Hello All,
I am writing you from a very peculiar place....Evergreen Hospital. Ezra was admitted Friday the 20th with a high fever. We hadn't had a newborn with such a high fever before, so we researched what to do and called a consulting nurse. My mom watched the boys while we packed up the wee little Ezra in his diaper only to keep him cool.
By midnight that night Ezra had undergone a septic screening for his high fever to determine why he was sick. Newborns aren't exactly great at showing what they are sick with....so they have to run a gamut of tests to diagnose their illness.
A septic screening includes a spinal tap, urine sample via catheter, blood samples and an iv for antibiotics. Ezra eventually got a pick line put in his head to replace the iv in his arm. This way he can use his arm. His arm was taped to a board for a few days. Also, iv's in infant's hands do not last very long, so the pick line in his scalp was a better option. It's also better if you're nursing your baby. The pick line is a extremely thin tube that is inserted in a vein in the scalp and then tracks down that vein to the edge of his heart.
The emergency room, pediatric floor and all the tests/proceedures were not our first choice for Ezra. We were scared, petrified really. . .lots of tears. I had read before coming to the hospital *what* they would do to our baby boy. . .I just thought that maybe we would get there and they would say, oh he's cooling down or it's really hot out today so give him some time he'll be all better. I wasn't anticipating that he would be diagnosed with a kidney infection and have to be treated for two weeks in the hospital.
After the doctor told us Ezra's diangosis my mind went immediately to our other boys. At first we thought I would be in the hospital for two days while the cultures from the samples they took ran their course. On Sunday when the urine sample came back negative we were told that Ezra would have to be on iv antibiotics for two weeks. The doctor said if he had been a couple weeks older he could have had another form of treatment. Because he was three weeks old, he had to be monitored and needed those antibiotics through an iv drip.
The doctor sat quietly with us while we pondered our situation. We didn't even know if Ezra would be ok. Eli didn't think he could make it 2 days let alone two weeks. I would stay with Ezra here in the hosptial. Kevin and my mom would take turns caring for the boys. Kevin would bring the boys to the hospital after work to hang out with me and Ezra. There were yummy snacks in the nourishment kitchen and even a Gamecube game station on wheels.
Kevin broke the news to the boys gently. We spent lots of time talking with them. After they came to see their brother for the first time it hit them that Mommy was gonna be with Ezra. It was gonna take a long time to get through all this. We all felt broken and sad, lonely. . .
As the days have gone by, Ezra has gotten better and better. The tear filled phone calls come less frequently. Occasionally, Sterling breaks down, but he's still a really young guy. The time is ticking away and now that we're to Sunday night I can see the light. The boys come to play with us in our hospital room. We talk and they boys try to not be too wild. We eat yummy snacks from the nourishment kitchen and even a Gamecube game station on wheels. We get all caught up on hugs and kisses. The boys try to keep their hands clean per my nagging (save Ezra any other bacteria from the outside world for right now) They are dying to get their brother home.
Enjoy all these photos. . .they aren't in any particular order. Please stay tuned for more photos.....I think I should have more up on the blog soon.
Love to you all from Hotel Evergreen (Hospital) My friend Debbie says it's nicknamed that.
We are just chillin' here, taking our lemons and making lemonade. I am so thankful for this unexpected strange time with Ezra. I have time to hold our baby as much as I want. We can nap if we like and just be together. Soon we'll be back in the real world. I can't wait to be home reunited as a family.
shan
2 weeks old. . .
2 weeks old
1 week old
Sage and his baby bother
Ezra 1 or 2 weeks old
2 or 3 wks old
3 wk old feet
Ezra and me in the hospital, 4 wks old
Ezra with Sterling and Eli. . .3 weeks old
2 weeks old I think
1 week old....
New baby Ezra with his big brothers!!! OUR LITTLE MEN ARE SO HANDSOME!!!
Ezra in his moby wrap. He's a sweet little pea in his wrap. If you haven't seen a moby wrap, think African Mama and a baby carrier that consists of about 10 feet of fabric. You wrap it strategically and voila baby feels like he's in the womb still. I can fold laundry or tidy up with Ezra in his wrap. It does get a little toasty with a little bebe and all the fabric, but it's worth it! My friend Debbie got me the moby wrap and I love her.
