Monday, May 14, 2007

Pulling all-nighters

When I was little, staying up all night seemed like such a cool thing to do. When I was about 14 (?) some of my cousins were in from out of town on New Year's Eve. This is the year we lived next door to my Grandma B.

The adults stayed up and visited at her house, and the tween-teen cousins hung out at my house watching a Three Stooges/Laurel & Hardy marathon. Those were the days. Staying up all night, talking, eating, and just enjoying the bonds of friendship. Hah! It was only because we didn't have to get up with babies the next morning.

Ty has a fever tonight. It just camped out at 100.8 (underarm-so add a degree). It didn't go up, but it didn't come down either. After three hours of that, the doctor told us to bring him up to PCMC. I though it might be more convenient if I took him in closer. Silly me.

Always pick driving an hour to an experienced children's hospital over driving 5 minutes to one that's um, well... not so much. I think they tried their best, but it was pretty awful. The room was dirty, and the bedrails on his bed had someone's old yogurt or something on it. Hallelujah for baby wipes!

I used to be very impressed with this hospital and have received good care from them in the past. I don't think I'm going back there unless someone needs stitches - that they can do and you're in and out in about 45 minutes.

I should've gone with my gut and just watched him at home. There is something going on with him, I just can't figure it out. He keeps thrashing about in his sleep. It's almost as if he keeps doing the "cadaver jerk" thing. You know where you dream you are falling off of a cliff or out of bed and your body gives an involuntary jerk, waking you up.

His labs came back and they were great, so now I'm confused. What is going on here?
Hematocrit 29
WBC 8.9

He does have some blood on the side of his big toe, but the doc said it was no big deal and shouldn't be causing the fever. They drew blood cultures and took a "sample" but we won't know anything for about 48 hours. Nothing much else we could do - they ended up giving him an IV fluid dump of 1/2 a liter and then a dose of Rocefen. I brought him home so he could sleep in the comfort of his own bed after 4 1/2 long hours.

Mr. Triumph had to bring his medication from home because their hospital pharmacy no longer carries the drug he takes. What? I've never run into that before. And the tech had no idea about sterile technique; it's okay that I screwed up when collecting a sample and touched something I shouldn't have because "Hey, those are sterile gloves, right?"

I know I sound crabby, but that's because I am. After all, it's 3:30 in the morning and I'm not looking forward to waking up in 3 1/2 hours. Who said getting to stay up all night was a cool thing to do? My head hurts.

Gritching is over. (I think that word is a made-up family word that means really grumpy whining).

I am very grateful to be a mom, and it's nights like these that make me appreciate my own mom even more. I was fortunate enough to have my mom there when Tyler was born. She got to see him fight his way here and peek out.

We have always been close, even when I was being a stinker (I can't believe she loved me through all of that) and it seems we are even more so now. We have shared a lot these past two years.

She has helped me so many times, there is no way I will ever be able to make it up to her. She has always been a remarkable example to me in serving others. I don't think she realizes just how much she does for people. I want her to know that I realize it and I think she's wonderful! I watched her lovingly care for both her parents at the end of their lives. Even now, there are so many ways she serves others.

Mom, I love you. I don't know how I'd pull it all off without your support. Thank you for being my mom.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Thanks Corrie for the kinds thoughts about good old mom!! I don't mind getting older if it means that my children look back and appreciate how much I loved them and appreciate my mixed efforts at being a caring mom. I am so impressed with your own efforts at being a great mom. You are succeeding--always reaching out for new ways helping your children to grow up to be valuable citizens. I haven's failed as a mom either if you and your siblings are a gauge----You do so much to help so many yourself. Thanks for being such a terrific daughter, mom, granddaughter, and wife (weel I guess I'll have to ask Blaine about that. Love Mom