The one with a Penny, Part 3.

Jose was exhausted.  I am super proud of myself for lasting as long as I did.  I maybe got another half hour of sleep off and on, the rest of the time we were there.  I honestly can't remember the last time I was up past 1am.  I am a baby when it comes to my sleep.  I need it to function.  All of it.  So this was all super impressive for me.

Both of our phones were dying at this point, since we didn't anticipate this long we didn't prepare ourselves well enough.  The nurses were all so awesome at trying to find one for us--it can't be that hard to find an iphone charger.  Everyone has them now.  Goodness.  But they never did.  Jose ended up running out to the car and finding a cord, and we just bought a plug in the gift shop down stairs, so we were both able to charge our phones.  I'm sure I could have lasted without one, but I wanted to document the journey, and of course family members needed updates.  So I was glad when we found one.
 

The procedure ended up only taking 21 minutes.  They went in at 7:46 and came out at 8:07.  Beautiful and short for us.  We waited a little bit longer, they said he needed to be awake when we went down, but he was so wiped out and exhausted that he had no plans of waking up soon.  So they let us go to him and help wake him up.  He was so peacefully just sleeping there, but they had to make sure he would wake up, and he could breath on his own before we went back to our room.  So we poked him, and talked to him, and ended up sitting him up to get him to at least open his eyes.

The nurse there called it good, and let us take him back upstairs after that.  They gave him some apple juice and said when he finished half of it he could eat.  All he wanted was a bottle by that point.  But he drank his apple juice so good once we got back to the room.  We snuggled for a bit and then they said he could have a bottle.  He was so ready for one.  He crashed out as soon as he finished it, and slept for a good 2 1/2 hours more--and so did daddy.  I could not.

I ordered him some real food while he slept, mashed potatoes, apple sauce, a banana and some ice cream.  I covered all my bases.  I knew he would eat the ice cream, no questions asked, and then we could move into the others.

We were in room 118 in the R.T.U. (rapid treatment unit).  The nurses were all fabulous, and there were more toys there to play with too.

I wandered around and got a few more delicious things from the vending machines while they slept.

Mom--he has never been a huge "I need my blanket" baby--but while we were here he kept it in his hand, or on him the whole time!  So thank you!

He was so good about keeping his arm straight so the machine didn't beep and beep at us.  His Iv kept getting kinked and so the flow would stop unless his arm was out straight.  Now I am aware he has no idea about that, but he put his arm like that and left it the whole time he slept.  Which made it easier when the techs and nurses came in and out doing more vitals while he slept.

Once he woke up we fed him, and he ended up eating at least half of everything.  Poor kid was probably starving for real food!

That was what the nurses needed to know so we could go home!  So after he ate they got his paperwork started so we could go!  Of course it was still like an hour and half before we actually left, but we did get to go!

Luca really only wanted Jose for this whole time.  He loves his daddy.  They played with this toy, and there was one button that sounded like a dog that Luca just pushed over and over again laughing at it.

I just love his tush hanging out of his gown.

We had to have visitor passes the whole time, and bracelets that said we were the mom and dad so we could prove it when we had him, or had to get him from the OR.  They were thorough at checking them, which is good!

I didn't get a good picture of the hospital that night, and my camera wouldn't hurry up when we left, so that's all I got.

We stopped at crown burger on the way home, starving, and exhausted, and then headed home.  We were all so wiped out, Luca went right down again for another nap, and Jose and I ate and I took a nap.

When we all got up again about an hour and half later, I was still so tired, but I needed to stay up so I would sleep that night.  Staying in the house only made me feel more tired, so Luca and I ran some errands and Jose took another nap.

When we got back, before bed Luca was exploring and playing with his toys, and then he just sat right down on his bear and chilled there for a bit.  I swear this isn't staged.  I don't know what it is about his stuffed animals!   But my land.  I do not want any more huge ones!! This one is PLENTY.  So nobody get him more giant things for his birthday.  Just regular size ones.

Luca slept all night, and woke up at his normal time, I brought him in with us and gave him a bottle and he drank it all and then played a bit.  Then he just crawled right up on my chest and crashed out again.  I had to pee so I slid him over to lay with Jose.  Of course, I couldn't go back to sleep again, so I got up and let the boys sleep until 10.  I think it is safe to say they are all caught up.  I on the other hand, am still attempting that.

They sent us home with the penny for a souvenir--and we have plans to frame that guy.  Luca made it all shiny and clean.  Which is gross.

They sent it in this bio-hazard bag, which just made me laugh.

Now Luca has battle wounds, that will more than likely scar.  The top of his hand from their first IV attempt was all bruised the next day, and he has marks from the needles.  They are more noticeable than in these pictures.

We are so glad to be home, and Luca is back to his normal self, eating everything in sight!

I am so grateful to have the gift of the holy ghost in my life, that guides and directs me to keep my children safe.  That is the hardest thing as a mom, to know when something is really wrong, and I for one am so glad that I have this gift in my life so that I don't have to worry all the time.  As long as I listen to those promptings I know my children will be taken care of.

By the end of this hospital stay I realized how common this situation is.  I now know it has nothing to do with my mothering skills people.  But man you can't help but blame yourself in a situation like that!  So many nurses and doctors told us how many times they had seen this happen, and that made me feel better.  Things that are so tiny and shouldn't be in little peoples mouths shouldn't be shiny and cool looking!!

I am sure my child will land himself in the ER more than once in his life, I for one am glad this one is over.