Micah's First Visit to the E.R.

Today started out as a normal nice, relaxing Saturday, but ended up quite different. Micah has had a reoccuring cough for over 2 months. We have been on two different rounds of antibiotics, but nothing has helped. Today it was particularly bad. I tried to lay him down for a nap two different times, but each time he coughed so bad that he could not go to sleep. This was after taking prescription strength cough medicine. Micah has wheezed a little in the mornings over the last two months, but today it seemed as if his wheezing was a lot worse and it would not go away. It would just happen to be over the weekend when a new symptom develops. I called the doctor on call at his clinic. She said that wheezing is considered an emergency and that he needed to go to the E.R. I knew what that meant...the rest of our Saturday would be spent at the hospital and we would leave there a little more poor than when we arrived. We try to avoid the emergency room at all cost, but Charlie put his foot down and said that we did not have a choice.

Micah hated being there! He has seen his fair share of doctors over the last year and a half. He did not want them to listen to him breathe or take his oxygen levels. His oxygen level was a little low and the E.R. doctor did confirm that he was wheezing, so he ordered a breathing treatment for Micah. This was the only part of the whole ordeal that Micah liked. He had a smile on his face the whole time the medicine was blowing into his face. He looked really funny! Then came the X-Ray. Charlie took him to have this done. I waited out in the hallway and heard him screaming bloody murder. I don't think I have ever heard him so upset. What made matters worse is that he was tired from not having gotten a nap all day. Micah is a toddler that requires much sleep. They had to have two guys to hold Micah down for his X-Ray and he even has a bruise on his arm now from being held down with so much force. Poor little guy.

The X-Ray came back normal and the breathing treament brought up his oxygen levels, so we were ready to go home. They sent us home with an inhaler for times when Micah starts wheezing again.

To make the night even more interesting...We get home from the hospital and take Micah out of the car, I give him night night hugs and kisses and realize that he feels warm. I check his temperature and sure enough, he has a fever of 100.6. What is the deal with that? His temperature was normal when they checked us into the E.R. I don't know what the fever is about, but with the help of a little Tylenol, Micah is now down for the night...at least we hope!