Our Crazy, Emotinal, & Exhausting Week!

Last week started out to be an eventful one that is just now calming down.  Last Monday, Cannon started puking in the morning.  He is normally not a spitty baby and has only vomited one other time, when I had the flu when he was just a few weeks old.  And even then it was just a little.  So when he began projectile vomiting large amounts Monday morning, I knew he was sick.  I knew he was sick but just thought it was a little stomach bug that he would get over quickly.  He did better that afternoon and started keeping down a little more food, until about 3:30.  He woke up from his nap and I fed him.  I put him in his swing and about 20 minutes later he started throwing up and didn't stop for several minutes.  This time it wasn't milk, it was bile.  I quickly called our Pediatrician's office and they told me to bring him.  Luckily, Gary was almost home and Cannon and I left the second he came through the door.  When we got to the doctors office (not our regular pediatritian) Cannon started to vomit again.  The doctor saw with her own eyes the volume and color and was alarmed.  She sent us to get an ultrasound and x-ray to rule out an obstruction.  At this point she was mentioning having to go North to a more advanced facility, so I called Gary and told him he needed to meet me and find someone to watch Delaney.  She also sent us to get labs done.  When we were waiting to get labs, Cannon was very lethargic and limp.  He again threw up all over me and him :(  Poor baby was so miserable and didn't feel good at all.  You could see it by the look in his eyes.   After the tests came back fairly normal and talking with the specialists up North, they agreed we needed to be sent via air.  They had to place an IV and NG tube.  It was so hard to watch him have to go through those things.   Once we got there we were sent for more tests.  Gary drove up and met us there while I flew with Cannon.  My sister met us at the hospital too and took Delaney for us.  We weren't admitted until 3:30 am.  So it was a long night!  First thing that morning we had to go do more tests so we only slept for a few hours once we got settled.  And Cannon's IV kept beeping so we were woke up almost every 10-20 minutes.  After the tests came back ok, they took his NG tube out and let me feed him.  He kept it all down until that evening when we were getting ready to go home.  He started throwing up again.  It was so frustrating and emotional.  I was worried he was going to have to have his NG tube placed again and not be able to eat again.  Fortunately, he only did it a few times and then was able to keep his food down.  We ended up staying another night.  He kept his food down all throughout that night and the next day until that evening when we were home.  He threw up at home once but has not since then.  He slowly was getting better.  Having more wet diapers, pooping like normal again, and eating as often as he should. 

Everything was going well until Thursday evening when I noticed he looked a little jaundiced.  I was pretty sure that wasn't normal at his age and asked one of my girlfriends who used to be a NICU nurse.  She said it was not normal at all, and that I needed to call my Pediatrician.  I kept a close eye on him that night and called in the morning.  Again, they had us come right in.  At this point his jaundice was pretty much gone but the doctor ordered labs.  His labs came back showing that his liver enzymes were elevated.  This along with some of his other symptoms had us concerned about a disease called Biliary Atresea, a scary disease requiring a liver transplant.  It was such an emotional time filled with lots of prayer.  They ordered more testing to be done on Monday.  It was the longest weekend of my life.  Friday evening I found out someone from my work passed away after battling cancer and a stroke.  It was hard news to hear.  She was a special lady and was the reason I was hired 5 years ago.  That next morning I woke up feeling more positive and hopeful that everything was going to be okay.  I felt like she was now watching over Cannon.  She made Cannon a blanket and gave it to me at my baby shower.  We wrapped him in it all weekend and brought it with us on Monday too.  Cannon definitely has a special angel watching out for him.

Monday we found out that he does not have Biliary Atresea.  We were relieved to hear that.  We still don't know exactly what is going on but he seems to be back to 100% normal so I am comforted by that and hoping there is nothing severe going on.  We have some follow up appointments this month that may help us determine more but other than that we are happy to be home and I am happy to have my sweet boy back to normal.  I learned quickly that watching your child be so helpless and sick is a horrible experience.  And even worse was watching him go through all the pokes and pain.  It was torturous and I would have taken his place in a heartbeat.  I tried to be strong for Cannon and comfort him as much as I could but I felt helpless too.  It was heart wrenching.  We were so thankful for the help of friends and family through this difficult time. We could not have done it without you all!

This is how that morning started....poor sick boy.  Delaney was in charge of blankets if you couldn't tell:)

This was at the Pediatrician's office...he had this look on his face and I knew he didn't feel good:(

He did fine on the way up, I thought he would sleep from being so sick and tired but he actually stayed awake for most of the flight.  He finally fell asleep at the end. 

 

This was on the gurney in the Emergency Department.  We waited there for a long time.  Gary was able to sleep there, I was not.  

 

All snuggled in for the night after finally being admitted. 

He was much happier after he got to eat and have his NG tube removed.

 

 

Cuddling with Daddy

 

 

Going home!

 

Happy to be home!

 

 

HIDA scan on Monday.  He again had to have an IV.  The actual test only took about an hour.  He slept through most of it.  In all of this, he has learned to be a pacifier baby but still will only take it if he has to and can't be fed instead.

 

Waiting with Daddy