Looking Ahead

Day 305:

Seems we're in the clear, Boy'O.  As of yesterday I was still a wee bit concerned and watching you like a hawk, but then why wouldn't I given the events of the morning?  Though today would be totally different and would afford your Mom and me a chance to breathe a little easier.

Since yesterday morning you've managed to keep down every meal, taken all of your medications without incident, and slept much, much better than you have been.  Not only that, but you're back to all smiles all the time... And you know what that means, right?  We got back to rough-housing again today!  Nothing in the World makes me happier than hearing you laugh, Conor.  And nothing in the World makes you laugh more than "The Daddy Monster"!  So much so in fact that I wore myself out with you today, Son!  I'd roll around with you, pin you down, tickle you with my scruffy old beard, and attack you with gigantic pillows!  And all to nothing but the pure, unbridled laughter that only the Lion Heart can bring!

That would be our morning, anyhow... Feeding you, rough-housing with you, laughing with you, and just being generally happy that you're so close to being back to 100%.  The Lion Heart would roar once again!

After the events of the morning we all packed up the old Tahoe and headed West to Front Royal to hang out with our family, play with all the kids, watch a little football, and have a big, huge family dinner.  Your Great Aunt Helene, cousins Patsy and Paul and their kids / your cousins Tashy, Bree, Liam, and Devin, as well as cousin Alicia and her daughters Rebecca and Tess, and her soon to be husband, Graham, and his two kids Charlie and Rachel.  It was a FULL house but oh so much fun!

And so now the only bad news of the day... As we all wound down and started to head home, Mommy started to feel a bit sick.  Seems she's got whatever bug(s) we've been combatting all week, and so she's down for the count, Boy'O.  But I know you'll return all the love she shows you and see her back to health, Son.  Because sometimes, even the adults need help...

I love you, sweet boy.  So much...
-Dad

Cleared to Play

Day 304:

Another eventful day today, Conor.  It would start after a very sleepless night in that you were up the better part of the night and morning with a lot of coughing and wheezing, and so you Mom and me would find ourselves up with you through the night with nebulizer treatments and just generally trying to keep you nice and easy so that you'd sleep.  I think for me my nerves just got the better of me because all I could do was worry about how you'd make out at your pediatric appointment this morning...  Which brings me to part two of this entry.

After I survived the night, or rather the wee hours of the morning, sleeping in the spare bedroom for a couple of hours just simply for the quiet of it, we had an appointment at the pediatrician at 9:00am so that your doctors could get a feel for how you're heeling up and getting past this thing.  And the prognosis was good!   Confident we'd done all we could to get you back to your old self and feeling as though there would be far less to worry about, we decided to take a walk dow to the Caribou Coffee for a cup of joe and a breakfast sandwich.  Well, while there we'd also decided it would be a good time for you to start solid foods again, and you were HUNGRY to say the least!  We kept the portion to a minimum so as not to swell your belly and then made the decision to chase it with a bottle... Well, it ALL came right back up... And right there in the coffee shop, too.

Needless to say the situation got tense and I made the decision, per the recommendation of your Mom, that we just walk right back to the pediatrician to get more information...  Your doctor remained unworried considering the event and so off we went.  Soon after, Mommy went out to run errands and so it would be me and you for the afternoon and what was on deck, was a nap for BOTH of us.  Though following your nap you managed to hold down two meals, two bottles, some more nebulizer treatments, and a big ole' Conor smile...

Glad in the fact that you were much more yourself we trekked to Falls Church to your Aunt Jen and Uncle Paul's for yet another Saturday night with the cutest baby boys this side of the Mississippi.  Nate and Drew were so happy to see you, Conor, and so the three of you boys sat on the floor and played and played while us old people stood around discussing football and politics.  It was an easy breezy night and one that both your Mommy and I needed in order to escape what can only be described as the most stressful week of my existence, let alone yours.  And while I can't speak for her, I'm sure your mother would concur.

