My Colin - 3 1/2 years later

With nothing to do this weekend because it is so hot outside, Scott gave me the task of going through the file cabinet and shredding everything that is old.  After checking the IRS and other various websites, I began to go through mountains of paper.  I came to a folder titled, "Colin Medical".  As I was going through throwing away all the EOB's, I came across a get well card from the staff at Cardinal Glennon's Children's Hospital.  I started to cry.  Then I began to remember.  It was from February 2009.  It was about 7pm on 2/10/2009, and I noticed that Colin felt a little warm.  I took his temp and it was 100.4, the temperature that we were told is at the point when you call the doctor.  So I did.  I was really hoping they would tell me to give him Tylenol and put him to bed.  Instead, they told me that since he was less than 12 weeks old, I need to take him to the ER.

Up to that point in time, I had never had to go to the ER, wasn't sure what to expect, and was kind of scared that, at that moment, his life was in my hands, because Scott was working nights.   I called Scott told him what was going on, and he met me at St. Anthony's.  By the time we got into a room, which wasn't long, his temp was at 101.8.   The ER physician came in, took down all the information, and then told us that since he was so young, they would have to do a spinal tap to rule out meningitis.  I was horrified that my little baby would have to go through that, plus, they made us leave the room.  At first, I was upset, but then realized it was probably better that I didn't watch, because I know I would have broken down, and not stayed strong for him.  When the procedure was over, they came to get us.  When we walked back in the room; of course, he was crying, so I just put my face beside his and being "shushing".  He slowly, yet surely began to go to sleep.  The results came back negative and we thought what a relief, now I can give him Tylenol, and we can go home.   Not so fast!  Now they had to test for Influenza A and RSV, so we waited, and both were negative.  So, again, since he was so little, and they couldn't find what was wrong, we had to go to either St. John's or Cardinal Glennon for a 24 hour course of antibiotics.  We went to Cardinal Glennon.

In hindsight, we should have went to St. John's, since that is where is pediatrician is from, but no big deal to us.  So they made us go by ambulance to the other hospital.  Once there, we got a room, and hooked him up to the monitors, and we began to wait.

Scott decided to go home, get some rest and clothes and come back up later.    He didn't make back; due to the fact that he got home, and then became horribly ill.   We were so scared over what might be happening to Colin, that we didn't put two and two together.  That is, until I became horribly ill several hours later.  It was like my world was crashing. I was supposed to be taking care of my 7 week old baby, and instead my little sister, Karlee, was taking care of both of us.  And she too became sick the next day.  Once we realized that either Scott or myself had come down with nasty virus, and given to Colin, who became sick the fastest, our minds were a little more at ease.   Hopefully, our bodies would follow.   I called my doctor's exchange   A different doctor from his office was on call.   I remember frantically explaining to her that I needed something to make me stop vomiting because I was in the hospital with  my little boy and needed to care for him.  She told me to start taking Imodium.  That didn't work.    I called back and asked if she would call something in to the hospital pharmacy; but she would not.  So I waited until the next morning, called, and spoke to my doctor's nurse, explained the situation, and thankfully my doctor didn't hesitate to call in a prescription for Zofran.  It is a wonder drug!  And my wonderful mother paid $82 for 20 pills.  I will never forget that she was stepped in to care for me, as I was caring for my own son.

So we are into the next day, thinking it would be a breeze from there on out, except I noticed Colin's diapers were getting very loose.  As it turned out, one of the nurses gave him a double dose of the antibiotic.   I was thankful that they came and told me.  I assume they expected me to be irate, but I wasn't.  I was thankful.  Thankful that this side effect wasn't from the unknown, like his fever.   So they put in an IV, in his scalp, of all places, and gave him fluids so he wouldn't dehydrate.  Scott was able to come up the next day and help.  We both slowly got better, and Colin was able to go home on the 13th.

Little did we know that over the next few years, he would go through many episodes like this, with the same result; it must be a virus.  I asked his pediatrician once if there was a "Dr. House" in St. Louis.  She said there was, and that he worked at Children's hospital.  So many more tests were done, so many blood draws, to no avail.

He still gets fevers, some as high as 106.  It's not parvovirus, it's not genetic, it's not periodic fever syndrome, and it's not cancer. They still have no idea why he gets them.  He has no other symptoms to help them figure it out.   So now, I chart when, at what temp, and how long his fevers last, and usually once a year we have the possibility of seeing "Dr. House" again.

Although they have yet to figure it out, if they ever will, I realize that I shouldn't worry.  I should trust in Jesus.  I have become stronger in my faith by walking with others who have gone through so much more than I have; like The Harms, or The Stanley's.

I remember holding Colin and crying, but I would (and still do) sing to him a song I heard in church.

Be joyful always; 
pray continually;
give thanks in all circumstances, 
for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 
(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV)

Colin is now 3 and growing so quickly.  That is one of the reason's I started this blog. To journal about my boys.  And hope that others will share in the experience.   

I love you Calyn Boo!