Baby Bo

Let me start this post by simply saying, Bo is the dream baby! This little one only cries if he is hungry or sleepy. He naps, sleeps through the night and is quite content to just watch everyone else. It's easy to understand why no one would realize that he wasn't feeling well. Yesterday, as I was leaving work, I noticed Kara waiting at the pharmacy. Bo has had some congestion for the last few weeks but no fever and nothing that would really alarm you, but this day Kara thought he seemed a little worse so she decided to take him into the doctor. She found out that Bo has RSV and an ear infection. The doctor sent her home with antibiotics, an inhaler to give to Bo every 4 hours and a prescription for the respiratory clinic at the ER if things got worse. Bo didn't have a fever and he didn't need any additional oxygen, he had been wheezing but after the treatment in the doctors office he was much better. I left for home and didn't think much else. After I got home, Brooks and I went to the grocery store and on our way back home, we decided to stop and check on Bo and see the other kids. When we got there, Bo was laying on the floor playing with his mobile and all was pretty calm. I picked him up and noticed that he was "grunting" just a little with his breathing. Now you must understand, as a former pediatric nurse, my radar immediately tuned in but he still seemed okay. After a little bit, Kara got the other two kids in and out of the shower and then Bo started to fuss just a little. Kara decided to give him his bath to try to calm him. Brooks and I decided to go home and before we left, I thought I would check on Bo one last time. He was calm in the tub, giving me a half smile with red rimmed eyes. He was still grunting, maybe a little more I thought? His chest was retracting just slightly, another not so good sign I knew and so I pointed this out to Kara. Kara got Bo out of the tub and as she started to lotion him he started to scream and struggling to get a breath. Kara decided to call the ER and then get ready to take Bo in. After a few minutes, I got Bo to stop crying but he still couldn't get a good breath. I looked into his little eyes and I could see panic in them. For about 60 seconds I seriously wondered if I would have to do CPR on him. I held him really close and for just a moment I softly blew into in his face. This or something stopped Bo from fighting it and he started to take calmer and slower breaths again except now the grunting was much worse. Phil and Grandpa gave Bo a quick priesthood blessing and then grabbed their things to leave. Kara and Phil were ready to leave, we had Bo in his car seat and his bag packed to leave. I told Kara that she had better ride in the back seat with Bo and then I looked at her and asked her if she knew how to do CPR for Bo. Kara gave me one look and asked if I would go with them. Of course I would but then Jax started to get nervous because he really understood what was going on and then he started to cry. Grandpa Brooks jumped in and told Jax and Bryn that he would drive them in with him so they would know what was going on. The kids grabbed their coats and shoes and were headed out the door when Phil noticed what Bryn was wearing. Bryn had a pair of really old looking shoes with heels that were about five sizes too big! Leave it to Bryn to try to make a fashion statement even when things are tense. Phil made her change her shoes and then we all left. I rode the whole way to the hospital with my hand on Bo's stomach to make sure that he was still breathing. Because of my training I also knew that if a baby works too hard for too long to get a breath, eventually he will stop breathing because he wears down. I also knew that this can happen really quickly, I've seen it happen. Kids can go bad in no time. I'm talking minutes. I wasn't panicked, I thought that he was going to be fine but I was "concerned". We got to the hospital, Bo stayed calm, he was still grunting and working pretty hard but no increased distress. Kara and Phil checked him in, the respiratory therapist suctioned him out really well and Bo was much better after that. The therapist told Phil that she had seen worse but he was pretty bad and it was a good thing they brought him in. Bo still sounded a little congested but the grunting was gone and his chest wasn't retracting anymore. Grandpa and I loaded Jax and Bryn into our car and headed for home. Before we got out of Logan, both kids were sleeping! Maybe we over reacted? I don't think so and I wouldn't have wanted to wait to find out!