He only had six new foods this week since he was in the hospital for one of the days.
chicken from my sandwich at Costco
guacamole
chicken fingers (samples at Sam’s Club)
chicken nuggets (samples at Sam’s Club)
watermelon
provolone cheese
Funny story.
So we were obviously at Sam’s Club one night this week and they had the samples going. I immediately hoped there would be some stuff I could have Owen try because how perfect is a one-bite sample? Besides, he needed one extra food because he had skipped a day—and that was the only thing standing between him and his Reward toy for the week.
First up was fruit punch Vitamin Water and he flat out refused that. That floored me because it’s pretty much water. And he likes to sip daddy’s drinks…so I told him it was like that. NO. Not happening. Okay, moving on.
Next was fancy chicken fingers (meaning real breading that looked like fried chicken and not pulverized cracker coating). He said no. I explained how he needed TWO foods to catch up to earn his toy. He said no. I said “It’s JUST LIKE the popcorn chicken you like except it’s a different shape.” Okay, he’d try it. And he liked it—IMAGINE THAT. 🙄 I asked if he would eat those if I bought them and of course he said yes. Fine, whatever, we’ll get them and worst case Katie and I will eat them (unlike the Gogurt he HAD TO HAVE and PROMISED to eat and he ate one and now refuses to eat them). In the same aisle, he saw the dinosaur chicken nuggets and expressed interest so I asked if he’d eat those, too, and he said yes. Okay, in the cart they go.
So the next aisle’s sample was…chicken nuggets! Tyson brand vs. whatever generic brand the dinosaurs were. I asked Owen if he wanted to try that. No. SERIOUSLY, KID?! You just ate and liked chicken fingers but you don’t want to try chicken nuggets? He kills me. So I again explained about needing an extra food and this is JUST LIKE THE CHICKEN HE JUST ATE…and he agreed to try it. So he’s nibbling on it as we’re going down the next aisle (where Katie scarfed the full sample of red potato potato salad) and before I realize it, HE ASKED IF HE COULD HAVE ANOTHER ONE! 😯 So we made another pass and grabbed another one! Then we put back the dino nuggets and grabbed the Tyson nuggets! WOOHOO!
I didn’t want to push my luck any farther so that was it for him.
Almost as soon as we got home and walked through the door, Tom happened to Skype. Within 30 seconds, Owen told me he had to poop! WOOHOO! So all three of us went in the bathroom (yes, Tom came with us) and…OWEN POOPED! It was still all water but he did it all on his own!!! I was amazed, really.
As we were both praising him, he gets off the potty, points to his mouth, then points to the toilet. Huh? I didn’t think much of it because he has a recent habit of being silent while mouthing words and pointing. But then he leaned over and barfed. Again and again.
One one hand…WHAT?!?!
On the other…YAY!!! He finally realized what was coming and actually remembered that we told him to barf in the toilet!
So Tom got to watch him barf from halfway around the world! And I didn’t have anything to clean up!
Owen: Can you wipe my face?
I’m pretty sure it was just the pizza plus the milk he had when he got home. I guess I should have given him lighter fare for at least a day or so.
Owen did pretty well [trying to] sleep with the lights and vital checks and trips to pee. I wasn’t super comfortable but it wasn’t awful. I turned my lights out at 10:30 and was up at 11:30, 12:30, 3:30, and 5:30—finally getting up for good about 6.
And even though he had strong doses of meds all night…he still didn’t poop (he did pee a few times). He’s a tough bugger, apparently. Or, rather, his poop is the tough bugger. 🙂
He spit up at about 6:15 but it was just phlegm. I had to call the nurse so we could change the bed and get him into a gown. His B also got a little wet so I just threw it in the Family Lounge dryer (I was going to pack an extra B and forgot). Bad mom.
An upset stomach (nausea) can be a side effect of too many meds, so they turned them down (they had been up to the max level). Then he vomited at 7:15 and the tube came out. Ugh. Which means we likely have to go through that torture again. We’re waiting to hear the official next step—though I’m sure it means the tube goes back in because he still needs the meds to poop. 🙁
At least I don’t feel bad for being unsuccessful with the Miralax regimen at home—if they can’t get things going with serious drugs over 12 hours…what hope did I have?
Yep. Another tube. And an enema. Joy.
But before that happens, here’s a happy Owen, cleaned up and in his second gown of the day.
“Mom, I’m gonna lay like this. This is great!”
Of course he’s happy now—he doesn’t know what’s coming. 🙁
Nurse: [Grabbing Owen’s toe.] I think I’m gonna eat this.
