Hospital Adventures

So, on Saturday afternoon, Solomon was going about his normal toddler business (as was the rest of the family), when he said that he wanted to go to bed, around 7:00pm. He is very good about his bedtime routine, but rarely ASKS to go to bed. I put him in bed, but notice that he is pretty wheezy, and his chest is dramatically rising and falling. I am a little concerned, but not too worried yet. He hasn't had much to eat that day, but hadn't behaved too out of the ordinary. Around 9:30, his wheezing increases, and he is struggling to sleep, waking sporadically with panic in his eyes, almost completely disoriented. Then, he is sick to his stomach - twice. By now, I'm starting to worry. Something is telling me that he should not have to work that hard to breathe, and I can hear him wheezing pretty loud. I finally decide that I'm taking him to the hospital around 11:00pm. We get right in the emergency room and the nurses seem pretty surprised at how hard he's working to breathe.

Ambulance ride from Vancouver to Portland

Feeling pretty yucky after very little sleep (if any?), an albuterol mask all night

and day... and other meds to treat inflammation of the lungs and the possible

presence of a virus

My poor Solomon! He wasn't very excited about sporting the 'cool' dragon

mask for his albuterol treatments. But it kind of did look like he was a

smoke-breathing dragon.

To make a long story short, the ER doc was very concerned and decided he needed to be transferred to Legacy Emanuel Children's Hospital in Portland. We got an ambulance ride (no lights or sirens) to make the transfer, and Sol stayed 2 days and 2 nights. He started out in PICU (pediatric ICU) before being moved to the floor, and checked out at 10am on Tuesday morning. Pretty scary for all of us, but we are thanking the Lord that he is getting better each day. We have discovered that he has asthma, and though the cause is not 100% certain, it is most likely seasonal allergy-related. He has to take a maintenance inhaler for several months, as well as the "regular" albuterol for several days, until he is fully recovered.

We are praising God that he is back home with us!!