Another first with my last

Sorry all, I went on vacation a couple of weeks ago and apparently went on vacation from blogging too. In truth I wasn't great at pulling out my camera and just yesterday called my sister to get some pictures. Now that I've waited so long, I've finally decided to go ahead and write about something else while I wait.

A year ago at the beginning of October we went to visit my family. We arrived on Friday and out of know where, little Hayden who was only 1 1/2 yrs old began to cough. Not just your normal cough but a croup cough. How did I know...I didn't but my sister who has had much experience with it did. I thought ok a little cough no big deal. NOT! Every hour he got worse. Friday night was miserable, he coughed and wheezed all night long. I slept, actually didn't sleep making sure that he didn't stop breathing on me. Saturday morning finally came and through out the day he seemed to be a little better. I thought "Ok, let's make it through the

weekend, we go home Monday I can get him into the Pediatrician on Tuesday". I also figured since my sister had been through it she would say something if he got to bad.

Saturday night came and he was worse than ever. He didn't sleep with all the coughing and trying to breath. His poor little chest was con caving with each breath. The morning finally came and we went through the day dealing with our sad little sick one. By night I was besides myself with worry, I of course was voicing my concern to Eric, my sisters, and their husbands. I had an internal fight going on in my head, part of me knew he needed help, part

of me wanted to make it home to my own Dr. (I was in a small town with no Pediatricians and didn't have much faith in them), part of me still thought that if he was that bad someone would say something. Well after wondering aloud if I should take him to the ER, they did. My sister thought I should of taken him in the day before but didn't want to over step any boundaries and when I called my Mom who lives close by she had voiced the same thing and was relieved that I was going in.

We grabbed a diaper bag and went to the ER. We went to the check

in and they immediately took his oxygen level and took us right back. It was a whirlwind at this point and because I didn't write it down I don't remember specifics. I do remember them instantly starting breathing treatments and doing another one shortly after because they couldn't get his oxygen level where they wanted it. I remember stepping out because it was braking my heart as they wrapped him tightly to put an IV in. Eric being the great man and father he is stayed in the room and pinned Hayden down all the while Hayden looked at him with that look of "Hey why aren't you helping me and why are you letting them do this to me". (Eric said that this was one of the most difficult things he had to do as a father.) I remember a nurse saying, "It's a good thing you brought him in, he was working way to hard to breath he would of eventually tired and wouldn't of been able to go on." Now I don't know if this is true or if she was being dramatic. But it I was glad I was there and feeling guilty for not responding to my instinct to bring him in earlier. I remember

them starting the steroids because after 2 or 3 breathing treatments he still wasn't where he needed to be. They did check him in. He spent the rest of the night enclosed in a oxygen tent with straight oxygen being blown in. He did sleep a little better from all the medication, oxygen, and the fact that he cried and screamed for several hours while all this took place.

By morning he was doing much better. We ended up staying one more night and he slowly got better. He did pretty well considering he was only 1. The part that bothered him the most were the breathing treatments and most of all that IV, as you can see they had to bandage most of his arm just to keep it in. I was humbled by the great care we received there. I really didn't want to have anything to do with a small town hospital and doctors but I believe he received the best care he could have. I was also blessed that this happened while I was close to my family. I never once had to worry about our other 4 children. I know this was minor compared to what some of you have gone through but to me it was huge!