April showers bring.... trips to the ER with Charlie.

That might not be entirely accurate.  I believe it was Mother's Day weekend last year.  There were storms brewing and Charlie was battling a cold.  When Charlie was just two weeks old, he got RSV.  Most likely because of that, anytime he even gets a simple cold, he ends up with labored breathing and requires breathing treatments.  Last year, Mother's Day weekend, was one of his first real challenges with the labored breathing.  It was getting close to night and I was getting worried so decided it was best to take him to the ER.

Of course, we were under a thunderstorm warming that turned into a tornado warning that turned into a tornado in the area of the hospital and the area around our home.  Charlie and I were safe in the ER - having been evacuated to the center of the hospital.  Wyatt and Daddy-o at home were "safe" in our cellar, though the experience was a rather traumatic one for both.

We didn't have power the rest of the night so we ended up at my parents' house to spend the night. 

So, in true Charlie fashion, we were under a thunderstorm warning and he had three breathing treatments yesterday.  The problem was - the breathing treatments didn't seem to be doing that much for him yesterday.  Labored breathing, retractions, small fever.... It was about 5:30 when I gave him a breathing treatment.  Around 6 he had this honking cough.... That wasn't anything I had heard before.  Even after the breathing treatments he was still really labored.  So I put a call in to my doctor. 

Charlie's breathing treatment before the ER

At the exact moment that "I think you should go to the ER" the wind picked up like mad and began HOWLING through the house...  It was a seen of motherly chaos as I struggled to hear the doctor through my cell phone in an open-windowed house, howling with wind, Charlie crying for me to turn on another Daniel Tiger, Wyatt realizing that I was worried - following me around asking/telling me how he was going to help me get everything ready for dinner (bless his beautiful heart), me realizing the sound machine was still also howling from naptime, my mouth still half numb from the dental work I had just a couple of hours earlier, all while tripping over toys and piles of laundry.

Life in a nutshell.  But life is good.

We headed to the ER.  Half numb mouth, Charlie peacefully watching Alvin and the Chipmunks in the back.  The nurse was actually the same nursing from my OB when I was pregnant with Wyatt and it was great to see her again.  Charlie was a bit of a challenge.  He has grown out of his hate for doctor's offices but he clearly didn't want anyone fiddling with him last night.  As soon as we sat down they tried to put oxygen in his nose.  Charlie hulked it immediately out of there.  They said they needed to tape it.  Um... yeah.  Tape.  That'll hold it...!  I tried to keep Charlie from yanking it out but sure enough... Charlie refused the oxygen.

Then they were trying to get his pulse ox - not on his finger.  Definitely not.  So they did it on his toe.  That wasn't all that pleasant for him either - how dare you touch my BIG TOE!  But they got a reading.  I believe it was 92...

They decided they wanted to do a chest x-ray, test for RSV and flu and go from there.  Chest x-ray.... How is THAT going to work.  Charlie turned beat red and SCREAMED anytime someone touched him.  All while I was trying to be the strongest momma I could and restrain him from smacking a nurse.  (Only kidding, Charlie is a gent.  He doesn't hit the ladies...)

I had the lovely task of holding Charlie while they did the x-ray.  He was very content on my lap until the put a board between the two of us.  The tech told me to hold his shoulders back.  That meant holding his shoulders, keep him in the plus sign, keep his head out of the way, keep yourself out of the way.  But amazingly, we got a great x-ray.  Both views, great. 

Charlie.  Is.  Strong.  This was very obvious to everyone who encountered him.  They also marveled at his size.  Charlie is a whopper at 36 pounds - just over two years.  And I. LOVE IT.  He is solid and strong and handsome and lean and I was actually finding humor in his size and strength while he fought everything the doctor and nurses threw his way.

X-ray - clear.  RSV and flu - negative.  Doctor was leaning towards viral bronchiolitis most likely from being susceptible after having RSV at such a young age.  There may also be some croup. 

Now, we are experts at breathing treatments at home.  Charlie doesn't fight them.  He loves to hold the inhaler piece and turn the machine on by himself.  He does this like a champ.  In the ER, Charlie fights like a champ against breathing treatments.  That was the longest treatment of my life. And Charlie's life.  And probably the nurse's life!  Hold his arms, hold his head, hold his legs - don't kick the nurse!  He screamed and was red and did not make it simple.  He was definitely exercising his lungs.  Big, strong Charlie!

After all the treatments and tests, Charlie settled into me with my phone watching YouTube videos.  He had exhausted himself.

As I sat there, I thought of a couple of friends with children who had really bad ear infections - to the point of rupture.  I remember Charlie poking his ears yesterday.  So, with hesitation, I asked the nurse if she could have the doctor look in his ears, since we were there.... 

Charlie was a perfect gentleman.  He sat there and didn't move a bit while the doctor examined both of ears and informed us that they looked great.

Whew........... Everything was winding down.

They wanted to give a steroid in the case of croup, to help the airway.  The doctor asked if I wanted to personally give it to him at the hospital or take it home.  I opted for taking it and giving it to him at home.

We said our goodbyes and made our way to the door - the nurse followed and then informed me "The steroids will likely keep him up and can even cause some behavioral problems, but it would be best to give them tonight anyway to go on and settle the airways.  It'll be better that way even if he IS awake all night."

..............................................Uh, excuse me...?

But like a good little momma, I gave Charlie the medicine as soon as we got to the car.  He fell asleep on the way home.  Relaxed for a little bit at home once we got there and then quickly drifted off to sleep a little past bedtime at 9.

I'm an essential oil momma.... and knowing what the nurse said, I decided to diffuse some good sleepy time oils in the room that night. 

Charlie slept all night.

This morning, Charlie's breathing seems to have calmed.  He coughed his little head off when he woke up, but he is being my sweet, darling little Charlie.  Watching me with excitement as I blow up two balloons for him.  Requesting episodes of Daniel Tiger over and over.

I'm very thankful for the ER doctor and nurse that we had.  It definitely eased my mind going into the evening and I was very confident in the care they gave us and the care that I could provide him at home.

The storm missed us yesterday.