Owen: No! I need it! [Taps his toe on the bed.]
Nurse: So I can’t eat it?
Owen: No, toes are for walking, not eating.
It was four hours before he got the second tube. FOUR HOURS. This is walking with the nurse to the treatment room.
This is getting the drugs via the port.
This is Owen on giggle drugs (Versed).
This is putting the tube in. It was a different tube and was done in under 30 seconds this time. Phew.
After he calmed down, they have to blow a puff of air through the tube to see if they can hear it in his belly. Owen wanted to listen, so they let him.
The same as yesterday, we had to wait for an X-ray to confirm tube placement. The air puff can be enough confirmation at some places but here they want to make absolutely sure.
The same as yesterday, he was a hot mess as the drugs wore off. Fine one moment, crying the next.
He wanted to see what he looked like:
It took FOREVER for the X-ray confirmation. So long, in fact—well, at least to me—that I completely forgot about it and panicked and called the nurse (and when I couldn’t get him, snagged the pediatric liaison in the hallway) saying he wasn’t connected to his medicine. I blame lack of sleep.
Tom Skyped in and Owen burst into tears and did NOT want to talk to him. After we hung up, Owen was sad he didn’t talk to him. But didn’t want to talk to him if he called back. Stinker.
Owen finally fell asleep about 1:30 so I ran down to grab a quick bite (and they had a volunteer sit with him in case he woke up while I was gone). Then I took a half hour nap, too.
He can’t easily get to his normal left-hand thumb, so he adjusted. 🙂
They RE-started his meds about 2:30 and planned on doing the enema once he woke up.
As a side note, there have been a few machine snafus—nothing life or death—just annoying.
Of course we get the wonky machine that beeps when you unplug it (it doesn’t hold its charge, apparently) so it starts beeping immediately. That’s nice…especially in the middle of the night. Or when Owen is napping and some other random steady beeps happen. I just push whatever button it’s requesting to shut it up—then go find the nurse.
And I have yet to ask about the nurse call button. No one ever shows up when I press it. Luckily there’s not been a real emergency and I can find someone at the nurses station. (I’m not talking doesn’t show up immediately. I’m talking doesn’t show up after three calls in 15 minutes.)
So…turns out I was using the call buttons on the bed when I was suppose to be using the one on the remote. Yeah, that wasn’t told to me, even when I was talking to the first nurse the first night (about telling Owen not to push that one for fun). I asked some random nurse who was standing outside our room and she cleared it up for me. I used the right button and someone answered in a minute.
Which, oh yeah, Owen pooped! Just a mere 21 hours after starting the meds and 26 hours after being admitted. Hallelujah.
But of course he didn’t go on his own. I had to practically beg him to “just try.” Which he finally did…and then let loose. Yay! But he wasn’t happy—he was crying and drooling. 🙁 I assured him it was okay and that’s what we wanted to happen!! I’m hoping that means we won’t need to do the enema.
He had to pee about a half hour later so I said “Let’s try to poop since we’re already here.” More whining and crying. I almost had to force him on the toilet. Once there? More poop. I just can’t understand how he can hold that all in without feeling uncomfortable or like he’s got to go!
When the nurse finally made it in (he had been admitting a new patient) he was thrilled at Owen’s pooping and agreed we’d hold off on the enema. He said he’d have Owen try to poop while I went to grab dinner.
On the way down, I actually noticed the mat in the elevator. I’ve been in it at least four times since we got here.
When I got back from dinner, I found out from our awesome male nurse that Owen call(s)(ed) him a doctor because he’s male. This is odd because Owen’s pediatrician is a woman (but his GI specialist is a man…) so it looks like we need to have a little talk. Rodney got a kick out of it regardless. 🙂
As we were just sitting there:
Owen: I don’t like needles.
Me: Well you’re done with shots.
Owen: Phhhheeeewwww!! Complete with hand wiping across forehead move.
Me: [Laughing]
So I made Owen poop four more times and the last three were (for all purposes) clear so we’re just waiting on the final word from the doc to get the last X-ray! And he’s already off the meds!
If it was any earlier we’d get to go home tonight…but since it’s a bit of a drive we’ll stay and try to sleep and check out first thing in the morning. (Had he not barfed up the first tube, we’d be about SEVEN hours earlier in this process and surely headed home tonight.)
At 9:30 he was given a clean bill of health—and the okay to eat! Of course, I hadn’t brought ANY snacks (I assumed we’d just eat after he was discharged) but the vending machine had his favorite crackers!! So he was a happy boy!
