Complaint Department is now closed

Remember when your parents said “quit crying or I’ll give you something to really cry about”?  Well my last whining/crying post suggests that I need to be reminded that life aint so bad.

Larkin has had a cold for several days, missed 2 days of school but I figured she would pull out of it ok.  Yesterday afternoon after her nap she vomited but she acted super happy and kept playing so I didn’t worry it – but kept an eye on her. 

I got to give a big shout out to my neighbor Nick H who was over.  Nick visits when he is looking for food, wants to see Larkin or play with our dogs.  He ate some pasta I had made the night before and was chatting Larkin up.  I took great photos which I will post at the bottom.  Nick was with me when Larkin started to get sick.  I sat with Larkin and figured this 25 yr old guy would bolt after watching the projectile.  Instead, Nick got out paper towels, Clorox, kept the dogs away and cleaned up all of Larkin’s mess.  Now you tell me ….. how much more AWESOME can it get??  He didn’t flinch and poo pooed me away when I said that I would clean it all up.

She refused to eat dinner except for blueberries, drank her heavy whipping cream milk and took her medications.  Most of us lose our appetite when we have a cold so I didn’t push her to eat.  I ran her bath and my girlfriend Laura stopped by and we sat and talked while L was in the tub.

L stood up and held onto the side of the tub and I could tell she was uncomfortable.  Then came round 2 of total recall of dinner.   Good times.  Neat.  Wish you were here? 

So as I have taken all of you down this road before, I am now proactive and not reactive when she starts to throw up.  All paperwork is in place so everyone takes us seriously, and we headed for the Emergency Department.  7:30 – 9:00 we wait.  Larkin is laughing, playing and wanting to walk around.  I am starting to regret this course but frankly I don’t know any other way to handle it.  Long story short she is seen and the ED doc calls down the Pediatric Hospitalist to speak with us.  I ask for the blood work to make a decision and we wait another hour. 

About 11:00 the results show that she is severely ketotic.  Larkin is already kept in high ketosis with her diet for seizure control, but with the little bit of vomit combined with no food we are now over the edge.  I tell the doc that I am comfortable taking her home if she doesn’t vomit while we do an infusion of fluids and that her other metabolic panels are fine.  Sodium, and more importantly potassium, both of which came back good. 

They hook up an IV and I send Andy home for an hour to walk the dogs and then come back and get us.  11:15 she throws up.  Plan has changed and we head up to Ped’s.  (big shout out to the guy that looked into our room window while I pulled off my vomit soaked sweater, did you like my bra?)

She blows her IV, throws up some more and after several pokes from a couple of different departments, the ED shows up and tries and gets the IV in!!!  YEAH!!!

They are checking her for Rotavirus, RSV and the flu.  Who knows but right now she is sleeping.  Although she cried herself to sleep which SHE NEVER CRIES so I know her tummy hurts and more than likely she will throw up when she wakes.  No fever so that is one blessing and her pain tolerance is so high that it is difficult to tell exactly what is wrong.

The next time I start to complain about daddy daughter dances maybe I will remember there is much more in life to be thankful for instead.  The floor is fairly full with babies, kids and young adults.  Everyone has a story.  Everyone has worries beyond dances, which in the end – don’t matter.  I am thankful we are in such a great facility that takes us seriously, gives her great care and makes sure we are doing ok.  

Happy Thanksgiving from the 8^th floor at Carle.  My nephew Hudson was born yesterday morning and I am missing going to see him and his parents.  Enjoy your family time for Larkin and me.  Don’t forget to thank God for your blessings, don’t eat too much and be kind to one another.