Backing up: on Saturday, June 15th, we took Eli swimming at Ewert Pool in Joplin for a fun outing with Uncle Zeb and Aunt Abby. He had a really good time, but he fell a few times underwater and accidentally swallowed some. We didn't think anything of it... it happens to all little kids. However, shortly after that, everyone had to evacuate the pool becuase some little kid had gone "#2" in it. We were disgusted by that so we left.
The following Wednesday Eli began having diarrhea, but otherwise acting fine. The symptoms continued to get worse as the week progressed and especially over the weekend so I made an appointment for the coming Monday, June 24th. Around 1 pm on Monday, Sam called me and said that it was a really good thing we already had an appointment becuase Eli had just started throwing up too. After an extremely long wait at the pediatrician's office, we were told that he probably just had a viral gut infection and there was nothing we could do except wait it out, but they were going to run a stool sample to the lab just to make sure.
Monday night Eli took a major turn for the worse. After being put to bed, he continually cried out in his sleep and was doubling over in pain. Around 10 pm, he woke completely and began vomiting... and didn't stop. He wasn't keeping down any fluids that we gave him and his pain was getting worse. Sam was at work and I was in such bad shape that I called Mom and Dad out of bed to come help. I KNEW SOMETHING WAS REALLY WRONG.
As soon as the peditrician's office opened Tuesday morning I was on the phone and told them it has progressed overnight. They said to come in immediately. In our haste, we grabbed Eli in nothing but a diaper and t-shirt, with a bucket, and I was still in my pj's and house slippers (and looked great after a night with a sick baby!). They saw us immediately at the doctor's office and knew instantly that he'd become severly dehydrated and needed to get an IV. My stomach dropped. My fear of needles is intense and having to put one in my baby was even worse. We went straight to ER and was admitted immediately again. After 5 hours in a ER triage room, Eli had been given one entire bag of IV fluid and nausea medication, but was not improving. They tried to give him some jello and water and right as we were getting ready to be released, he threw it all up again. The doctor saw us and told us that he needed to be admitted overnight and more blood tests would need to be ran.
Long story short, it took them over 14 hours, 2 blood samples and 1 stool sample to figure out what was wrong. Cryptosporidium. NASTY, NASTY PARASITE. CDC reportable disease. There is no cure - it just has to live out it's life cycle in the poor little intestine of it's host. Could last for up to a month.
However, after 36 hours in the hospital and 3 bags of IV's, Eli improved enough to have an appetite, keep his food/liquids down, and go home to recover with us!
What a scary, stressful experience to see your baby helpless and hooked up to IV's. It's a true test of faith and love - and a test of your relationship with your spouse too. Sam was amazing - strong and protective and sensitive. Not only the best Daddy but a really wonderful Hubby too. This picture makes me cry and melts my heart. I took it Wednesday morning, after a really long day and night. Eli wanted one of us to hold him at all times.
The rest of our family was amazing help too. Gramma/Papa, Nana/Poppy, Aunt Amanda and Aunt Abby/Uncle Zeb all came to visit and help in any way needed. Eli's good friend, Asher, and Amy brought Eli books, crayons and colors and a big helium balloon, which he loved! Our preacher, David, and youth minister/friend, Cody, also came to visit and pray with us.
HUGE THANK YOU to everyone that helped us, supported us, prayed with us and visited us! Love you all...
P.S. Eli is doing better now but we still have a ways to go before he is 100%. He has good days and bad days but is eating and drinking well. As long as we keep him hydrated, we shouldn't have any more major problems. We have a followup appointment later this week to make sure he is good.
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