our weekend

Friday was my birthday, and also Shiloh's long awaited appointment with the cardiologist. Mom took the day off from work to help me with the boys and celebrate my birthday. Our day started bright and early, Tyrone was unexpectedly able to call me and wish me a happy birthday! Then, I dropped the boys off at Mom's house. Mom took Kaleb to church for music camp, and then she and Gabe chilled at her house.

So, on to the cardiologist! Shiloh was widely admired, and was tested just about every which way a baby can be! She was very good, and was given an absolutely CLEAN bill of health! The murmur is completely gone, which was an excellent way to start my birthday! There are no more follow ups, no more ekgs, no more anything. She is really all better! (On a side note, last Mon. we went to do her chest x-rays in preparation for this visit, I was worried that she would not like that. My worries were without merit. We told her we were taking her pic, and she posed how they wanted and, apparently, it doesn't matter what kind of pic it is, if you want to photograph her, she WILL smile.....shades of melissa?! lol)

So, after that, Shiloh and I picked up Mom and Gabe, and we went to the mall. Mom supervised Gabe and Shiloh at the softplay while I got a pedicure courtesy of my Grandparents!! (THANK YOU!!) Then, we went to get Chicago Dogs for lunch...yum! We did various other things in preparation for the evening festivities (Kaleb's show at church!), which I figured would be a terrific end to my birthday. After I had picked Kaleb up from church, we went to Mom's, who made dinner for us, and then we had some of my fantastic birthday cake (pound cake made by mom!!)

This is when the fun started. I realized that Gabe was wheezing. Mom and I conferred and I decided to run back to the house and do a nebulizer treatment with him, and then I would come right back, Mom would watch Kaleb and Shiloh, we had plenty of time before the show started. I got Gabe out to the truck, and I almost panicked. He was truly struggling to breath. He sat down in the middle of the road, not wanting to walk any further. I called Mom, and told her I thought the E.R. might be in order. She agreed and brough Shiloh out to me, I handed her the camera, and we were off.

I am not a speeder, but I did that day. Gabe closed his eyes and leaned his head back. I kept trying to get him to talk to me, which he did listlessly, with short answers, but I could not get him to open his eyes. When we arrived at the ER, they took us seriously. He was retracting, and he was pale. Someone pushed Shiloh's stroller for me, and when we got to the pediatric unit, someone was waiting and took Gabe out of my arms. There were immediately doctors and nurses surrounding us, and Gabe was put on oxygen, he was only satting between 89 and 90. This was scary. Very scary.

Three breathing treatments and an hour of oxygen later, we were released. It didn't last long. Gabe and I were back in the ER at 1:30 in the morning, complete with footy pajamas. No oxygen that time, but 2 more treatments and a chest x-ray. I also got the pleasure of seeing a man surrounded by police with his head busted open, getting stitches in the middle of the hallway. Yuck.

It was 5 in the morning when we got back home (Mom was here at the house with K and Shiloh). We slept until about 8, and then I went to fill Gabe's prescriptions. I was still concerned about his breathing, so Mom took K home with her, and I took Gabe and Shiloh to the hospital where Melissa works, and a wonderful respiratory therapist that she knows took the time to explain alot of things to me, and gave me a few things to add to his nebulizer to help him get better sooner.

Now, on Monday morning, Gabe is still not at 100%, but he is on his way there, I think. All three of the kids are sick, K with just a garden variety cold, I think, and Shiloh is a throw up monster (I hope that's OVER!) Anyway, it's been a crazy crazy, sleep deprived weekend. Mom made it so much easier by taking Kaleb and then spending all day Sun. at the house for moral support and to help with lunch and dinner, washing towels used in the clean up, and generally keeping me from losing my mind.

Lets hope for a peaceful week!!

Nebulizer every 4 hours, around the clock! He's a pro!