Keep Arms and Hands Inside the Ride at All Times

As many of you already know, Carter has streptococcal pneumonia.
He is OK and we are home.

We noticed a day or two ago that he had developed a cough so we've been trying to keep an eye on him for any changes. I also thought I heard some wheezing, but Brad didn't hear it. When I got home from work this morning, Carter coughed and it sounded really "junky" and Brad said he'd been gagging on lots of mucous (yummy, I know). My Mom (a nurse) stopped by this morning and remarked that she heard him wheezing. That kinda sealed the deal and I called his pediatrician who said to bring him in.

Dr. M listened to his lungs and thought she could hear some decreased breath sounds on the left side and also bowel sounds up near his arm pit on the left side (the side of his hernia) so she ordered a chest x-ray. He had also lost 3 ounces and this was the first time ever that he lost weight, so we knew something was wrong. Aside from being a little whiny, he doesn't really act like he feels badly.

From the chest x-ray Dr. M determined that he has some pneumonia and put him on antibiotics. He did not have a fever so she said we caught it very early. We were sent home with strict instructions to call her tonight if anything changes or he spikes a fever. She was uncertain whether he had reherniated, so she sent the films to the radiologist. I don't know when we'll know those results, but I'm planning to call in the morning.

I immediately called Dr. Wonderful at Duke (I know when she sees my number on her cell phone she thinks "not them again!") and she assured me that there is no reason to panic. She put him on a nebulizer, but the medical supply company didn't have it when I called so hopefully they can hook us up with one in the morning. She told us what to watch for and if he starts to get worse, to call them and he might have to be admitted. It's likely that he lost the 3 ounces because he's working so hard to breathe. For now, we're going back on complete lock-down so we can all get some rest and Carter can save up his energy for healing and not visiting/playing.

I also went to Urgent Care tonight with a sore throat, but my strep test came back negative. Darn Pollen!

Right now, he's hanging out in his crib, singing and screeching and rolling around--avoiding going to sleep! We'd love it if you could say an extra prayer for Carter tonight for a quick recovery and for an intact diaphragm/no reherniation. I can't stand the thought of another surgery, but if he has to have another one, we decided that is God's way of telling us it's time for the G-tube.

Thanks for all the notes and messages we've received so far.