second IV, sans the CoBan!

So much happier our little guy became, thanks to pain medication

Tian thought he was such a big boy with his itty bitty bottle! So stinkin' cute!

We are so thankful to all of you who have called and thought about us! Thank you for your prayers!

Bend for Easter

To keep those of you from thinking we have fallen off the face of the earth: we haven't! The boys and I took a trip to Bend, Oregon for Easter, and have had to extend our stay due to some health issues! We are all doing well, just resting and recovering. Thank heavens for family who have taken such good care of our little family! Thank you Grandma and Grandpa Bend for the countless hours you have helped our family. Thank you GiGi and G.Pa for your caring ways and selflessness! We are truly blessed!


Here are Grandma and Grandpa Bend with the boys 4.13.09, about 12 hours before everything hit the fan!


This face on Tian, the sad eyes and the pulling on the ears should have been my FIRST clue something was going down, but I just chalked it up to him "finding" his ears, among other body "parts" he had found earlier in the week.

After two days in the Emergency Room (on two different occasions) these were Tian's diagnosis: Intussusception (a condition that develops when one part of the intestine folds into itself, like a telescope), double ear infection, a virus in his vocal chords (which has left him virtually without a voice) and of course, teething.

Our little Tian has been such a trooper. With three IV's placed within his scalp (after being poked 7 times prior to finding ONE good vein in his scalp), a KUB (x-ray of the Kidney's, Ureter, and Bladder), an Air Barium Enima (THANKFULLY, they did NOT need to use Barium. At this point of the day, he was on pain medication), a rectal exam (after which Dr. Chun thought he "cured" Tian's Intussusception), a chest x-ray, swab for RSV and Influenza, catheter for a urine analysis, antibiotics through the IV, and plenty of fluids, we think this little guy is back to normal. Tian has been smiling, waking up blowing kisses (his new thing since coming to Bend), attempting to show us "how big he is" by raising his arms, and giving hugs to anyone willing to get near this little virus-infected sweetheart! We sure do love this little guy, sickness and all.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. Thank you for your visits, your calls and your well wishes! We couldn't have gotten through this week without your thoughts, concerns, prayers and support. We love you all and are so grateful for friends and family like you!