Sick little Nolan

This past week I've experienced something that I hope to never experience again. It all started Monday morning around 5am. Nolan started crying and I went upstairs to see what was wrong. I discovered he had thrown up. I cleaned him up and bought him downstairs to sleep with me. He seemed fine. Of course, I kept him home that day. Around 10, he asked for some waffles. He ended up eating about half of one. Still seemed fine, just not really hungry. He went down for his normal nap and got up around 2:30 and got sick again. He ended up throwing up 3 more times until he went to bed around 8. I gave him some pedialyte before he went to bed and again he seemed fine, just a little worn out. I fully expected him to wake up Tuesday and start mending. I couldn't have been more wrong.

Jason flew out to go to Kentucky around 8am. By 10:30, I knew something was wrong. He wouldn't drink and all he wanted to do was sleep. I called the doctor and they told me to take him to the ER at Children's Hospital. He was showing signs of dehydration. Not knowing what was going to happen, I checked Nicholas out of school and we headed to the hospital. 40 minutes later we were in a room at the ER and they started him on an IV. That was at 1:15. 6 hours later we were still in the ER. He was not bouncing back they way they thought he would once he got the fluids in him. So they decided to admit him. By this time, Jason had decided to fly back and my wonderful neighbor had come and gotten Nicholas and taken him home with her. We got into our room at 9:15 and Jason arrived at 10:15. One of the hardest things I have ever had to do was leave Nolan that night, even though Daddy was with him. I went home so someone would be there when Nicholas got up in the morning. He slept at my neighbor's house, but as soon as he woke up at 6:20 he was calling to come home.

Nicholas and I headed back to the hospital early Wednesday hoping our little Nolan was feeling better. He was! He actually ate breakfast! We waited around to see the doctor and didn't see her until after lunch. She decided to wanted to keep Nolan another night since he still wasn't really drinking and just to make sure the food stayed down. I stayed that night with him while Jason went home with Nicholas. Thank the lord, they let us come home the next day. We were back home Thursday by lunch. We were so glad to be home!

It is slowly hitting me now that we are back home. I never want to see one of my children laying in a hospital bed again. It was so sad to watch him all day Tuesday in the ER. Even Nicholas commented on it. I'm so glad my Nicholas was there with me. He was so good all day. At one point he came and hugged me and said the Our Father for Nolan. He was my rock that day and having him there kept me sane.

I keep looking at my boys tonight and realize how much I have to be thankful for. There are kids at the hospital whose parents may never get to bring them home. My child got to walk out on his own two legs. Thank you God for letting my little Nolan get better!

I also realize how blessed we are with such wonderful friends and family. My sister, Jamie, offered to come up for the moment I called her, before we were even at the ER. She is 4 hours away so it is not a simple trip for her. Both my mom and Jason's mom offered to take off from work to come over. Several friends in Atlanta offered up their help. My neighbor went above and beyond and not only let Nicholas spend the night the 1st night, but came and got him Wednesday afternoon as well to give him a break from the hospital. If you know anything about Atlanta, coming down 400 to get to hospital is not the easiest trip. Not one you would want to do.

Thank you for everything you offered your help and your prayers!

This is Nolan in the ER. This is how he was all day. He just laid there and slept. Always with teddy by him. He was so tired that he didn't even cry when they put his IV in.

The boys Wednesday in the playroom at the hospital. As you can see, he is feeling better.

This is just before we found out we were being discharged!