Saturday night
Saturday night David went to a hockey game with our friend Tom. I put Ethan to bed and Emily and I sat down to watch the Disney channel as we often do before bedtime (I am afraid I like the cheesy movies they show as much as she does, I hate to admit!). Emerson was in his swing hanging out and started to fuss to be fed. When I picked him up he was a little wet and I noticed he had spit up. This was no real concern, babies tend to spit up, but Emerson normally does not. I nursed him and within a few minutes he spit up again, still not worried, maybe he is just jumping on the spit up wagon a little late.
I put Emily to bed and Emerson and I hung out and watched TV, he dosed on and off. When David got home Emerson threw up again and David thought he felt warm so we took his temperature. He was at 101 and I was not too concerned because Ethan has had some pretty high fevers (103+) so 101 seemed manageable. We called the pediatrician's office figuring they would give us the proper Tylenol dosage and tell us to bring him in on Monday if he hadn't improved. Well, wrong. Because of his age (2 months) he had to be seen by a doctor right away. OK, that freaked me out. We called the girls across the street (at 1:30 AM) and Kathy came over to stay with the sleeping brood while we go to Children's hospital with Emerson. We are SO lucky to have people we can call on at any hour like that.
When we get into the emergency room it is packed. Lots of parents and sick kids. The registration woman sent me into see the triage nurse. She takes Emerson's temperature and it has gone up to 101.4, so she gives him some Tylenol and sends us to the waiting room.
At a little after 4 AM David leaves to relieve Kathy so she won't have to deal with Ethan who has been getting up at 5AM lately (fun I know). We finally get into a room at 4:45 and a doctor shows up around 5. Well he examines Emerson and tells me what is plan is to find out what's going on. Blood work, fine, urine sample, fine, a spinal tap...WHAT?! At this I nearly loose my cool. I had been holding the tears back so far but they started to fall now. He tried to assure me it wasn't as scary as it sounds, very routine he said. Maybe for him, but in my mind anything involving sticking a needle into my tiny baby's spine is NOT routine. He goes on to say that it is recommended that parents are not present for the procedure so they don't have to manage the parents freaking out on top of the baby crying from being scrunched back into fetal position and stabbed with a needle. Knowing I could not handle it I leave (crying, me, not him) Emerson in their hands.
At 7 they bring him back to me all bundled up and sleeping peacefully. I wait for the doctor, he said the results would take about an hour. Another doctor comes in to examine Emerson (the Attending this time and his fever has reached 102.8) and explains that based on the results of the tests they will either release us or have to admit him. When he unwraps Emerson his little arm looks like it is in a cast, they had put in an IV port and it was all taped up. I had not known this so it was a bit shocking. I am so exhausted, and worried, and sore from going to the gym with my neighbor Danielle Saturday morning (not a good mix of feelings) so I tear up again.
After more Tylenol the fever comes down to 101.7 and the preliminary test results come back clear so they decide to let us go home around 10:30 AM. We have to take him in to the pediatrician on Monday for a follow up visit and to get the culture results. I have been there for more than 8 hours and awake since 6 the day before...I am ready to go home and snuggle my sweet baby (Emerson, not Dave...haha). David comes to pick us up and we all go home to try and get some sleep.
As it turns out it was just a 24 hour virus, thank goodness. Emerson is fine. His fever finally broke Sunday night and by his doctor appointment on Monday he was back to normal and all the results came back clear. Crisis averted, we can return to our normal level of chaos.