Rough Day, Rough Week

We've had quite a week. Andrew came down with two ear infections on Tuesday night. I took him in Wednesday morning and they prescribed antibiotics. He started feeling much better by Friday, and we went out a little bit to run errands.

Saturday night, he started throwing up. In the middle of Books-A-Million to be precise. Right on the carpet. Oh my goodness! He continued on with his apparent stomach virus for the next 24 hours.

About four days ago, he started complaining of leg pain. It quickly progressed to a limp, then a pitiful "mommy, carry me" , and eventually an inability to move without crying. He can't even go to the bathroom without having us carry him in there. The most comfortable position for him is to have his hurt leg curled up...sort of fetal-like position.

I took him into the pediatrician today because the leg thing was freaking me out. Getting him in and out of the car was horrible because he just screamed in pain. Thank God we have a Sit and Stand stroller so I could just sit him on the back portion and not have to deal with a true stroller seat. The doctor didn't find anything, and referred us to an x-ray place and a blood work place.

This is where the real fun begins...

Mike met me at the x-ray place and truly I don't know how I would have made it without him taking the day off of work. I mistakenly told Andrew that this would be a simple process and the Dr just wanted a picture of his leg. Yeah right. I didn't think the process through, but my pregnancy made it impossible for me to be in the room while the x-ray was in progress. So, Mike got the lovely job of getting Andrew into the right positions (all painful). Andrew screamed the entire time (35-40 minute process). It was awful. I could hear him up and down the halls. Natalie was with me and was being an absolute booger the entire time. I was about ready to lose my mind in there. After the fun times at the imaging center, Andrew looked horrible. His face was swollen and blotchy from so much crying.

After a short and painful car ride, we ended up at the lab place for blood work. Andrew knew why we were there and he was already crying in the waiting room. "Mommy, I'm scared, I don't want to have blood done." Naturally I chalk his fear up as a fear of the unknown. I asked him if he knew how it worked, and I tried to educate him. He didn't appreciate the crash course in Phlebotomy 101. He remembered me getting my blood drawn in front of him not too many months ago. He wanted nothing to do with this ordeal.

We were called back to the lab room and I discreetly apologized in advance to the full waiting room. I asked them to please forgive us for any screaming that might occur. And boy howdy...were there ever screams. We understood he was scared, and the phlebotomist was wonderful at telling him step by step what she was doing. I on the other hand was saying "it's ok not to look". (I hate needles myself). This sweet little angel of ours SCREAMED bloody murder and it took Mike and I pinning him down to the table (lovingly, of course). Our waiting roomies never knew we were taking diligent care of him by virtue of what they heard: SCREAM, SCREAM, SHRIEK...."YOU'RE HURTING ME, I DON'T WANT BLOOD, YOU'RE BREAKING MY LEG!!!! I DON'T WANT A BAND AID, NO NO NO NO NO!!!!"

d-r-a-m-a. oh vey.

I asked if we could sneak out the back door, but no...we had to go out the way we came. Agh.

The x-rays from hell came back normal. Which is good I suppose, but I can't help but think about the number of tears involved to find out 'nothing'. We find out about the blood work tomorrow to make sure it's not an infection.

My friend Riki sent me an article about a temporary condition that may answer our questions. Here is the info. http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/children/parents/special/bone/181.html
My mother-in-law also mentioned the possibility of lymph node issues. We'll see, but I'll update when I know more.