Home now and resting comfortably, it's time to turn the lights out on this chapter of your baby-dom, Conor.  And hopefully we'll not be revisiting another week like this one any time to soon.  Though to be sure if we do, we'll be far more prepared.

I love you, Son.
-Dad

'Tis Himself Again...

Day 303:

What a difference a day makes, Boy'O!  After a very worrisome day with you yesterday and Wednesday even more so, today would tell a far different story...  Seems all your meds and all the breathing treatments and all the bottles and most of all, all the love has seen you improve exponentially, Son.  When I came home from work today you were smiling and full of life, certainly back to your old self, and I couldn't be more pleased.

Tomorrow morning we have an appointment with the pediatrician, this time Dr. Howell, and we're all looking for a clean bill of health and a license to EAT!  Like any adult or big kid, if you don't eat solid food for three days, you can't really grow!  Not only that, but you'll likely lose weight!!  In may case, that'd be just fine.  In your case, not so much... We need you to keep growing, Boy'O!  And so tomorrow begins that journey once more - provided Dr. Howell is cool with your results which I have no reason to believe she'd be anything but.

As for me, well, here I sit watching our Nationals and hoping they can come away with yet another win to tie up the NLDS in Major League Baseball's playoff series.  The first for DC since 1933!!  It's a lot to cheer for, Conor, though certainly no more than you, Boy'O.  I'm your biggest fan and as best as I can tell, you're nothing but a winner, Son.

I love you, Conor.  And GO NATS!
-Dad

A Time to Heal

Day 302:

After a day that can only be described as "stressful", this day would be far more peaceful.  And while today would still carry with it a weight, it would also be a day of proactive effort to ensure your recovery.

The day started with a trip to the Pediatrician, who today would be Dr. Banta, so that she could look you over and verify the data passed to her form the ER doctor last night.  While she approved of most of the work, she made it very clear that the next time you're in some kind of trouble as it pertains to something more than a broken wrist or a quick stitch, we should only go to Fairfax Hospital as they have a Pediatric ER and are very good at so many of the little things, like sticking veins.  Never the less, after an hour at the Pediatrician I had a handful of prescriptions to fill and an increasingly cranky little boy.  Still, your crankiness is some kids' best day so not all that intolerable.  Though regardless, I wanted to keep you as comfortable as possible and so getting you home, nebulized, bathed, fed, and relaxed was all I could think about.

I took the day off work for the most part, and because Mommy had to work in the city today we decided we would trade off the responsibilities of caring for you tomorrow to allow me to get to the office and catch up while she sits home with you.  To that end it certainly provides perspective in so far as the level of effort stay-at-home-mom's give while taking care of one or more children.  I felt like every moment of my day was consumed with you, but that's not such a bad thing I suppose.  In fact, when it was time for your nap, I gave you a bottle, rocked you to sleep, and then put you into your crib before finding my place in the glider and sitting in your room with you for 2 hours.  The house was completely quiet and it was as sound as you'd slept in days, and so it made me very, very happy to just be there.

We're beating it, Son.  And we won't stop until you're 100%.  I promise.  You do your part and we'll do ours.

I love you, Conor.
-Dad

Crashing the Emergency Room

Day 301:

Today was an all around drag, Conor.  As I'd mentioned in the last several posts you've been fighting some kind of bug and Mommy and I have been standing with you in doing anything we can to help.  The various effects of this "bug" have seen you vomit entire meals 6 times in the last 5 days, a fever of 102 albeit inconsistent, a nasty cough, tons of wheezing, and difficulty breathing.  Your Mom and I were sure we were getting ahead of it having you at the pediatrician twice this week already.  And this morning you seemed to be responding so the decision was made to get you out to daycare and let Mommy get to work, while I worked from home because, as I said last night, it seems I'm under siege by a bug of my own.

Everything seemed well and good though I decided to call Ms. Zeny anyway just to check on you.  She'd mentioned that you'd thrown up your lunch but that your spirits were good and you'd taken a bottle since with no incident.  I had my concerns and took the information under advisement, but I asked Ms. Zeny to give me a call all the same should it happen again.  And around 3:30pm, I got the call.

