Tucker Goes To The ER

So the moral of today's lesson is this:  Hide Your Pills!

Actually, the pills around here are pretty well hidden and high up.  But Danny had gotten one of his blood pressure pills out to take, then realizing he didn't have any water just set it down.  And it doesn't take long, does it?  Tucker found it and ate it.  We really think he ended up not actually ingesting any because Danny pulled a chunk from his mouth and Summer said he had something white on his hands, like maybe he didn't like how it tasted and tried to take it out of his mouth.  But we just didn't know for sure.  So we talked to a fellow missionary who is a nurse practitioner and we called poison control.  Even though we were pretty confident he was okay, we decided to take him just for observation.  Because in case he would have gotten more than what we thought, we knew it could be bad.

In the waiting area, which is just two small benches sitting in a corner of the ER, Tucker was more than happy to be there.  He had no idea what was coming.

Dr. Mesidor, the hospital pediatrician, speaks very good English and got us started.  We were very happy to have her there.  But Tucker?  Well, his fun was rapidly coming to an end.

Next he was admitted for observation, which meant getting an IV in case he would need medicine quickly.  At this point, my fun also came to a screeching halt.  It took four sticks, some jiggling of the needle, some blood spurting everywhere (twice), three nurses, and me holding Tucker down to get it accomplished.  I am not usually too quick to cry, but that did me in.  It was rough for both of us.  The second time blood started spurting Danny said he was going to go get some air.  I thought he would be coming back soon, but he ended up just going to his office.  So there I sat, thinking he fainted somewhere in the hospital and was getting taken care of somewhere else.  But then communication was made, and all was well.

Anyway, back to the IV.  They finally got one in the underside of his wrist which was a terribly inconvenient spot.  Before they even left the room, Tucker hooked his thumb on the tubing and it came off of the IV, sending fluids squirting all over the place.  He had been getting tired while we were waiting to be admitted, and after the IV trauma, he cashed out in my arms.  They came back in to put this little contraption on to help stabilize the IV, and he hollered the whole time even though he was still asleep.

But then finally the ordeal was over and I could lay him down.  He did not move an inch for about an hour.

After he woke up, it was quite the chore to keep him from yanking on the IV.  But earlier I had run home to get a few toys, books, and snacks, and that helped.  Danny came in at lunch, so I could go home again to eat and bring something back for Tucker.  Things were looking up by then.  Even though he was still hooked up, he was getting more comfortable with the IV, crawling all over the bed while I moved the tubes around like a jump rope so he didn't pull them out.  And lunch time always makes him happy:)  Although even at 17 months, he figured out how to milk it pretty good.  He wanted me to feed him, and even if I just put a bite in my hand for him to pick up, he would just lean forward and eat out of my hand rather than going to all that effort to pick it up himself!

Finally, FINALLY, the IV was taken out and we were able to go home around 4:30.  We had gotten to the ER about 8:30.  We even had some company!  There is a couple here from the states visiting the hospital.  Soon after we were admitted, she was wheeled in for low blood pressure, fainting, and dehydration!  So she was in the room next to us all day.  Quite a day for the Americans at Hospital Lumiere!

And then after supper that night, Tucker got a sucker.  You earned it, buddy!