Our Not So Fun Snowy Day Adventure

So at 2:45amWednesday Jaden came into our bedroom not feeling well and a little croupy. Finally after meds etc. he settled down and fell asleep but still sounded terrible. He slept in my arms for a few more hours. I had to get up at 6am but he stayed asleep. Jaden slept in until about 930ish. By 11ish and he was starting to not feel good again. His breathing sounded so labored. So I braved the 8inches of snow and took him down to an urgent care clinic. By the time we got there his breathing was getting worse. Luckily they pushed us right through and evaluated him. His limbs were turning a different blochy color and he was very pale. His whole little body starting to retract in just to get one breath. They started him on a breathing treatment machine. They tried 2 treatments and some medicine in his arm. Nothing worked. So they called 911 and we went to Providence. Then they hooked him up to oxygen for the ride. Here is his first pict. Its kind of blurry. By this time the only reason I am not freaking out is because he needed me! Inside I was a basketcase!!! Did I mention his temp started rising. When we got to Prov it was over 104.



On the way they did another breathing treatment. It didn't do much either. At Providence they gave him another treatment then put him back on oxygen and gave him some steriods and took some xrays. It came back that he might have a simple virus that just hit his throat hard or it could be Epiglotitis(infection of the little flap over your trachea) This is rare but very deadly for a little guy. SO... then they called 911 and sent us to Children's Hospital in Seattle in the SNOW! As if the whole thing wasn't bad enough but the snow made it so much worse. Here he is getting into the next ambulance headed for Seattle.

Then at Childrens they did a few more tests with some specialists. Luckily the Epiglotitis came up negative so it was just some freak virus that almost killed him. After a few hours there the steroids finally kicked in and he started breathing well on his own. They had planned on keeping us overnight for observation but at 9:30pm they came in and gave him another round of steroids and said he could go home. They were so good to him. They give the kids toys and in every room there is a Disney movie playing. He was so much easier to keep calm here and I think that really helped him too.



So around 10pm we're headed home. But by then 1/2 of Arlington was out of power and there was about 8inches of new snow and we had to go back down south the next day for a follow up. So we ended up stopping at my parents house for the night halfway home. They already had the other 3 kids for us so it worked out well.

Now Thursday things are so much better. Jaden's follow up visit was awesome and he is breathing so well now. We gave him one more round of steriods tonight and he seems almost back to himself. All in all it started so quick and ended so quick it doesn't seem like we just went through hell for the last 24 hours. I am so thankful all is well and this has made me realize how much I love my kids and family and how greatful I am for (most of the time) a healthy family! I have given many prayers of thanks for this outcome and know the Lord was there to carry us through this yesterday.