And the tube should be coming out shortly! (I just wish that part wasn’t taking so long because it’s already WAY past his bedtime (it’s currently 9:45). I know this situation is a bit unusual, but still.)
The doc said he’d cancel the nightly vitals checks so hopefully we can both get some decent sleep…and when the nurse came to take the tube out a little after 10, she said fluids were done, too! YAY! So now at least if he has to pee, he can do it alone (though of course I’ll still hear him). He was excited that he could now potty alone. He still has the port in just in case.
But oh. Taking the tube out. He screeched and cried so much while she was just taking the tape off I was flabbergasted. I mean, I’m sure it didn’t feel great, but I thought his reaction was way overboard…which I blamed on him being overtired. The actual tube removal was nothing in comparison and he about ripped it out himself.
So…an eventful day. Hell, two days. Overall I’d have to say it went much better than I thought. And I really hope we never have to do it again.
The hospital finally called about 10:30 and my sitter came over and even though I was mostly packed and prepped, we didn’t leave until noon (and that included turning around—thankfully before we left the subdivision—to get his B that he forgot to grab).
They weighed and measured him—holy
cow! He’s at 59.8# and 46″ tall!
Just chilling, waiting.
You can see where I get to sleep in the background.
Once he was watching TV he was okay…but he did keep asking for snacks. Poor kid…the last thing he ate was cereal for breakfast. I was going to give him a snack on the way then forgot…and of course all he can have is clear liquids.
I talked to the doctor and she’s really nice. Gave her the quick run through on his status. Of course, the past few days—that he’s been completely off Miralax—he’s pooped just fine…so I was thinking the Miralax was the issue. But…he had pooping issues before the Miralax so we really need to do this to make sure we’re starting from scratch. The doc agreed, saying the X-ray would, of course, show us what was going on.
Getting the X-ray—it came right to us!
Then it was more waiting. And then the doc came and said “Oh yes. He needs it.” She took me back to see the X-ray. She said it’s not that bad, but you can definitely see it in the lower part of his intestine. So I went back and explained to Owen that the picture showed he had lots of poop in his body—and he wanted to see it. So I took him down to see it and the doctor explained it to him as well. By the time I finished talking to the doctor I came back to see this:
Yeah, he loves the adjustable bed. 🙂
Then he was playing doctor with his patients. He diagnosed the turtle with something-I-couldn’t-decipher-poopinosis. Thank you, Doc McStuffins. 🙂
Then. Unfortunately, it was time for the blood draw and tube down the nose. He was a rock star with the blood…
And LOVED his special Spider-Man webbing…
And then they started the drugs. And it was hilarious seeing him loopy.
But then the torture began. Three people holding him down (while he was wrapped in a cocoon) while one nurse tried to insert the tube. And she couldn’t get it. She tried twice. Then another nurse tried. Then they went to a smaller, shorter tube—which went really quickly, but he was already through the roof. Poor kid.
Then back in the room he was a hot mess. Part of it was the meds, but most of it was just him not being comfortable or having any fun. He didn’t want his B, the TV, a movie, or any of his prizes. He didn’t want me to sit with him. He didn’t want dinner (which is good since he can’t have any).
The hardest part is he’d be calm one minute then crying the next saying “I don’t want this [the port in his arm] anymore.” Or “Can I take this [the tube] out now?”
One of his calm moments watching TV:
Then he’d ask to see what was on his face so I’d show him and/or take a picture.
Everyone has been nice and the place is quiet, but there’s a lot of waiting. At our 3.5 hour mark (after arrival), he still wasn’t even getting the stuff to make him poop. I know there’s a process…but I wanted it to go faster. 🙁
This is where he landed since he didn’t want to be in his bed.
He actually told me to take a picture!
Then they delivered his “clear liquids” dinner. I got him excited about the “orange ice cream” but he didn’t like it. And of course he said no to trying jello and broth. And I knew he wouldn’t like the tea or cranberry juice. Since I was starving I had the broth (my only option for food on a Sunday night is in the main hospital—and I’m not sure I want to leave him alone…and I forgot to bring snacks). I also tried the orange italian dessert and honestly can’t blame him for not liking it. The lemon jello wasn’t thrilling, either.
Then they came back to take another X-ray to make sure the tube was in correctly (it was).
So while I was trying to work on this blog post, I kept getting errors. Come to find out:
SERIOUSLY? Adult and pornography? I called the number and didn’t get anywhere. The guy couldn’t do anything (he said “it’s Sunday—no one is here”). And he had no idea if anyone would do anything anyway. So, so much for using free wifi. 😐
Owen finally asked for some juice about 6—then drank an apple and grape juice—then seemed in better spirits. I “took a walk” to check out the vending machines and ended up with cheese crackers. I guess that’s dinner. Though I did check out the cafe menu for tomorrow…and I’m definitely eating there. 🙂
After about an hour or so, Owen announced he wasn’t cranky anymore. 🙂 And then he had more fun playing with the bed and was just watching TV.
