Thank you all so much for your prayers! They were heard and our little guys is doing so well!
As I told you before I fell Saturday morning holding Parker. It happened about 10am and we were being seen by a Dr around 10:30am. Mike had us from the park to the children's hospital in about 10 minutes flat (should have taken 15-20). It always amazes me how fast they get you in there. Mike was still filling out the paperwork and we were inside. He was in for a CT pretty quickly and they discovered the fractures and bleeds. I was a mess before they told me this and I was even worse after. I felt so bad for him and so guilty like I could have done something to prevent the fall (even though I don't know how). They brought in the head neurosurgeon (who saw Abbie when she had her skull fracture as a baby) and he told us that we were being checked into the ICU for observation and tests. He also took Mike out to see the films while I stayed with Parker.
They put me on a bed (because I also popped a bone in my foot) and had me hold him through the transfer. They got us up to the ICU, weighted him (weighs 9 pounds now by the way!), hooked up an IV, took a urine tests, took blood, hooked up a blood pressure band and a respirator and heart monitors. he seemed to have wires and tubes everywhere. Then it was just a a waiting game. I sat on the couch in the room with him on my chest for 12 hours with them coming in every hour checking his vitals and his soft spots to make sure there was no brain swelling. Different Dr's came and went. We were instructed what to watch for that the monitors might not pick up or the nurses notice as we know him best. They told us about the different types of seizures and clinical symptoms to keep an eye out for.
He pretty much just slept on me for about 12 hours straight and woke screaming the worst screams I have heard from a baby everythime he woke. It broke my heart.
Both sets of grandparents came and Mike's sister (who was watching Abbie) brought her over to see us and Parker. Mike went home and packed us a bag and one for Abbie. I finally put him in the crib about 11:30pm and tried to get some sleep myself. I took the couch and Mike took a pad on the ground. I slept about 2 hours and was up for a few more and then dosed with him in my arms for a few more.
A new round of Dr's that worked with ours came in and checked him 1st thing. At this point he wasn't crying as much (and neither was I). Thank God! They were all pleased with his tests and behavior. He was eating well at this point and responding to light. By the time our main Dr came in he was only crying when he was hungry and was spending bits of time awake and aware. He was so pleased and at the end of the day they moved us to a regular room on the neurology floor. More visitor from grandparents, Abbie, his Aunt Mel, Aunt Agatha, Uncle Rick and his cousin Joey. They let us sit with him in the family lounge while the family visited. It felt good to do something normal with him.
In a regular room only one of us were able to stay the night, so Mike went and took Abbie home and I stayed. Parker was up throughout the night happy and eating. he had a great night and the Dr was so pleased when he came by the next day. So pleased with all the tests and behavior that they sent us home. Yeah!
We were told that he had no swelling of the brain, only swelling of the tissue on the outside of the skull where the fractures are. The bleeding did not progress and he had no seizures. We were told to watch for seizures at home (even though the odds were against them happening after the first 2 days) and any regression in development or change in behavior. And the best news... they don't feel that there will be any permanent damage.. he said that he would actually be surprised if there was.
There is nothing else to be done, except to keep an eye on him and give him time to heal. The brain will absorb the blood in about 3 weeks and the breaks will heal in about 4-5 weeks. Obviously we need to keep him from hitting his head while it heals. As the swelling is going down you can feel the worse fracture where he hit the right side of the head. It runs from the front of his head by his forehead all the way to the back. It freaks Mike out.
We are home and settled in and getting back into a routine. Being in the hospital turned his night sleeping around a bit so we are working in that.
We are happy and healing!!!! this was the scariest experience of my life. Being a parent is so wonderful and so painful and scary at the same time. I am so thankful to the wonderful Drs and nurses that cared for our family. They not only genually cared for Parker, but were so kind to us. Bless them for the work they do- I don't know if I could do it.
You gals are the best!
I will post 6 week pictures on Friday.
PS.. I think we are close to getting our 1st smile and Abbie peed in the toilet this am! LIFE IS GREAT!!!!
