Two Out of Three Ain't Good

Two kids in the hospital at the same time! For unrelated reasons! What are the odds of that?

Chronology of Events, Friday
10:30: Cell phone rings. Pete's preschool director says that the bug bite on his leg is very swollen. What bug bite? I finish my errand and head over.
11:00: It's not just "very swollen," it is ENORMOUS. It is bright red, hot to the touch, and hugely misshapen with swelling. I mean, grotesquely puffed out from his shin to his knee, with the skin pulled taut. He can barely take a step and winces if I lay even a finger on it. There had been nothing there at breakfast time when I smeared sun block all over him.
11:30: Dr. Elkort (the pediatrician who was available at the moment), Dr. Kramer (our regular pediatrician, who popped in to see what was going on), and Dr. Yuan (another pediatrician who knew he'd be on call on Saturday and wanted to see what was up) all agree that it's either a severe allergic reaction to a bug bite—although Pete doesn't remember getting bitten and we can't find anything that looks like a bug bite in that area—or it's cellulitis. Or both. They give him Benadryl right away but say that they want to admit him to the hospital and put him on IV antibiotics, because if it's cellulitis, they want to treat it right away before it spreads to his bloodstream.
11:45: While still reeling from this news and trying to look brave in front of Pete, the cell phone rings again. It's Laura, saying that Julie whacked her head into the doorjamb and is bleeding profusely. I call Andy and tell him to come home immediately.
12:00: I race home to get Laura and Julie; the pediatricians say I have to leave Pete there with them (ARGH!).
12:15: I bring Laura and Julie up to the pediatricians' office and am reunited with Pete (he survived my absence); they confirm that Julie needs stitches.
12:30: Laura carries Julie, I carry Pete, and we walk through the maze of medical buildings to the ER to meet Andy. Andy takes Julie, while Laura waits, feeling helpless; I take Pete up to his room.
1:00: Andy and Laura and Julie come up; Julie has FIVE STAPLES IN HER HEAD. Guess why they call them staples? They really are staples! It's unbearable to look at. Andy reports that she was very brave and cooperative. For a two-year-old. Andy takes Laura and Julie home.
1:15: Pete freaks out while getting his IV inserted. Totally loses it.
1:30: Pete discovers that in the hospital, Mama will let him do every single forbidden thing from home. He watches Power Ranger videos and Pokemon movies, plays Nintendo games while eating ice cream.
3:00: Brownie Troop 2999 has its end-of-year badge ceremony. I am the Brownie leader. I am not there. (Thank you, Pia!) Stephanie receives a badge for perfect attendance. I do not.
Remainder of day/night: Pete and I eat, chat, try to figure out the Spiderman Ninendo game, untangle his IV tubing on the way to the bathroom. We both konk out early, around 7:30. The nurses wake us frequently to check vital signs (his, not mine).

Chronology of Events, Saturday
6:30: Pete wants to get up to pee. After doing so, he turns white as a sheet and collapses in my arms. I pull the emergency thingy next to the toilet. The nurses and doctor come running; it is determined that a combination of not enough to eat and drink, lots of Benadryl, lying flat for many hours, and a huge morning pee all contributed to making him faint, but that he is fine. They add fluids to the antibiotics in the IV. I am rattled.
9:30: Pete's last soccer game; he is not there. Medals are given out. Nancy drops his off at home.
10:00: Andy and the girls come in to visit. Pete's leg is noticeably less swollen. All three kids enjoy the playroom and activity center on the pediatric wing.
11:00: School fair. I do not get to see Stephanie's class booth. I do not buy cotton candy. I do not win prizes.
2:00: Pete finishes up his last dose of IV antibiotics and we are sent packing! We have a prescription for oral antibiotics and are supposed to see Dr. Elkort Sunday morning. Pete's leg is still slightly swollen, fairly pink, and mighty hot, but much improved.

Enough with the kids and the medical excitement, OK?

Comments

[Karine]

Yikes, when it rains, it pours,eh?
What a horribly scary experience! It seems as if all children are on the mend -- I hope that goes for their parents also ;-)

Karine

[Jen]

Aughhhh. When mom told me, I absolutely freaked out. You poor thing. Well now that every child has been in the hospital at least once, maybe it's all over. We'll cross our fingers.
xoxo.

[pam]

Poor kids! And poor you. What a shame that you and Pete missed the end of the year activities. I hope they're both okay today.

[nina]

Oh my goodness! I can't believe it. That is simply too much excitement for one weekend. I'm glad everyone is OK, but I can imagine how hard it must have been on everyone. I'm so sorry. Big hugs for the whole family.

[mayakda]

How awful! I hope Pete recovers quickly, and Julie too, poor baby!
Big hugs and lots of prayers all around.