Poked and Prodded

Owen had been running a fever of 102-103.7 beginning last Wednesday. I called the pediatrician on Thursday to see how concerned I needed to be and they informed me it was most likely a virus that is going around. They had seen kids with a 105 temperature lasting for up to five days. So I continued to give Owen Tylenol and Motrin to ease his pain and bring down his temp.

I call the doctor's office back on Friday because Owen had also been complaining of lower back pain. I hadn't put two and two together on Thursday that they might be related so decided to call to see if I needed to be concerned about the back pain accompanying the fever.

The doctor's office wanted to see us at 4:30 that afternoon. We couldn't get in with our pediatrician, but were able to get in with the doctor who stitched up Owen's head. I get a call from preschool to come get Carson at 12:30 (on Friday). They said he was running a 101 temp. So Owen and I went to get Carson.

So anyway, off to the doctor we go to take Owen. Carson (husband) surprises me and meets me there...thank goodness! The doctor was very concerned with the lower back thing. She wanted a bunch of tests and x-rays ran. They took blood, blew a vein. Then realized they needed more blood just to not find another vein. The doctor checked to make sure the pain wasn't constipation so she strapped on the glove, lubed up her pinkie finger and jammed it up his rear. Then she wanted his urine, but since he's not potty trained the only way to do it is to stick a catheter up his boy part. (Carson swore it went in 3 feet.) He also had the little scope thing stuck in his ears, nose and throat. Well this whole time while he's getting poked and prodded he's crying to go down the slide in the waiting room at the pediatrician's office. Not to mention he was scared to death and so confused as to why the doctor and nurses were hurting him again (don't forget these are the same people who strapped him down to the table to stitch up his head.)

In the mean time little Carson's cheeks get redder and redder. They discover he has a 102 temp. He pukes up mucus. The doctor said his throat was really red and swollen. They checked him for Strep throat. It came back negative. Luckily, there is nothing seriously wrong with him and gave him Tylenol to ease his pain. They do find that Owen has ear infection (his first one.)

We finally get out to the waiting area to go down the slide. Both boys are minding their own business having a great time and all of a sudden Owen grabs his crotch and falls to his knees screaming. Apparently, it kills to go potty. They forgot to warn us of this, but then told us it could continue to hurt for like two days and it they were pretty accurate. He was still in pain two days later when he went potty.

We wait for paper work at the pediatrician's office and get sent off the to emergency room (the doctor's office is closed by this time.) Owen needs x-rays. They also need to draw more blood (that they didn't get earlier.) I am too pregnant to hold Owen for blood work in the chair so Carson does it. I hear him cry for like five minutes. Carson proceeds to later tell me there was a needle in Owen's arm the whole time he was crying. They weren't able to get enough blood, but we are hoping what they got will be enough.

We wait and wait. I'm ready to take little Carson to get some dinner and as we are walking out the door they come for Owen's x-rays. Little Carson and I wait for Owen to get done with his x-rays before getting dinner (it's about 7:00pm by this time.) Well, I can't go in with him due to the radiation so Carson is in there to comfort him. Owen is scared to death and has been traumatized beyond belief by this time, but makes it though all the x-rays.

I then take the boys with me to get dinner and to head home. We were instructed by the pediatrician's office not to leave the emergency room until we have our test results in our hand, but the poor boys had to be starving. It was past 7:30 and we usually eat by 5:30. Not to mention neither ate anything for lunch and it was their bedtime on top of it all.

So, I get food and go home. The doctor on call from our clinic calls me and gets mad that I took Owen home, but I told her he was starving and that Carson was at the emergency room waiting for the results just as they instructed. She said it was useless for him to be there without Owen. They needed Owen there just in case they needed to admit him to the hospital. I told her if that was the case, we'd load him back up in the car and drive him to the hospital. I mean really, the boys (and I) needed to get home. There is only so much you can take of a waiting room no matter if you're two or 32. We were all tired and hungry. We finally get home four hours from the time we left. It was a very long day!

So, to get to the end of this long story it turns out that Owen is fine. I guess better safe than sorry...the tests were a lot for a two year old to take, but he was a trooper. They were testing him to see if there was an infection in his spine, hips, blood, and/or kidneys and for pneumonia. We are still waiting on the results of one blood test, but as of Tuesday it looked clear. That is good news.

We are all still confused what caused Owen's back pain, but are so grateful that he seems to be fine. He was almost back to 100% as of Monday. Both boys are suffering from colds, but other than that we are all doing well.

Big Boys

It's official! Carson and Owen have moved to their big boy bed. Papa and Mimi came to Wichita to paint (thanks Papa) and help put Carson and Owen's new room together the last weekend in September. The boys do fantastic sleeping in their "new Jets bed." It was a bittersweet moment for me to see them laying just like big boys in their new bed the first night.
Carson and Owen share a bed. They have found this is a much better deal than sharing a crib (like they had been doing -by choice- the last couple of weeks before moving into the big bed.) The first night in their bed their cute little heads were laying perfectly on their pillows and their feet were where they were supposed to be, too. It was so sad. I'm not sure I'm ready for them to be "big" yet. They are still my babies according to my heart, but when I see how independent they have become I know I have to let them grow up and try new things on their own. I am beginning to understand what people mean when they tell me kids grow up so fast. My babies have turned into toddlers right before my eyes.

Let's go outside

"Outside?" This question is usually asked to me at least once no later than 8 o'clock every morning. Carson and Owen love playing outside. They especially love when the neighbor kids come over to play. It is not unusual to see a crew of 3 two year olds, a four year old, a 9 year old, 11 year old, two very pregnant women and one non pregnant mother in our driveway in the afternoons.
During the day (while the older kids are at school) Carson and Owen love to play with Addie. She is a very sweet little two year old who keeps Carson and Owen on their toes. All three of them are very good buddies and play very well together. They love to ride their "cycle bikes" and play basketball. It is not unusual for Emily (Addie's mother) and I to see Addie kissing and hugging one of the boys at any given time during our outings. It is so cute when the kids first lay eyes on each other. All three will scream each other's name in a high pitch scream in glee and joy then will clap and jump up and down.