They started the IV about 7 and when he wasn’t pooping by 9 they increased the medicine. As we’re going to bed now (9:30) he still hasn’t pooped…so I anticipate a sleepless and messy night.
Yeah, speaking of being here overnight…there’s no way I could NOT stay overnight (I laugh now that I was even considering it). And obviously no one is in the room with him aside from me—plus he has to drag the IV with him—so I’ll be doing all that. Which I’m fine with…but they should really tell you that beforehand. Of course I’ll have zero problems paging the Nurse if there are any messes. 🙂 (But she told me to page her when he gets up so she can take his vitals then instead of waking him up.)
So, two cute stories:
I needed to hit the vending machines earlier so I made sure Owen was okay that I was leaving for a few minutes. Sure, no problem. A little while later I told him I “needed to go for a walk to stretch my legs” (which really meant another trip to the vending machine) and he says “Don’t be a stranger!” Where does he get this stuff?! 🙂
He loved his Spider-Man web hand, but wanted to take it off since it was interfering with him holding his juice. So we took it off but then he had to go potty. Well, somehow, in the 10′ round trip between the bed and toilet we lost the glove. I searched but it was nowhere! So I had to hunt down a nurse to ask for more webbing.
Nurse: Oh, does he need it for his IV?
Me: No, he lost his Spider-Man hand.
Nurse, chuckling: Ahhh! No problem.
One of the playgroup kids had a birthday today. When telling Owen what house it was at, I told him “where you had cake and there was a waterside.” So we get there and as we walk in the front door, you can see straight through to the back yard where they have a bounce house set up. Owen was EXCITED. Before I know it, he’s in front of me pulling his shirt off and asking if he can be naked—I’m guessing he thought it was a water slide! I explained it was just a bouncy house (NOT a pool!) and he didn’t need to be naked. 🙂 Thankfully he was still excited!
Owen was playing with the Ladybug bubble machine and I called it a she.
Owen: It’s a he.
Me: How can you tell it’s a he?
Owen: He has boy eyebrows! See? [He points to me, then to him] YOU have girl eyebrows and I have boy eyebrows. The moms arrived just them so I couldn’t ask him to expound on that.
I was on the laptop outside while Owen was playing.
Owen: I have a diagnoses!
Me: What do I have?
Owen: Computerosis!
Me: How can you fix it?
Owen: Get off the computer and come play with me!
🙂
We were trying to get out of the house and I had Katie in one arm and her diaper bag in the other and the shoes I wanted weren’t on the rack so I kicked out some other sandals and was trying to put them on but I just couldn’t slide my foot under the strap. Owen was watching me.
Owen: Mom, here, let me get that for you. And he squatted down and held the strap so I could put my foot in. Then he did the second one. What. A. Kid.
Owen had unspooled about 50′ of hose off the deck playing fireman. I told him he had to reel it back in. He was trying and trying and couldn’t get it.
Owen: Mom, I just don’t have enough force.
Me: :!
Owen: I’m going to go play with my Legos. You watch my sister. Tell me if anything happens and I’ll come running.
Me: Owen, can you let Maggie in?
Owen: Moooom! I’m not done talking to my troll!
Owen: Remember when I was this age? [He holds his hand up to his eyebrows.]
Me: Owen, do you want to go outside and play?
Owen: No.
Me: Why not?
Owen: The sky is gray.
Me: That’s okay. It just means the sun isn’t out so it’s not super hot.
Owen: No. I like it better inside. It’s nice in here. The fan is on. I can’t argue with that!
Since the temps really dropped today (with it being overcast and off-and-on rainy) I thought it would be a good time to go feed the ducks!
Me: Owen, do you want to go feed the ducks?
Owen: No.
Me: Why not?
Owen: Papa isn’t here.
Me: That’s okay. We can still go feed the ducks.
Owen: No! I told you we only go with Papa!
Me: Well Papa isn’t going to be here for a long time, so if you want to go now, we can go. Then when Papa comes down, you can go with him.
Owen: OKAY!
So off we went, with Katie in the stroller (I didn’t have the patience to have her walk and try to contain her by the ponds).
Then there was a female duck that Owen called a baby duckie because it was so much smaller than these other birds. I hope you can hear him in the video—it was windy and he was pointed away from me.
