{ER Visit}

It seems as though we are starting out 2013 like we did in 2012...at the hospital.  This weekend Ben ended up at the ER at Texas Children's Hospital again.  Luckily, only for a few hours and he is back to his normal self today.  It started Saturday morning...

Chat left the house Saturday morning around 9:00 am to go coach baseball.  The boys and I were going to hang out and then go up around 11:00 so they could run around on the bases and have some fun.  Around 10:15, we were watching a movie on the couch and Luke wanted an apple.  I cut him some slices and we were all vegging out.  Ben wanted some of his apple, so I let him gnaw on a slice.  Then things went downhill.  He started choking on a piece and looked at me in pure panic.  Within a few seconds he got it down, but was a bit upset.  I calmed him down and thought he was doing better.  But over the next 10 minutes, I could just tell something was wrong.  He was swallowing often and I could hear it loudly.  It sounded like there was something in his throat.  He would just try to swallow and swallow and swallow.  He started drooling like crazy.  His entire shirt got soaked within that 10 minutes or so.  He started making weird gagging noises.  He also started getting upset.  He would cry and cry, but then just lay down on my lap and be very, very still.  And then start crying again.  I start to panic at this point.

You can see the drool in this picture..

My entire family was out of town and I couldn't reach Chat.  I decided to call my pediatrician's office to see what I should do.  Luckily our pediatrician was actually in the office that morning and got on the phone.  She said "go to the ER now".  She explained that a piece of apple could be stuck somewhere down the esophagus and you just don't know where it could move.  I have been shaking for about 20 minutes now worried like crazy over Ben.  I somehow get us all together and get the kids in the car (Luke was with us since I couldn't find anyone to watch him) and we head to the medical center.  I finally get ahold of Chat and he meets me there to get Luke.

We get to the hospital and go through the process.  We get called back to registration within about 10 minutes and wait for them to process the paperwork.  At this time, Ben starts vomiting.  We both get drenched in vomit and he is making these weird faces and keeps vomiting.  It is like his body was trying to expel whatever was in his throat.  I start screaming for help because he seems to be choking more.  He finally stops for a bit and we get into a room.  More vomit, etc.  He then seems to perk up.  I stop hearing the swallowing sound, he stops vomiting and he is not crying as much.  They send us to get a check and neck xray to make sure it is out.  The xrays come back clear and after making him drink some juice and waiting some time to make sure he doesn't throw it up, we are sent home with orders to come back if he exhibits anymore of these signs.

Getting x-rayed...

We go home and Ben sleeps for 3 1/2 hours.  I guess crying for two to three hours tuckered him out.  He woke up, ate a little banana and was in good spirits.  I tried feeding him dinner around 7:00 pm and he didn't eat, but I didn't think much of it.  By 8:00, the four of us were all piled on our bed watching TV enjoying just being together.  Ben was in a great mood and having fun.  Then all of a sudden, he starts vomiting all over the bed.  All three of us got it all over us.  Chat changed and put Luke in the bath to get the vomit off of him.  I get Ben off the bed and calm him down because I think it startled him.  He gets over it and starts smiling and playing once again.

 

Acting like nothing happened...

I look back at our discharge papers and it says "If there is unexplained vomiting you must bring him back". I called the pediatrician's office and they page our doctor. She calls back and says she is giving him one more chance. If he throws up one more time, we have to go back to the ER. She was concerned about the possibility of the piece of food aspirating, etc. I put Ben down for bed after a little bit of water.  I am worried sick wondering if he was okay to go to sleep, but my pediatrician reassured me that he wouldn't just stop breathing.  I cry a little to Chat because I am so worried and we all go to bed.   

Luckily the night was uneventful.  I set our alarms so we could wake up and check on Ben.  He slept decent and we all woke up fine in the morning.  He seemed a bit off all day Sunday.  He wouldn't eat, was drinking excessively, was tired and not having any wet diapers.  I start to panic once again and text with the pediatrician.  I decide to bring him in today if he doesn't eat again.

We woke up and went to our favorite breakfast spot and put pancakes and eggs in front of Ben and he went to town.  YAY!!!  He has been eating, drinking, acting normal all day.  It has been wonderful and we are so relieved. 

I still worry so much about Ben and wondering why we keep having issues with him.  We barely had been to the doctor for Luke at this age and with Ben we keep ending up in the hospital.  I love this little boy so much and don't know what I would do if something happened we couldn't fix or get help.  I am so thankful that everything turned out okay.  Being back at that hospital and all the feelings it brought back had me in tears.  I having been praying and giving thanks that he is okay and back in our arms and home and that nothing more serious happened.  I am exhausted after watching him so closely all weekend and being in constant worry.  So it is early to bed tonight and hoping for a wonderul and SAFE Tuesday.