Jimmy is already trying to one up his brother

Poor little Ben has been an admittedly sickly child, he goes to daycare so we rather anticipated that. He has had croup, pneumonia, weird head shapes, broken teeth. . . . The list goes on and on and yet we have never once been recommended to go to the emergency room.  Lil Jimmy has three times now and is has a hospitalization to boot.

We went to Wisconsin to celebrate Doo-Doos birthday and see everyone and quickly everyone began to fall ill.  Ben had his usual perma cold cough to start, the second night Jimmy hardly slept - although I thought it was because he was in a new bed and because he was overstimulated from the adventure park we went to that day for Ben.  

By the third night uncle Aaron was brewing the cold and Sarah got it the fourth night.  All was well though, Jimmy started to cough but was still OK.  We headed back to MN and brought Nana with us.  We went to the outlets and the zoo and Trader Joes and were having loads of fun. 

 Except for the tantrum right before lunch. . .

Then Jimmy got a fever on Saturday night, Tylenol knocked it down but it wouldn't go away.  We brought him in on Tuesday and were told he had a double ear infection and chest congestion and left with a nebulizer and amoxicillin.  His fever spiked again that night and the next night he screamed - not cried but screamed - the entire night. He was not keeping food down either for several days so we returned to the doctor.  Long story short she sent us to be admitted to the hospital for pneumonia and persistent ear infection.

 To add to the drama that same morning my dear friends were boarding planes to fly in to visit for the weekend, so between navigating the road to Children's Hospital and filling family in we had to let them know what has happening.  I was not mentally capable of making a rational decision - luckily they were - and were able to cancel flights on time, although I do think that Caitlin may have already been en route to the hospital.  

We had to get triaged through the ER and poor guy got an IV and needed another urine catheter to check for kidney problems and a cannula for oxygen.  

 

He tested positive for RSV and we ended up there for three nights.  They said he didn't actually have pneumonia - that the fluids in his lungs were a result of the RSV.  He got IV antibiotics for his ear infection and some amazing green diarrhea.  It is so weird to have to be changing this many diapers for him, his usual cycle is a hefty dookie every 3-5 days so we are "enjoying" his more frequent deuces.  He started to feel better pretty quickly after the second round of antibiotics.

The goal he had to meet before going home was spending an entire night without needing oxygen to keep his oxygen saturation up. . 

 

And he did it!!

Through all of this Nana just happened to be here.  At first she was just coming through the previous weekend but with him being sick I asked her to stay and help, and then she was going home the morning after the scream fest and I asked her to wait until after his doctor appointment - thank goodness, and then she was going to go home Saturday but was able to stay because the hospital wouldn't let us go.  Whew is all I can say.  

I feel so happy that we live so close to such a great hospital, the entire facility is geared towards kiddos, the colors, the menus, the nurses outfits, it is really amazing.  Jimmy was never ever in any danger at all, he just needed more care than we could give him at home, but still, good to know they are there.

I got to have a little break from it all and see Ben as he wasn't allowed there.  From October - April kids under 5 are not allowed to visit.  Nana brought him to St. Paul and we went to the Minnesota Children's Museum which just happens to be having a dinosaur exhibit right now.  I can honestly say that I have NEVER seen Ben as excited as he was when he walked in and saw a nearly life size replica of "Daddy Dinosaur" and "Auntie Sarah Dinosaur."  He was running from dinosaur to dinosaur unable to focus on which one he wanted to touch first.  It was adorable and hilarious at the same time.

 They had a little face painting station set up which he rather enjoyed.

 A childs size kitchen that he could cook in.

 

Now poor Nana has the nasty bug - at least I know my little biological weapons work :)

We have been home now for a night and Jimmy seems to be better except for his voice.  If he wasn't pitiful enough with everything that happened, he now is hoarse and can't reach his previous levels of pterodactyl screams and may very well lose his voice all together.

Thank goodness for that and for insurance.  Whew.  We are going to meet our deductible this year for sho.