Carsen Strikes Back or Return of the Carsen

ENJOY THIS RARE AND EXCITING POST FROM STEVE!!!

So I came home from work yesterday to see the most lethargic little boy I've ever seen. If you looked him in the eye and asked him a question he'd just stare at you like he was in some vegetative state. It was scary. After consulting our Medical experts (thanks Dad and Mamie)Melissa and I decided it was best to take Carsen to the ER. Grandma Marcia had come down, so she watched Raegan while Melissa and I took Carsen to Primary Childrens.

I have to say this about that hospital. We're exceptionally lucky to have a place like that near us! They really took care of Carsen and did everything they could to ensure that he was comfortable.

After an initial triage, they took us back to our own room. The things that would normally get Carsen excited, a bed that moves, cartoons, all sorts of medical equipment meant nothing to him! He had a few nurses come in and a doctor all tried to talk to him and still there was nothing

The Doctor suspected that he had the stomach flu which was making him throw up, which was making him dehydrated, which throw up more which was making him throw up even more...nasty little cycle there... so the doctor prescribed an IV to get him out of the cycle.

Now if you know Carsen you know that after a particularly bad experience at the Doctor, he has an extreme hatred of Doctors and needles. Now we have to explain to him that he's going to get an IV...I was so impressed with how well they explained to him what was going on. We told him that he'd drink through his hand. He thought that was cool, we held on to him and tried to keep his hand still while they gave him an IV. Other than a little yelping...he did okay. Then he was just curious about this thing sticking out of his hand. He thought that the cool feeling in his hand was "kinda cool." The first picture is Carsen showing his IV just after he got it.

What happened next could best be described as watching a deflated balloon re-inflate. Slowly but surely Carsen came back. He started having interest in what was going on around him. At some point after some self inflicted injury humor, I was able to get Carsen to smile and even laugh! I did it over and over again because the relief of watching him laugh FAR outweighed any pain I might have felt!!

After a several hours of getting rehydrated, Carsen tried to eat a popsicle and though he downed it, it didn't stay down long. It was a setback but he really wanted to go home. We asked the doctor if he could have some anti-nausea medication and let him go home and sleep. She thought that would work, and seemed to believe that since he was given this kick start that his system should be able to fight the flu effectively, and a nights rest in his own bed just might do the trick. I believe that it was at this point that Carsen said he was hungry for a gummy hot dog (you know those disgusting little candy that you get at the Gas Station). This was a major clue that I had my Carsen back!

The nurse came in with another syringe with the Zofran (an incredible drug). Carsen cringed at the sight of it. It was only after we reminded him that he had an IV and he could get the medicine through his hand that he felt okay, and said, "that's cool." What he was really excited about was that the nurse gave him some IV stuff to take to school for show and tell!

I had my little boy back! He wanted to walk to the car and not be carried. He showed us all the things that he had noticed on the way in but didn't have the energy to point out. On the way home he asked for a slurpee. It was on the Doctor's approved list to start so we thought why not.

We brought him home and put him to bed! When I woke up this morning...this is the face I saw...

So if you were worried he's back, and he can't wait to show everyone at his school where he drank through his hand!