Another Trip to the ER

I know!  So long without ever going to the ER and then two trips in a month!  This time it was the stomach bug that has been making its way around every school, day care, and church in the area.  Justin just couldn't seem to get rid of it.  He threw up once a day for a week, and then he started twice a day and added a rash.  He stopped eating and drinking and we were at a loss.  And since he had been through croup and an ear infection in the past month, we were concerned that Justin just didn't have enough in him to heal himself.  We called our doctor friends and after getting the advice to take him in, we did.  We were a little smarter this time though:  We packed our bags with plenty of snacks, plus the DVD player, laptop, and ipad.  We took toys for Travis and Justin's blanket and lovey.  Oh, and coffee for us!

We got to the ER at a perfect time, not busy at all, and the same doctor from our last visit was there to treat Justin so she was familiar with all his oddities.  And our same nurse too!  God answered my prayers!

It took four times to get an IV in Justin, and they ended up having to use his thumb-sucking hand.  They did a blood draw and gave him fluid.  The labs all came back with nothing, so all we had to do was get Justin to eat something without throwing it up.  He hadn't been wanting to eat anything, but after the bag of fluid he was like a different little boy!  He was interested in the food and engaged in activities rather than lying limply in my arms.  Don't get me wrong, again we watched an insane amount of television, and both my legs went numb in the process, but it helped us turn the corner.

I hated making the trip, again, but it was a good decision this time.  We are struggling to learn Justin's "line" - the point when none of our techniques are working and we need medical intervention.  I think I jump quicker with Justin than I would with Travis, but I don't want to jump too quickly.  Each illness we learn something new, but then something else comes along and we flounder again.  Poor Justin, when he can talk he is so going to tell us off!

Since being at the ER it has been two and a half days keeping everything down.  We did get some medicine to help in that area and it has been working.  We were able to return to therapy for the first time in two weeks, and Justin is getting less clingy and more enthusiastic every day.  So glad!

Justin enjoyed playing around with the sick bag they gave us.  He bit on it!

The electronic age in the ER:  Justin watching his movie and Travis playing on the Disney website.  Mommy got to stand up for a minute and eat some lunch!