A Hospital Stay

We are just back home from an unexpected hospital stay. I suppose that almost all hospital stays are unexpected. All I know is that I am wiped out. At wits end. Ready for nothing.

Went in a couple days ago because our oldest's eye was swelling closed and itchy. We thought it was possibly an allergic reaction to something because it came on very fast. I left immediately to take him to the doctor's office. Our pediatrician sent us to an opthamologist who sent us back to the pediatrician to go straight to the hospital to get IV antibiotics to immediately decrease swelling. At this point his vision was double and blurry. He was diagnosed with orbital cellulitis.

A few hours later we were tucked into our cozy private room on the pediatric wing at the local hospital. After a few traumatic procedures (I cried as much as he did holding him down while he begged and pleaded for me to let him go and stop hurting him and not let them do this - not a great mommy memory) to insert his IV and get eye drops, he settled down and was excited about the fun to be had. We watched movies, played video games for the first time ever (not a hit with my kids yet - great), painted, played with 100's of toys, read new books, and fed the turtles and fish outside.

Originally they wanted us there for almost 4 days but the length of the stay was shortened as our guy surged ahead looking so much better.

We were released to go home and continue antibiotics orally along with the eye drops. I pray that he lets me put the eye drops in on my own without to much of a fight.

The best part of the whole deal (I say sarcastically) was that my husband was out of town this whole time so I had both kids with me (sleeping there as well). Yes, one room, one five year old getting treated, and one two year old running loose wanting to go and play, play, play. Needless to say I about tore all my hair out trying to keep the peace and keep it down to a dull roar.