Our little Micah got VERY sick on Friday October 3oth... so no Halloween for us! Here are a few pictures for those that just like to glance at the pictures ... and I'll share his story at the end!
Micah being transported via ambulance from Kennestone to Scottish Rite's Children's Hospital.
Micah on the ambulance (picture from my phone.)
Uncle Daniel was Micah's first visitor... as you can see he still felt pretty yucky!
Day TWO: Mommy and Micah at the hospital...
Dad came to be the best D-A-D ... and Micah fell asleep!
Dad and Micah hanging out.
Mom Mom came to visit and she even brought Micah 2 new PLASTIC (washable!!) toys!
Micah playing in his bed...
Micah and Mom just before Mom Mom left...
Day 4 (no pictures on day 3!): Micah finally no longer on IV fluids and got to play on mom's "bed" - if you can call it that...
Day 5: Mom let Micah do the honors of taking the sock off of his hand - YEAH!
Micah SITTING UP and playing just before getting his IV out and heading home!
This year our Halloween brought a "scare!" On Friday, October 30th at about 3:00 am, Jonathan went to tuck Benjamin back into bed (as he has been getting up LOTS since we've moved) - and noticed that Micah was moaning and went to check on him. He brought him down to me and he was
BURNING up!
I told Jonathan to grab a thermometer - in the meantime - the alarm went off and Jonathan thought someone was breaking in ... I proceeded to exclaim: "please get me a thermometer, no one is breaking in!" ... funny moment looking back!
The thermometer read 105.1* - we gave him some Tylenol - took his clothes off quickly and realized that he was very lethargic and not very responsive. We quickly got him in a cool bath which he still hates baths because of the trauma it caused him - and got some cool Gatorade down him as well. We wrapped him in a blanket and Jonathan gave him a priesthood blessing.
I am always amazed at the power of the priesthood. Micah's little body was blessed that the fever would "leave his body"- which from that moment on - it truly did. We re-checked his temp. which was 104.5*.
I fed Micah and we waited about an hour to check his temperature again. It had gone down to 102.6* but within 30 minutes was back up to 103.3*. After talking with our doctor's office - Jonathan and I both had the overwhelming feeling to take Micah to the Emergency Room.
We arrived at about 6:15 am - and Jonathan came about 7 am with Benjamin. His temperature was then 102.6* and they gave him some Motrin. After many "quick tests" - blood test, x-ray, ear-infection check etc. - Jonathan went on to work. We waited for the blood work to come back and his white blood count was 40,000 instead of 14,000. They continued to do more tests including a urine test, flu test and spinal tap - at which point I called Jonathan to tell him to come back!
We were told that he would be transported to Scottish Rite Children's Hospital via ambulance and we would be admitted for at least 48 hours ... WHAT? ... Okay ... MUST call my MOM! By then most of our family knew kind of what was going on - but from then on, the word started to spread that Micah was really sick. Within hours our whole family knew and his name was on atleast 2 prayer rolls at the Orlando Temple and Knoxville Temple. My mom hurried up and came to take Benjamin home (who was still VERY sick with strep throat!) -- what a trooper that little guy.
I rode on the ambulance to Scottish Rite and Jonathan followed closely behind on a very rainy day in downtown Atlanta - which EQUALS ... TRAFFIC! Micah thankfully slept the whole way and the guys kidded him that he missed out on his ride!
Our stay at Scottish Rite ended up being from Friday October 30th until Tuesday November 3rd! I finally did figure out that the chicken salad, baked cheetos and bananas weren't too bad to eat - but a big thanks to Paul and Sarah who brought me dinner one night!!
MICAH was diagnosed with a bacterial blood infection called strep pneumonia - which if not treated can cause Menigitis. He had actually had two of the four vaccines to prevent this - but his body just wasn't quite strong enough to fight it off! Hince the reason I am a stronger advocate of VACCINATIONS! Trust me - no one wants their 6 month old poked and pinched and bugged as much as he was - although I know it was to make him all better! Prevention is much better though than all of that!
The doctors and nurses were all great and took very good care of us. We also had his CT scan done while we were there and we BELIEVE that he will not have to have surgery as the bump on his forhead is simply part of his skull. Definitely a blessing from the whole experience!
As for the blessings that we gained from this experience:
1. I think the first will always be that we are truly blessed by our Heavenly Father.
2. Jonathan and I are closer to eachother because of this trial we went through together.
3. The power of the priesthood is REAL. Micah's fever never returned once we got to the ER. The doctor's were amazed that it never returned - and I know it was truly the power of the Lord.
4. My mom is WONDERFUL. We never had to ask her to come - she just said, "I'm on my way!" She loves these little guys as much as she loves me I think :) I knew that Benjamin was having a great time with her and he was well cared for - especially since he was sick too!
5. The Lord has a plan for each of us. Thankfully we have the wonderful advances of medicine - but by the same token - our little one was really SICK. Heavenly Father has a special plan for him and has preserved his life.
I have truly gained a greater love for my family. It was really special to hold him in the hospital at 4 am again. He has been sleeping through the night for about 4 months - but I couldn't hug him and hold him enough. I think he may have even gotten a little spoiled while we were there. Within a day or so - he was all SMILES again... and smiled at everyone except someone giving him a shot! We hope to stay well for AWHILE - and we won't be moving again anytime soon ... because we seem to end up in the ER within a week of moving!
HUGS to each who emailed, texted, facebooked, called and prayed for our little guy!
