Liam's Hospital Stay

Liam's Hospital Stay

Liam began with a runny nose and congestion on Thursday, February 17th. We first thought that it was just a cold or from teething-he has 4 teeth coming in on top. Friday he was even more congested and was not himself. His eyes were glassy and he was not as interested in eating as he normally is. His little nose just kept running and running. He was coughing so much he was making himself sick. Friday night into Saturday morning, we were not giving him milk since he was so congested, instead we were giving him Pedialyte. From bedtime Friday to Saturday afternoon, he only drank about 8 ounces. Saturday morning, I would sit him on the floor to play and he would just sit there and fuss. He was not interested in playing at all and would not crawl.

We decided to take him to the Walk-in Clinic on Saturday. The PA diagnosed him with Bronchiolitis and put him on an anti-biotic and steroid. Throughout the weekend, he did begin drinking the Pedialyte and ate some baby food. Grammy came to the house Sunday evening and stayed with the boys Monday. He was more himself as the days went on and began drinking half milk and half Pedialyte.

By Wednesday, February 23rd, he sounded even more congested in his chest and his chest was rattling. He would crawl back the hall and would be out of breath. We were worried that his chest did not sound any better, so Mommy took him to see Dr. Hannagan for an appointment at 3pm on Wednesday.

After being seen, Dr. H took his pulse-ox and his levels were below what she would like to see. His levels were 91-93 and Dr. H likes to see at least a 94. She immediately began nebulizer treatments, listening to his chest before and after every treatment. After the first..and...second...and third treatment (and 2 hours in the office), they checked his pulse-ox and it was still low. Dr. H and I discussed the options and both agreed that he needed to be admitted to the hospital. So, off Mommy & Liam went. Nana & Pappy took over Landon duty and Daddy came to the hospital shortly after we were admitted.

After the admission process, he was put in a nice peach gown and hooked up to the pulse-ox monitor....which beeped every time he moved too much and every time his pulse-ox went below 94. He went through the brutal process of the RSV test by his nurse Jill (who actually lived in Daddy's hometown) which he screamed throughout the entire process. We were wheeled downstairs in a wheel-chair for a chest x-ray, which went so much better than the RSV test. Once we were back upstairs, we patiently waited the results of the tests. We were given the results of the RSV test first...Negative...such a relief! A little while later, we were given the results of the chest x-ray, which showed Pneumonia. He was given an anti-biotic.

Mommy stayed the night with Liam. It was a rough first night. The Peds floor was packed with babies and children, so the floor was very noisy throughout the night. He received nebulizer treatments once every 2 hours throughout the night. His pulse-ox monitor went off more times than I can count or remember. The nurses had explained that the pulse-ox going below 94 while a baby is sleeping is normal, but I didn't expect it to go off so much. By the time the respiratory therapist finished a nebulizer treatment, we did a diaper change, and I swayed him back to sleep, it was time to do it all over again. Around 1am, Liam got a roomie. Despite the lack of sleep, Liam woke up early Thursday morning as he always does, with a huge smile on his face. All of the nurses commented that you would not know that he was sick until listening to his chest since he was so smiley and happy.

Thursday morning, Dr. Kauffman came in to see him. After he listened to his chest and Mommy gave him an update on his night, Dr. Kauffman felt that he could be bumped back to 3 hour nebulizer treatments. We met Liam's roomie, Austin. Austin was also hospitalized for pneumonia & was the same age as Liam. They were only a day apart....small world. Throughout the day Thursday, Nana & Mommy tried to keep Liam as content as we could. This was a challenge at times since he is at the stage that he loves to be crawling around exploring and he def could not do this in the hospital. We talked too & watched Austin play. We played in the bed/crib w/ our toys...


We played peek-a-boo...alot....


We took many, many, many walks in the very short hallway...Nana & Mommy's arms and back began to hurt after lap 100 in the hall, so we began walks in the stroller.

Dr. Kauffman came in Thursday evening, listening to his chest and felt he needed to continue with the 3 hour nebulizer treatments. He also had two other visitors, Aunt Connie & Ali came to see him. He enjoyed their company and gifts. Thursday night into Friday morning, was a much better night. Waking up every 3 hours verses every 2 hours for the nebulizer treatments was much better. The respiratory therapist we had for the night shift was amazing. She came into the room and completed 2 treatments without waking Liam up!! She was the best! Liam slept very well throughout the night and into the morning, he even slept in until 7am!! Once he was awake though, he was ready to go.

Friday morning Dr. Kauffman came in to check him, listening to his chest and felt that he could be bumped to 4 hour nebulizer treatments! Yay!! One step closer to going home.

Throughout the day on Friday, Mommy & Nana did our best to keep him content. Friday was better than Thursday. He took two great naps and the nursing staff did not wake him to do his vitals (like they had on Thursday), which made for a much happier Liam & Mommy. We also allowed Liam to play in the excer-saucer for short periods of time. He loved it!!
But he would bounce himself so hard that he would be out of breath! It did help to occupy him though.


Friday evening, Nanny came to visit. Daddy came after he got off work and Nana left to take over Landon duty. Liam also had another special visitor, "Nanny", Cindy, our nurse from his delivery. She received word that he was on the peds floor & came for a visit & snuggle time. Mommy told Liam that Nanny had given him his first bath and was one of the first people to hold him.

Around 5pm, Liam's nurse, Tiffany, who Mommy went to school with & was in the delivery room when Liam was born, told us that Dr. Galicia was on the floor, making her rounds and would be in soon. In the meantime, we walked the halls and played in the crib. Around 6pm, another nurse came in the room to inform us that Dr. Galicia had to assist with an emergency delivery on the maternity floor and would be in to check on Liam once she was back on the peds floor.

Around 6:30pm, Dr. Galicia came in, listening to his chest and talking with our nurse Tiffany and Aaron & I to see how his day was. And she gave us the best news, other than the negative RSV test, we had received in days....
He Can Go HOME!!! YAY!! Mommy, Daddy, and Tiffany began clapping & said Yay...while Liam just looked at us all...I suppose he was not as excited as we were. His roomie was also given the great news to go home too!! So, around 7:15pm on Friday, we left the hospital....for what we hope is a Very Long Time!