How many trips to the doctor does one boy need in two days?

Greetings Boys and Girls,

Hospital Trips: 0, Ambulance Rides: 0, Doctor Visits: 0
It's been a bit since I last posted anything of note, and before any wild rumors started running around I thought I would give the low-down on the latest-and "not-so" greatest.  I have been feeling a little under the weather for a bit now, and last Friday Mom took me into see the doctor for a check up on a fever I had been running.  We went home from the doctors, and I went on my merry way, they thought I might have a touch of pneumonia.  Later that evening dad took my temperature at home.  (as an aside, did you guys know they still use this measurement from my bottom! What an embarrassing thing!)

Hospital Trips: 0, Ambulance Rides: 0, Doctor Visits: 1
It was 105.3 degrees, and the doctor then directed my folks to get me to the ER and see what was going on.  There the doctor took a look at me, and though I was just going through a bit of a virus, they gave me some Tylenol, and once again I was sent home, with the expectation to see the pediatrician in the morning for a follow-up.

Hospital Trips: 1, Ambulance Rides: 0, Doctor Visits: 1
On the way home, something didn't feel right and I blacked out for this part, I'll turn it over to Dad -- Christy looked back in the car and saw Patrick having some kind of attack.  His entire body was shaking, so I pulled off the highway, and got Patrick out of his car seat.  At first we thought he was choking, but after performing the Heimlich , he was still not any better.  His face was blue, and he was foaming at the mouth while convulsing.  EXTREMELY scary!  Christy was on the phone with 911 at this point, and we had an Ambulance there in about 5 minutes.  Patrick started to come back around at that point, but not before being out of it for about 3-5 minutes.  They took Patrick back to the ER to get checked out again.

Hospital Trips: 2, Ambulance Rides: 1, Doctor Visits: 1
This was me on the way into the ER:



I was beginning to feel a little better, and once I got into the ER my fever started to come down and I was diagnosed with a Febrile Seizure.  Once again I didn't know this term, but Febrile means "..having or showing signs of fever."  Evidential, while this is a scary thing, it is quite common in us kiddos.  Dad thinks that this should be part of the parenting handbook of "Things that are terrifying, but okay for little guys" that they should give to all new parents.  It's only after this scares the crap out of you, that other people come forward and say, "Oh yeah, that's not a big deal." Oh yeah?  Let me tell you, it is a really big deal. 

Once my fever settled down Friday night I was once again sent home around midnight.

Hospital Trips: 2, Ambulance Rides: 1, Doctor Visits: 2
The night was uneventful, so I had a follow up appointment with my pediatrician the next morning, and while I was there my fever was back up to 104 and I had another seizure in their office, so they called the paramedics from the office, and I got to ride in another ambulance and head back to Fairfax Hospital ER. This time was a little less traumatic since we had medical staff present to help, however it was still very scary.

Hospital Trips: 3, Ambulance Rides: 2, Doctor Visits: 2
Now we weren't kidding around with two seizures under my belt they thought I should go ahead and get admitted, and have an IV inserted.  Here I am having the IV placed on my left hand:




While not the best thing in the world, I am able to tolerate anything with some bubbles and cute girls by my side!  Not everything was fun and games and I really didn't feel very good for most of the visit.  Primarily I slept on Mom or Dad:




After being admitted to the hospital, it had been a long day and I was quite run down.  While in the Mom's arms I had my third febrile seizure of the past 24 hours, and was wiped out.  I was in good hands and the nurses and doctors were all there to take care of me, but I was certainly out of my element.



Some friends came to help me pass the time and feel a little bit better, but I couldn't seem to kick this fever or any of the other things keeping me down.  I lost most of my appetite and quite lethargic.


There were certainly moments that felt better than others, and once the doctors cleared me to eat Popsicles, I was quite a bit happier!


As the days went on, my face has started to swell, and I have developed this rash they believe is associated with the virus that is still coursing through my body.  All the other scary illnesses I have been tested for have come back negative.  Here I am looking out my window tethered to my IV, monitor, and Pulse Ox.


Aunt Katie's class made me a card to feel better, and all of my family, friends, and fans call on me all day long!  It's nice to know so many people want to know what's going on.


Here I am today with my crackers, Rolling Stone T-Shirt, and IV.  You can really see my rash on my cheeks, and how swollen my eyes are.


Currently, we are in a waiting game.  The doctors hope to see my appetite come back, my fever stay down, and no more of those damn seizures.  The expected diagnosis is that this is still just a virus I haven't kicked yet.  I am beginning to seem better, but that's happened a couple of times the past few days as false alarms.  Mom and Dad are exhausted I'm sure, and I can attest to the fact that the hospital food leaves something lacking :-)  I've been in the hospital officially since Saturday night, but spent a large portion of Friday here too.  We hope to go home tomorrow (Tuesday) but I'll settle for just feeling better :-)  As a parting gift I leave you with a tour of crib:




Adios Muchachos,
Patrick