Mr.E's Big Scare

The last few days have been rough in the H household:

On Sunday, MissE started to complain of a sore mouth and on Monday, she refused to eat.  I should have known she was sick when she pushed her babyccino away.  She had a long nap and said she was feeling better, however that night, she paid us a visit in our room.  Mr.H walked her back to her room, and they fell asleep until she woke up and started vomiting.  The vomiting continued into the morning earning her a vomit bucket.  She vomited on the way to her doctor, at the doctor's office and coming home from the doctor with the diagnosis of gastroenteritis.  At home, she sipped on apple juice and we set up a little bed for her in her play room.  She spent the rest of the day watching her shows and sleeping.  Soon the vomiting subsided and she was asking to try food.  We started with a very small portion of Macaroni and Cheese which she kept down, and had an early night (we lined her bed with towels just in case).  The next morning, I knew she was on the mend when she told me she was "starving" and ate 4 bowls of cereal, 2 slices of toast and 1 banana.  She is still having longer than normal naps but is back to being MissE.

On Wednesday, Mr.E started to act not his usual happy self.  After his afternoon nap, I picked him up and he started screaming... and screaming.  I could do nothing but hold him and try to rock him to sleep.  If I moved the tiniest bit, he would wake up and scream.  He had a fever that evening so I gave him some Panadol and hoped it would help him sleep.  It did for a few hours, but I spent most of the evening in his room.  On Thursday late morning, he was the same, feverish and screaming.  Any movement made him scream.  Mr.H said he looked a bit pale.  After putting some pressure on his arms, legs, back and stomach to see if he was hurt, we noticed how hard his stomach was.  I got an appointment with his doctor right away.
At his doctor, because of he is so young, he preferred us going to the hospital as a precaution.  The hospital could run tests if necessary.  So off we went to Hornsby Hospital (where he was born).  The Emergency Room nurses saw us immediately.  They gave him more Panadol and we stripped him to cool off.  We were taken to the paediatrics section and saw Dr. David Badzinga (I'm not making this up!).  He ordered an ultrasound after I told him of Mr.E's stomach.  The ultrasound found that his bowel looked a bit odd, an intussusception (the bowel folds in on itself), and we would need to go to Westmead Children's Hospital for a second opinion and possible treatment.
Meanwhile, as Dr. David spoke with the surgeon at Westmead and prepared Mr.E's necessary paperwork for the transfer, Mr.E tested low sugar and was given sucrose and would also need fluid via an IV.  Unfortunately, they had to put in a cannula.  It was very difficult as infant's veins are so small.  After both his arms and hands were poked, I burst into tears.  They were able to put the cannula in his foot.  A few minutes after his IV was flowing, Mr.E did a number 3 and suddenly, he was much happier.  He stopped crying and was happy to lie on the bed, kicking his legs and looking at the lights.  I knew he was starting to feel better!
By the time Mr.H organised friend's to look after MissE and arrived at the hospital, the ambulance had also arrived.  Mr.E was now smiling again!  He still looked very cute sitting in a baby seat strapped to a stretcher.  The ER nurses came to see him off.

On the way to Westmead Children's Hospital

The paramedics were very nice and gave him a teddy bear (knitted by Girl Scouts).  He slept on the drive to Westmead Children's Hospital.

My new bear (in the ambulance)

At Westmead, because they knew we were arriving, we were seen fairly quickly by Dr. Eleanor but had to wait some time for the surgeon to see Mr.E.  Mr.E was 75% himself, passing a few more number 2's.  He was happy to lie in the cot with his new bear.

When Dr.Emir (the surgeon) came to see Mr.E, his stomach was now soft and it was not painful to touch.  After a review of his ultrasound, Dr.Emir believed he had gastroenteritis and the bowel intussusception was very minor (due to the gastroenteritis), and will right itself.  Relief!  Mr.E just needed to provide a urine sample and if it was clear, we could go home!  Mr.E has no problem wee-ing on us at home but it took some time for him to go in the hospital.  In the end, more was on me and Mr.H than in the little sample cup but it was enough to be tested and for us to be discharged.
Just past midnight, we picked up MissE (who refused to go to sleep, waiting for us) and we were finally home!
Today, he is acting more like my happy little boy (even having a little giggle) but still has a sore tummy after feeding (he's eating normally again too).  It will take a few days for the "bug" to be flushed out and he will re-visit the doctor next week for a follow-up.  Although it was a long afternoon and evening for us, we are happy that we know what was wrong and that it's not too serious.