Back to the ER

Brody came down with a no big deal cold that unfortunately landed us in the ER this weekend.  The whole week he had a runny nose and cough but except for a few hours no fever.  I didn't think much of it because ever since his ear tubes a runny nose never amounts to anything for him.  It usually runs its coarse and goes away.

Thank goodness my parents came into town for the weekend because on Saturday night Brody started to sound croupy.  I tried giving him an albuteral treatment but it didn't really do much.  I put him in bed that night and wasn't worried about him in the slightest bit.  Unfortunately for everyone involved Brody awoke at 4AM and was having some trouble breathing.  I say "some" because I really wasn't acutely worried about him but knew if we didn't fix it soon, it could become worse.  The poor little guy was scared to death and was crying so hard that it was only making things worse.  My parents quickly jumped in the car with me and we raced to the ER.  Brody sat on my lap so that I could try and calm him down.  I knew his crying was only making things worse so I decided that we were unlikely to get in an accident at 4AM and that it would be better if I didn't put him in his car seat, and spent my efforts trying to get him to stop crying.  Go ahead cast your judgments ;) but I would make the same decision today if put in that situation again. 

We decided to go to UK's ER and I was very impressed.  An ER nurse heard Brody's breathing when we walked in and she brought us back immediately.  Before I knew it they had a pediatric pulse ox on him and respiratory was on their way.  While we were there he got a racemic Epi treatment and some steroids.  After a few hours we were sent home to muscle through the day on little sleep. 

I am glad to say that after one more dose of steroids a few days later Brody is back to him self, breathing normal and 100% snot free. 

Roxie

Sadly we have lost our dog Roxie.  She passed away yesterday and we all are deeply saddened by her sudden death.  I got Roxie 12 years ago from the pound and my roommate Shannon could have killed me for it.  She was just so sad and lonely in her cage at Pets Mart that I couldn't leave her there. Roxie was my companion all through college, when Dave and I broke up, when Dave went to the Marines and and during his tours in Iraq.  Roxie, saw me through anesthesia school, and the birth of our son.  We often joked that Roxie would never die.  She had survived heart worms at 6 months of age, being hit by a car with a compound fracture, and eating lots of ant poison.  Nevertheless, whatever she scummed to was quick and fast and I although it is harder on us, I am thankful for her quick passing. 

Roxie had fallen down the stairs on Wednesday afternoon and although she took a hard fall she got right up and walked it off.  However, that evening she started vomiting and did not want to come inside.  The next morning she walked down the stairs and went outside but again did not want to come in.  That afternoon she became very tachypnic and progressively became paralyzed.  Dave left work and took her to the vet for an evaluation and we both thought she would be put down.  The vet felt very strongly that she had just hurt her back and he was certain she would recover fully in just a few days.  He gave her a dose of steroids and sent Dave and Roxie on their way. 

When I arrived home from work and saw Roxie for myself I agreed with Dave and was certain she was dying.  I called the vet and told him that if he really thought this was all pain related then she needed a narcotic.  Poor Roxie was breathing so fast that I couldn't even count her respirations.  I quickly gathered Brody and drove to the vet to pick up a narcotic for her.  When I arrived home I took a few steps inside and knew she had passed without even seeing her.  I sat Brody down in the kitchen and when I walked upstairs I found her dead.

The medical person in me just could not handle not knowing what happened to her.  The vet said all her labs were fine.  I could not stop questioning if they were fine then why would she have died so suddenly.  I have now decided that she must have hit her head when she fell and had a brain bleed that ultimately caused her to herniate.  I know to most people this sounds gruesome and cold but it brings me great comfort to "know" what happened to her. 

She was a great dog and will be very missed by our entire family!!!

The Childrens Museum

Today Brody and I went to the Children's Museum at Union Terminal in Cincinnati.  On the way ur p we stopped in to see my friend Emily and her 6 week old baby girl Zoey.  She was so cute and so little.  It seams unbelievable that just a year ago Brody was that size. We were not able to stay and visit long because we had other big plans for the day but we did manage to get in a few pictures. 

 

After lunch at my parents we headed over to the Cincinnati Children's Museum.   My parents and my Mom's parents went with us.  The Museum used to be a train station for Cinicnnati and interestingly is the location my grandfather left for WWII.  Now it is a Museum with so many exhibits/activities for adults and children.  It is so big that it never feels crowded and there is so much to do that we didn't even see half of what they had to offer.  Guess we will be headed back soon.