Friday, March 18, 2011

Light at the end of the tunnel


This past Sunday Josiah did not do well during Sacrament and wanted to go home. Well, my calling needed me during the second hour so I asked him to wait. During that hour he seemed to improve and do better. So, I kept asking him "Are you sure you still want to go home?" This boy loves church and hates to miss ANY activities yet he kept insisting he needed to go home. So we went. I wondered if I had given in too soon and should have made him stay.

But Monday night I realized I should never have doubted my son. He spiked a fever of 102.4 and with ice packs and meds we got it down to 101.8. But that was short lived and it went right back up. Now, I am not one to call the doctor right away. Josiah has been off and on antibiotics so much that I like to give his body the chance to fight it naturally. Now this is not easy. I know it means neither of us will get much sleep and he may be miserable a little longer but his immune system needs all the strength it can get.

So, I wipe a nose till it almost comes off his face. I suction his lungs till they almost turn inside out. I take his temp and give him his regular meds- over and over and over. We also had a bout of diarrhea that will not be forgotten for a long time, at least not till we get new carpet. Enough said on that.

I normally give it 2-3 days and then see if we need a doctor at that point. Wednesday he showed some improvement and Thursday even more so no doc needed. But last night he spiked right back up to 102.4. This morning temp is normal-for now and he is looking better. He is still junkie and needing suctioned more than normal and he is still so tired but I see the light at the end of the tunnel.

If he can fight this on his own I will be so grateful and excited. It could mean that the common cold will not become pneumonia, that his one kidney will not be stressed out by ANOTHER antibiotic, that I can sleep better knowing my baby is not hot and miserable, that this is one of many battles that he wins.

Walden Farm

Walden Farm
Autumn with the Allens