Our Happy Wheezer

Ugh.

I got a call from Michael in the middle of teaching my first hour class this morning....Ethan had "thrown up" all over himself and his caretaker this morning. Whether he actually threw up or spit up, I don't know. I, using the motherly wisdom instilled upon me, think it was spit up, but there just was a lot of it. I called Peds right away and got a 3:45 appointment with a doctor (not his primary care provider), and called daycare two times after that to check up on my little boy. He was doing fine; that meant he was still happy to be there - smiling, cooing, all the wonderful things 2 1/2 month babies do, except he rattled when he inhaled and exhaled...wheezing on the exhale.

I drove up to Tiny Tigers and saw all three of my 'boys' waiting for me. Michael clicked Ethan in his base while I got Austin in his car seat....and we were off. Twenty minutes of waiting in the waiting room and we were in. I stripped the poor boy down to his diaper and the nurse was in to take his temp and weigh him. An even-steven 12 pounds, that boy now weighs. Temp was fine; no fever. The doctor was in, did her look over, and then said she is convinced he has RSV. I knew it. I kind of figured that was what he had when we took him in on Monday....BUT that doctor was, well...how do I put it nicely....not a people person?! The doctor tried a nebulizer treatment on him (Albuterol in a mist that he inhales, trying to get his pipes to be less constricted, to alleviate the rapid/forced breathing he has)...but to no shock to the doctor, it didn't work. She was not surprised as most babies don't respond but she figured some do, and if we had him admitted to the hospital they'd try it there anyway. She was not convinced he needed to be admitted, seeing that he still takes bottles, wets diapers, poops, does not have a fever, still coos and smiles. So, he's a happy wheezer, meaning it's not making life totally miserable or uncomfortable. If we notice his breathing getting more laborious, or if he seems 'out of it', or stops drinking, then we are to call immediately and take him in. She also checked his oxygen levels by strapping this little sticky strip that reminded me of a band-aid with two little white squares to his big left toe. His level bounced between 89 and 94...normal is 90+...so he is borderline. Michael is staying home with the boys tomorrow, so Ethan can be watched better. He'll be the one taking poor mom's calls during the day to see how he is. The doctor mentioned that usually day 4 or day 5 are the 'worst' or climactic days...I pray this is true as today is day 5 for Ethan.

Little Ethan, I'm praying you get better soon! Love you!