And see…Katie really was with us!
Then Owen told me we had to go to the other water to look for ducks, so we trekked across the course. No ducks. But he wanted to roll down the hill! I convinced him to wait and roll down the big hill that WASN’T covered in duck poop. 🙂
Mom, I don’t like crabs because they have pinchy hands.
Remember? At the hotel? With the hot square pool? I didn’t like it. It was too hot.
Owen: Mom, guess what?
Me: What?
Owen: Chicken butt!
Me: Oh you stinker!
…
Me: Owen, guess what?
Owen: What?
Me: I love you.
Owen: Awwww!
Me: You know why?
Owen: Why?
Me: CHICKEN THIGH!
Owen: Oooooh! You got me mama stinker!
We were trying to Skype with Tom but his connection was bad.
Owen: What’s wrong?
Me: Daddy’s computer isn’t working.
Owen: Well he needs to fix his computer so we can Skype.
Owen: Mom, lets play restaurant. I’m the waiter. You’re the customer.
Me: Okay.
Owen: What would you like?
Me: A peanut butter and jelly sandwich and French fries.
Owen: You can’t have that—I like that.
Me: Okay, lobster and a Caesar salad.
Owen: Okay, what drink?
Me: Lemonade.
Owen: Lemon-ade. He goes off with my order.
Owen: I’m sorry, we don’t have lemonade.
Owen was hunting for pieces of his tiny rubber Easter bunnies that got chewed up by the lawn mower today (they were left in the grass).
Owen: Mom! I found an arm! Arms are my FAVORITE!
We were outside since it was FINALLY overcast and cool (probably 75 with no humidity) and I smelled something resembling a fire but not terribly strong. Owen obviously smelled it, too.
Owen: Mama, what’s that smell?
Me: I don’t know, what do you think it smells like?
Owen: MARSHMALLOWS!
I enrolled Owen in pre-k (but won’t know if he’s accepted until next week—long story)—which meant an early trip to town (of course with both kids in tow).
Then, since we were already out, we stopped at Food Lion to get Owen’s frozen pizzas (we were totally out). And someone fell asleep on the way home:
Then I made Cocoa Rice Krispie treats…because we were having pool play group at our house. After Katie got out of the pool, she hung out with Connor eating Cheetos:
I gave both kids baths—which Katie is a nightmare flailing about since she doesn’t like to get water on her head or get rinsed off (I was soaked and the bathroom was pretty wet as well).
Then I made the three usual dinners—making theirs first then making mine as they eat (with Owen asking “Mom, are you going to eat dinner?”).
It was going on a good 5-10 minutes before I came in and started recording. But once he sees the camera…it just takes off exponentially because he’s telling ME a story instead of having a conversation with his Legos.
So Tom just drove off. He has to be in early to drop off all his bags and pick up his weapon, etc. (We go in at 6 to see him off.)
Of course, I’m an emotional wreck today, so cried after he left.
Owen: Mama, what’s wrong?
Me: I miss daddy.
Owen: [Singing, from Daniel Tiger] Grooo-oooown-ups come back!
Me: You’re right. Can I have a hug? We hug. I’m still crying.
Owen: It’s okay mom.
So, every weekend, Tom and Owen have coffee clutch in the morning before Katie and I get up. They hang out, Tom drinks his coffee, Owen drinks his juice and has a snack, and they watch one of Owen’s TV shows… Owen LOVES it. (Well, Tom loves it, too…)
So tonight Tom told Owen that they only had two more coffee clutches before he leaves (Sunday and Thursday, the day he leaves) but that mommy would do coffee clutch with him once in awhile. Owen says “No! Mama doesn’t drink coffee. It will be water clutch!”
He was being cranky so I threatened him with a nap and of course he said he wasn’t tired. I went downstairs to do something and I didn’t hear anything for awhile so went to check on him.
Owen went to the bathroom and set his sword down. When he got out:
Owen: Mama, did you touch my sword?
Me: No.
Owen: Great! Then you get a digi-medal [something from Agent Oso cartoon] for not touching! Good job mom!
Owen: Excuse me. I have to do my job.
Tom: What’s your job?
Owen: To keep my friends safe.
Tom: From what?
Owen: The spears. They have pointy ends. And the lava king.
Looking at old pictures…
Tom: Look at that doll!
Owen: That’s not a doll—that’s me Owen!
Tom came home from work early and I took Owen to a play group water slide get-together. When we got home, Tom was sleeping…and he slept a long time (through dinner). When he finally came downstairs…
Owen: DADDY! You’re alive!!
Me: I didn’t coach him at all.
