Asthma

Our sweet Caleb has had his fair share of medical issues.  He has has two sets of tubes and ever so often a pretty major asthma attack.  Earlier this year we had to take him to the ER and stayed a couple of nights for an attack.  We have gotten a little better at figuring out his triggers and managing his symptoms with a preventative inhaled steroid.  

However, a few Sundays ago he started out the morning with a little cough.  We gave him a puff of his inhaler and went ahead to church and class.  By the time we got home from eating lunch he was worse.  I gave him two breathing treatments and laid him down for his nap.  I was a hostesses at a baby shower and headed to set up.  By the time I got home, he had gone way downhill.  I tried more breathing treatments, but he had blue lips and was struggling for every breath.  I called the grandparents and raced him up to the hospital.  They gave him the same albuteral that we were doing at home, and it was obvious that wasn't helping.  We at first tried blow by oxygen and his oxygen stats continued to drop.

The only good thing about bringing in a baby who can't breathe is that you immediately get into a room.  Nana met us at the ER.

Chest x-rays were clear for infection, but he was getting more and more agitated.

We then got oxygen into the nose, and without any improvement in our oxygen numbers the decision was made to admit us.  By the time they got the iv started he was so upset.  It broke my heart.  Hunter said he couldn't breathe well enough to nap so he was exhausted, clammy, and had panic in his eyes.  Our ER nurse got in touch with our Dr. and the decision was made to take him to PICU.  That was when I realized how serious we were at the time.

On the way up to the children's floor he started coughing so hard he was throwing up.  He managed to get me and his blanket as well as Nana and the shirt he was wearing.  In ICU they hooked him up to a continuous flow of oxygen, albuteral, magnesium, and steroid for the next 8 hours.  We rested peacefully for a few minutes.

It was getting late by this time, and Honey arrived to take over for the night.  We were the only ones in ICU, and we had an awesome nurse all to ourselves.  This ended up the only sleep we got all night.  Poor guy was really wanting to suck his thumb but all jittery and shaking from the massive amounts of drugs pumping through his system.  Thankfully, he didn't fight his mask too hard all night.  By the morning, he was breathing much better.

sweet angel

By the morning, it was like nothing had happened.  He was his happy self.  After Dr. T rounded we got moved to a regular room.  At this point his lungs sounded good.  I couldn't believe how fast he got better.  This was definitely an answer to prayers!  Mom went on to work, and Caleb and I spent the day together.  It was hard work keeping him untangled and entertained.  

Caleb is such a nice boy.  He was very compliant with all his breathing treatment, medicines, and prodding.  He would greet everyone who came in the room and tell them "bye" when he was tired of being messed with.  He is my little flirt and quickly became a nurse favorite. 

Tuesday morning we were out of there!  They took great care of us, but it's just hard to get any sleep when people are in and out all night long.

All that missed sleep finally caught up to him on the way home.  

His brothers were so happy to have him home!

We have since upped his preventative and added another medication.  So far, we have handled all the changes in temperature pretty well.  Our prayer is that we grow out of this asthma quickly!