Deciding not to wait any longer, and despite being a bit under the weather myself, I decided to not worry your Mom to leave Bethesda and grab you and started heading to you as quickly as I could.  On the way I called your pediatrician, today that was Dr. Howell, and she advised me to have a look at you first and then make the decision - do we head home for the night and manage you through the morning?  Or is it so bad that we not wait and head straight to the ER?  Well, by the time I'd gotten to you, despite your usual bright and happy smile, I could see right away what was in store.  Emergency Room...

When I put you in the car all I could hear was your tiny lungs fighting for each and every breath.  The gurgle and wheeze coming from your little car seat was enough on it's own, but you were piqued and just not yourself, and so I made the call to your Mom and we made our way to the hospital...  Turns out it was the right call...

Shortly there after Mommy showed up and just in time... I'd managed to get you through all the checking in, story telling of the week and why we were there, and the various things Dr Smith, or "Doug" as he introduced himself, would do to take action; beginning with a chest x-ray.  You did great in the x-ray booth, Conor!  And they got great pictures of those strong but tiny lungs!  But the bad news came just after in that Dr. Smith informed us that you had pneumonia...  The litany of things that would happen after that was where the night became unbearable for you...

First and foremost they would take blood.  Or at least try...  In order to do this the nurses would need to insert an IV which, by itself is a drag.  But missing and missing and missing again on a little guy was unbearable... In your almost 10 months, Conor, you've almost never cried.  And when you have it's been for mere moments.  After this poor nurse who, with 20 years of experience in the ER carries plenty of knowhow, tried for almost 5 minutes in 2 tries to get that IV set, your screaming and pain was unrelenting.  Instinctively it was everything I could do to not throw her through the wall, Son.  I've never been in a position where I had to watch somebody I love so much take so much pain, and I struggled mightily to control my urge to protect you and tell her to back off... And by no fault of her own she just couldn't get it done.  I believe this because she was working with another nurse and the Doctor and nobody could find a vein in your chubby little arms.  I finally understand what people mean when they say, "it was as painful for me as it was for you."  It truly was, Conor.  And I'm sorry you had to go through it, Boy'O.

Unsuccessful, exhausted, and feeling yucky, you were done in, Conor.  Your poor little body fell limp as you struggled to breathe through all the fluid in your lungs, and so you finally just passed out.  Needless to say your Mom and I were emotional and desperate to get you healthy.  In order to draw blood for testing the Doctor ordered a heel stick and so, while in a deep and exhausted slumber, they performed the maneuver to predictable results.  Out of a dead sleep you awoke to the sharp pain of a quick knife digging into your heel, and all I could do was hold you and tell you it was going to be okay.  For 10 minutes more the nurses did all they could to get the required blood and again, to no avail...  It seemed like endless torture considering the failed results.

The Doctor, who again I believe was very very good, finally decided to simply provide you with a couple of injections in order to get the medicine into your body through the muscles in your legs and so, yet another stick.  This time in both legs at the same time and again, from a dead sleep.  Fortunately you were so tired that you merely cried for a moment before finally just giving in to the pain and falling asleep in my arms while your mother paced the room beside herself.

Being a parent is the greatest honor and privilege in the World, Conor.  Without a doubt.  And we've all come through some pretty significant events in the last year given your journey to now, and so one might think this kind of event wouldn't be so bad.  But honestly Boy'O, listening to you cry in pain at the hands of another, no matter how sincere and professional the effort, was as difficult as anything I've ever endured.  And I know I speak for your Mom when I say she feels the same...

We're home now and you're sound asleep.  A consolation in all this is that you won't remember any of this as you grow and grow.  But the fact remains, you're still sick, Son.  And so tomorrow morning it's back to the doctor, specifically your pediatrician, to continue to combat this blasted thing.  And no matter what, Boy'O, I'll be right there with you.  Mommy too.  We've got you, Son.  And we know you'll be just fine with a little love and support and all the right moves.

Even the Lion Heart can hurt, Son.  There's no shame in it.  Just get better, okay?

