Trip to St. Lukes

Just when I began to think that I had our weekend all planned out, something totally unexpected happened and made me realize that life doesn't usually play out the way I plan.

I took the kids to the store to make our usual grocery run and Jack kept spitting on the floor. I was so embarrassed and got kind of mad at him cause he wasn't listening to me when I'd tell him to quit. He just kept saying that he had a yucky taste in his mouth and I thought it was from the smoothie sample that he had! I was so rushed I never thought that it really could have been a yucky taste. When we got home around 8:30, the flood gates opened and Jack made a mess all over. I gave him his medicine, his suppository, and a Pedialyte popsicle and hoped that it was just something he ate or that he had swallowed too much pool water from earlier in the day. I always get super anxious when Jack throws up because of his MCAD. Which is short for; Medium Chain Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase Deficiency Disorder. (For those of you who don't know what that is, it is a rare metabolic disorder. In a brief summary, it means that his body can't go too long without food, he can't fast, and when he gets sick and can't keep food or liquids down....it can be very serious and his body can begin to shut down. He needs his calories to prevent metabolic acidosis and hypoglycemia.) Well, he had 6 more 'episodes' with no end in sight, so I called his metabolic specialist over at OHSU and they told me I should get him in before his blood sugar dropped. It was 1:00 am. I said a prayer, called my mom to come over and stay with KJ and Olivia while they were sleeping, packed a few of his favorite books and movies and drove to the downtown St. Lukes hospital cause they have a great pediatric program. I was glad I went because by the time we got there he was up to 10 'episodes'. We've been through this routine so many times, but it never really gets easy. First thing they do is draw blood to check all his levels, the next thing they do is start the D10 IV fluids. This is the part that he ABSOLUTELY HATES. I hate it too. It makes me so sad, cause he really doesn't 'get it', and somehow I am always the one that has to lay across him so he doesn't wiggle too much. Finally at 4:45 am they sent us up to our room on the pediatric floor and after we were all settled it was after 5. By this time we were both exhausted and ready to sleep. As soon as I started to doze off, they came in to check his vitals, etc. This happened all morning, so I am thinking we only really got an hour or so of sleep. Plus, they don't make those fold down chair/beds too comfortable! We had visitors the next day, Dan came back to town, and we got some solid foods to stay down. They sent us home the next night, and we slept so good last night in our own comfy beds!

Anyway, all is well, he is back to his usual happy self. Let's hope this is it for this year. I hate seeing him so sick and it's so stressful for me. Poor little guy was a trooper! During stressful times like that I am always thankful for our good health. I am especially grateful for little Jack!!

In the E.R.

In the hospital room

The first food he kept down! Gotta love Saltines!

His visitors! They came bearing gifts and he loved them!

Finally getting to go home!!