Hospital Stay

Two nights ago, Ethan had a cold. Not really a bad one, but oh did his body react. Ethan started to have trouble breathing, so we took him to the ER where he was diagnosed as having a major asthma attack. We'd hoped a breathing treatment or two would ease things and we'd be home. We weren't so lucky.

By that first morning, Ethan had figured out where everything in the ER was. (He was in the ER for 12 hours. First the PICU didn't have room, then they downgraded him and they didn't have a room in intermediate care, and finally they downgraded him again and we got a regular room.) Ethan was fine with it. He'd been introduced to the game cabinets in the ER and was happily playing away.

When we moved to his room, we hung out for a while to give the numerous drs, nurses, and respiratory therapists do their assessments. (Mom, your bag of fun was a big help during room-time.) Then Ethan asked where the hospital's toys were. So we spent much of the day in the Child Life playroom. Only popping out every hour or to be checked by the nurse and get his breathing treatments. We also discovered some garden areas that had fun things to climb on and walk around.

Honestly, if he didn't have to be woken up in the middle of the night, Ethan would love to live at the hospital. All the attention! All the places to explore!

He'll be coming home today, but the treatments and steroids will continue for a while. And we might avoid you if you're sick :)

We'd like to thank the friends who stepped in to make things easier. One who came over late at night so that we wouldn't have to take Edward with us. Another who took Edward all the next day so that mom and dad could take turns being with Ethan and sleeping. And yet another, with plenty of asthma experience, who volunteered to take both boys this afternoon if John and I need to make appearances at work. And of course, to all who expressed their concerned and offered prayers for our guy. THANK YOU!