Can this be the last of it?

I really thought we were on the up & up.  Logan & Olivia seem much better.  Still snotty noses.  And still a random coughing fit here or there.  But as Jeff put it "its hard to think of them as sick right now when you compare to where they started."  So they have come a very long way.  Still iffy on eating.  We eat a lot of snacks, yogurt, applesauce...and not a lot of meals.  But with time all will fall back in place.  If I didn't mention it, Livi ended up on antibiotics too over the weekend for a fever she spiked.  Since we were mid-blizzard, they just called us in an antibiotic {assuming ear infection} & we were to follow up Tuesday when we brought Logan in.  {An appointment that got moved to Thursday for reasons you are about to discover!}

However, this "journey" just keeps on giving.

Monday night Hayden got croupy again.  Started around 11pm.  We did a steamy shower.  We stood outside in the cold air half a dozen times.  We did a handful of saline neb treatments.  He wouldn't sleep.  He coughed literally non-stop for an hour before he finally fell asleep.  The problem, he had an inspiratory stridor with every breath.  Sounded like he was gasping for breath in his sleep.  I called the late night nurse like, who heard him over the phone before I said anything beyond "little boy with croup...." & she said "honey you need to take him in right now!"  And so at 3am we made that all too familiar journey to the ER yet again.  {note to parents- if you think to yourself at 11pm 'I bet we end up in the ER before the night is over'.... just go to the ER at midnight instead of waiting until 3am!}

However, little did I know that this visit to the ER was about to be the most horrible experience of my entire life.  Hayden was somewhat better by the time we arrived, {note to all croupy parents- in my experience with ER croup visits, that car ride over always makes them sound better... but go anyway!} but he got a breathing treatment & some steroids.  And we got to hang out for an hour to make sure he improved before we headed home.  The ER was not busy at all & we got immediate service.  Hayden was extremely well behaved & learned like his brother & sister have how awesome breathing medicine is.  How do I know this?  When I asked him if he was ready to go home, he replied, "No more doctor.  More all better."  Makes me feel horrible we tried to home remidy it for so long.  And tonight for the first time in his life, he sat still for an entire nebulizer treatment without so much as a tear. 

Sounds like a pretty "good" trip to the ER, right?  So what was so horrible?

Believe it or not, I came down with the stomach flu while we were in the ER.  I could not have made this horror story up if I had tried.  The timing could not have been more horrific.  It will haunt my memory for a while.  {*Warning!!  Stop reading now if you don't want to hear about my GI issues*}

About 10 minutes after arriving in the ER, waiting for a breathing treatment, my stomache felt off.  About 30 seconds later... I unplugged Hayden's monitor, picked him up, ran into the hall, asked which way to the bathroom.... and the 2 of us ran for the toilet.  Diarrhea.  Poor Hayden standing on the cold ER bathroom floor, with one sock off, pulse ox wrapped around his toe & dragging behind him, watching his poor sick mama.  Poor Hayden!  Back to the ER room we went.

I tossed & turned in the chair, as my stomach tossed & turned, while Hayden got his breathing treatment.  The longest 10-15 minutes ever.  I didn't think I would make it through.  I was in a cold sweat.  Taking deep breaths.  "You can do it!  You have to be the mom!"  When it was done.  I plopped Hayden down on the rocking chair, ran out the door, "yelled" at the nurses "Somebody has to watch him, I'm going to be sick..." as I again ran for the bathroom door.  More diarrhea.  I could hear poor Hayden screaming for me down the hall.  I felt so helpless.  I could hardly handle myself, let alone take care of him the way he deserved. 

I got back to the ER room, picked Hayden up & got him calmed down.  I was in a cold sweat.  I had the shakes.  He was scared & coughing so hard since he was so upset.  And with every cough, my head pounded & my stomach shook.  I had no more than got him calmed down, just in time to plop him down on the ER bed, grab the trashcan in the room & toss my cookies.  Poor sick Hayden sat & watched in horror. 

Grandma GG was on her way to come bail me out, as this time folks, she & I both knew I was in over my head.  They got us out of the ER pretty quickly.... and I managed to make it the drive home.  I thought maybe this was all just fatigue, sleeplessness & stress at 3am.  But as the hours went on, it was pretty clear I had a bug of some sort.

Grandma GG took the kids home for the day Tuesday, so I could deal with my flu in peace.  It was pretty fast moving at least.  And Grandma Maas came up Wednesday so I could rest.  Even I didn't realize how tired I was, but I literally slept 75% of the day.  Thank you God for giving us fantastic Grandmas!!

I am feeling pretty much better flu-wise.  Just post-flu slow moving.  And praying with all my might, the kiddos don't catch this!!  Where the heck did I even get this??!!  I honestly in 2 weeks have been to Target once.  For a few groceries & Livi's doll highchair.  Beyond that I haven't left this sick house!  I still have a crappy cough, keeps me up at night.  I've had it since mid-Livi hospital stay.  I'm sure I have RSV too, only I didn't think it was supposed to cause adults more than a mild-cold?  I feel like I have COPD!

Hayden is still coughing quite a bit.  Gets in some serious coughing fits where he can't stand.  Coughs 'til he gags & cries.  Needs his blanket & his mama & has to catch his breath for a while after.  But its no longer croupy & no more stridor.  So I'm not sure what this all means for him related to the RSV?  Especially since he kinda started this all with his croup 2 weeks ago.  The ER doctor confirmed that any virus can cause croup, so its likely he too has RSV & the RSV virus is responsible for this.  But he didn't culture him & it doesn't really matter because we just treat the symptoms anyways.  I just wish I knew if he has had RSV this whole time & just now got re-sick?  As in RSV can last a solid 3 weeks {plus recovery time after} & he's still just carrying it & just got croup from it again?  Or if this is the first of his real RSV?  Or if somehow he is getting it again?  Millions of questions for Dr. Harrison tomorrow.  He has had a bit of a fever today too & if we weren't already going to the pediatrician tomorrow I'd of called.  But well go tomorrow, get them all checked out & hopefully not pick up anything additional while we are there! 

This is all just becoming so unreal its all I can do but laugh.  I couldn't of made up a sickness tall tale this tall had I tried.  Its just too much.  I just laugh & wonder whats next? 

Hopefully a healthy remainder of 2012.  I think we've earned it!!