Well today I wanted to talk a bit about our time in Children's Hospital. Ack can't even believe my baby was in Children's Hospital... and now it seems so long ago. And although it was extremely traumatic for us, in the big picture it was a just a little blip compared to what the families who frequent there often have to go through.
Rupert was two weeks old and I awoke to him making a weird gasping noise. He was holding his breath in between breaths. He didn't seem panicked or in the least bit sick. We called the nurse hotline and they told us to go to emerg. We were admitted right away, as most tiny little babies are! Then the tests began. Blood work, xrays, catheters... bring it on. Rupert, Colin and I all cried together. They were our little boys first real tears. We were scared and felt absolutely helpless as the doctor's didn't really know what was going on with him. One doctor suggested that it might be his bowels were twisted and causing a blockage. He referred us on to children's hospital and Rupert and I took our first ride in an ambulance. He slept the entire way and I cried. Colin met us there and we were put in a room in emerg. Meanwhile before we left Rupert had been fitted with a nose tube to suck some the air out of his stomach which had gathered there from his labored breathing. Poor little monkey!
While we were at Children's Hospital a nurse had come in to check his vitals which is when he developed a fever. Apparently 2 week old babies are not allowed to have fevers. So they started him immediately on antibiotics and then began more tests. On the order were another catheter, more blood work and this time a lumbar puncture to rule out meningitis. Again came the tears... oh and did I mention this was our 5 year anniversary?
{Getting Rupert ready for his lumbar puncture. We gave hugs and kisses and then left the room. The nurses told us he didn't cry at all. I don't care if they told us that just to make us feel better... because it did.}
Rupert was put on an IV for his antibiotics and we got to take the nose tube out, which left a nasty red mark on his precious little face! They admitted us to a quiet little room with a single bed. They said that one of us could spend the night if the other wanted to go home. Sorry what now? Our two week old is in Children's Hospital, neither of us was going anywhere. So we shared a little single bed, not that we slept very much anyways.
Also during this time I was having a really hard time nursing Rupert. He just did not enjoy it at all! And consequently neither did I. So I was pumping, but apparently not quite enough as I developed an incredibly nasty case of mastitis. So just to recap, it's our five year wedding anniversary, our 2 week old child is in Children's Hospital with a fever and we don't know why, our baby is not eating properly and I have mastitis.... welcome to parenthood!
On day 2 or 3 of our time there his lab work came back and he had a urinary tract infection. Phew! Easily treatable. So they kept us there for 5 days so that Rupert could be on IV antibiotics for that time and then sent us home with oral antibiotics.
{Rupert after we decided that formula was the way to go! I think he likes it ;) }
I can not say enough good things about the Children's Hospital and it's staff!!!!! They are some of the kindest people we have ever met. They took amazing care of Rupert and us for that matter! They are knowledgeable and efficient and so very very sweet. Colin and I can no longer say "not today" when asked anywhere to donate money to Children's Hospital!
We also spent mother's day there, so here is a picture of Rupert and I on our first mother's day together. Rupert had a to wear a plastic barrier over his IV so that he wouldn't pull on it and then a soft fabric over top so he wouldn't scratch his face when he bonked himself!
Although it was a horrible experience to have to go through, looking back on it I am able to see how God really had his hands wrapped around us and our little boy. During the events I was like, "why God? seriously! Why do we need to go through this?" And although I know God didn't do this to us on purpose, I know He did teach us a lesson on trusting Him to take care of us in all circumstances... and that HE loves our little boy even more than we ever could. I know we still have many lessons to learn on trusting Him, as I kind of like to have control over things happening in my life... but we are learning day by day that HE is God and He has promised that He will never leave us nor forsake us and we need to rest in that promise!
Now as not leave you with sad photos of a baby in Children's Hospital, I thought I would include some fun photos of our first walk together as a family! Sooooo little a boy! Cannot even handle it!
Well today is Rupe's party day with family which will be much fun, although we will be missing some Aunties, Uncles and cousins... who we send our love to! And tomorrow is the big day! Birthday boy NUMBER 1!
