13th Hospitalization

Post date: Jan 14, 2010 4:11:49 AM

Well, it's January 13th and Connor is officially starting his 13th hospitalization since birth. Yup, we just got admitted today. We requested "our usual" floor and are in the same room from our September 2009 stay.

After narrowly escaping a hospitalization over the holidays from his RSV and bronchitis, we got a call this morning from the GI's office telling us to head to the ER. His blood work from yesterday had come back and the numbers were off. He might have diabetes and he was going to be admitted to the hospital. Expect at least a 3 day stay.

"Huh?" we said. We got that he might have diabetes and we would need some follow up and teachings and what not. But a hospital stay? And immediately? Apparently this is the protocol for such things. So after scrambling to get work commitments covered, packing done and the usual flurry of activities, we headed off. We usually have a small hospital bag already packed with essentials, but as this was urgent but no emergency, we took some additional time to gather our things.

We had seen his GI in late December, right before Christmas and she had commented on how his glucose and A1C hemoglobin levels were elevated. We were to schedule an appointment with endocrinology and do a follow up lab the next week. However, with his RSV and bronchitis, we delayed getting the labs until yesterday. And so here we are today.

The endocrinologist is optimistic that this may not be diabetes and that the swings in his glucose levels may be due to his boluses and because he has a fundoplication. The theory is being tested tonight by keeping him on a continuous feed for the next twelve hours and seeing if that evens out his glucose levels. He's going to get pricked for a glucose test every three hours and in the morning we'll see what the results are. Dad is home with big brother tonight, so I get the joy of keeping Connor company while he gets pricked every three hours through the night. Should be loads of fun. I'm hoping he'll be too tired to make a big fuss each time. He's already missed his nap today due to all the excitement.

In the meanwhile, Connor is his usual jaunty self. He's been a big ham for the camera, as you can see from the photos we took below while in the ER. I've kept his mood "rebellious" over on the left because 1) the picture cracks me up (Which by the way, that's a french fry "cigar" he stuck in his mouth! We did not pose him for that "James Dean" picture.) and 2) he's getting to the stage where he gives this snotty smirk of a smile while he does something he absolutely knows he's not supposed to do. Like the fact that earlier tonight he dumped a whole glass of water on himself, my lap and the floor and then laughed when I admonished him. There was very little remorse even after I put him in "solitary" in his metal hospital crib with the bars up while I cleaned the mess. Since then, he has also shut down my computer twice and hung up the phone while I was talking.

I have finally managed to get him to sleep and am heading off that way myself for the next two hours before his next glucose stick. Cheers to everyone and may all have a better night to come! ;-)