I love you, Conor.
-Dad  

Big Bad Bug

Day 300:

Wow Conor, 300 days!  That's how long I've been writing this blog, Boy'O... 300 days.  Truly, it's so hard to believe.  And whilst I watch you grow and the time goes ticking by I'm enlightened in what it means to live.  You're a wholly different kid from then to now, and I've no doubt of the same come this time next year.

While thankful for your overly joyful and cheerful disposition, unfortunately we've encountered the occasional challenge in keeping those precious young lungs of yours crystal clear.  To that end Mommy had you back in the pediatricians' office today, though the news wasn't all bad.  Turns out you're getting better in so far as your breathing normalizing, wheezing subsiding, and appetite returning, but the effort needs to stay consistent as far as keeping on your nebulization treatments and medication doses for the next few days.  What that means for your Mom and me is fewer hours of sleep and a more exhaustive schedule than what we're already working with.  Though we've been assured that should we stay on track, you'll be right as rain in no time...

It's a mad mad, world, Conor.  Life has its challenges all on its own.  The last thing we need is are little microscopic bugs keeping us down, and yet it happens.  Still, modern medicine is testament to what we can do in this day and age; hence your happy little life.  And modern medicine will be the key to your being stronger than ever.  As the time goes rushing by...

I love you, Conor.  My little Lion Heart...
-Dad

A Day Off Work, A Day On Duty

Day 299:

Today was an exceptionally busy day out of the office, Son.  To start it was a matter of getting all of our things unpacked from a weekend away, but more than that it was about picking up the house ahead of the maids getting here to clean the place.  Ordinarily this is work that would have been done on the evening prior but considering the exhaustive travels of yesterday and the liberty of having today off, nothing was done last night.  On this day that would mean starting the morning on a frenetic pace.

When the chores were finally complete we were off to meet my friend and and would-be business partner, Jason Riffel, for lunch.  Despite not being on duty at my full time job today, Mr. Jason and I would pool resources to talk a bit about how he might take his business to the next level.  You see Conor, Mr. Jason has been working on software business solutions for surveillance and security infrastructure operations for some years, and now that he's landed a few key clients with several others in the pipeline, Mr. Jason needs some real help.  That's where I come in, Boy'O.

For several years now Jason's been talking to me about eventually coming to work for him, though of course I'm committed to my current position.  That, coupled with the fact Mr. Jason's company is still a bit fledgling and truthfully unable to pay me whilst making his margins, I've offered assistance pro-bono with the promise that, should I start to fill that pipeline and knock down business, I'll take a small percentage while reinvesting back into the firm.  Once the business is more sustainable and CIP Reporting is capable of growing a sales and marketing infrastructure I'll come on full time to build out the department and take stake in the business.  That's the plan at least...

Needless to say I'll be quite busy working both jobs while promising to not let off the gas even one little bit where raising you is concerned, but if there was ever a time in my life where I'm queued up to take on this challenge, it's now.

Still, the busiest part of the day hadn't even begun by mid-afternoon, Son.  Soon after getting home from lunch and getting started with Mr. Jason, Mommy took a turn in feeding you, only the results ended up as they did yesterday in the airport; you vomited the entire meal up midway through your lunch.

Considering this has now happened 4 times in 5 days, we're concerned, Son.  Not only that but your breathing has been shallow and a bit more quick paced than we'd like and more over you're feverish and still wheezing a bit.  Certainly all of these things are contributory to the whole of the problem and so a trip to the pediatrician late in the day would be in the cards.  Our concerns were well founded as both Dr. Howell and Nurse Kalyn would also see and hear a few things they want to address, especially ahead of the coming cold and flu season.

Now, not to be all to dramatic the situation isn't dire, Son.  But there is cause for concern, especially given the development of your little lungs.  They're both completely confident there's little chance the effects of this illness is long term so long as we follow the regiment of medications and treatments required to beat it.  And we will, Son.  We'll get you back your old self in no time flat.

I love you, Conor.  Get better, buddy.
-Dad