• Sep. 8, 2008
Our trip to the ER

It finally happened.  I have said for a while now that I was sure Timothy would have us in the ER at some point.  It's just that I always figured it would  be for a broken bone or something of that nature.  Well, before you read on I should warn you that it was of a much more 'intestinal' nature than that.  So, you have been warned, if you continue reading you will have to deal with some potty talk! 

All weekend Timmy has been complaining of tummy pain.  He didn't have any fever and he would be fine one minute and holding his tummy in pain the next.  We thought on Friday that he might be constipated so the doctor suggested a mild laxative.  It seemed to 'get him going' some but the pain did not seem to go away. 

Finally today, when I was prepared to call the doctor first thing, Timmy got up and acted normal for the first time in 4 days.  He wanted to eat and had breakfast lunch and a snack.  (He hadn't eaten that much all weekend.)  The only unusual thing was that he woke up dry and clean.  At first I thought this was a good sign.  However, when he was still dry and clean when he woke up from his nap at 3pm I decided to call the doctor.

Doctor's advice:  take him to the ER for an x-ray.  So, we piled in the van and headed to the hospital.  First thing we got sent to the pediatric ER where Timothy was thrilled to find fish everywhere.  There were paintings of Rainbow fish on all the walls.  Then there was a huge aquarium filled with tropical fish and one "Nemo" clown fish.  That could not have been more perfect as Timothy is currently on a Finding Nemo kick.

They x-rayed Timmy's tummy (which he thought was pretty neat) and they found  a "gigantic gas bubble being held in by a lot of poop."  Okay, you were warned.  Those were the doctor's words, not mine.  The treatment:  enema.  Timothy was a trooper.  He didn't flinch or even make a sound while the doctor administered the enema and he laid very still for about 3 minutes after it was administered.  And then it began.  We could tell it was working and frankly it was terrifying him.  [In the way of explanation, apparently going to the bathroom was causing him a lot of pain over the weekend so he had been holding it.  Whenever the urge to go hit him we would hear one of three phrases; 'my tummy hurts', 'I'm going to spill' (that's Timmy speak for I'm going to throw up) or 'I'm scared to death' (which is a line from Finding Nemo).]  So suddenly he started squirming and saying he was scared to death and we could tell he was desperately trying to hold it.  Of course he could only hold it for so long before the flood gates were opened.  While he had a pull-up on at the beginning of this episode, it was evident that would not be sufficient so we moved him to the potty convieniently located in the room.  Here's the only bad part of the night.  While he used the potty, it was a pretty traumatic experience for his first time.  Please pray that he has not been traumatised too badly.  His desire to use the potty was non existent before this episode.  We are hoping thing haven't been made worse.

Well, if you're still reading I hope you haven't been grossed out by our story.  All together we were only in the ER for 2 hours which is pretty amazing from what I hear.  Also it was a pleasant experience (despite the unpleasant part. ) We were only in the waiting room 15 minutes.  There was a TV with kids videos in the room we were in.  And the doctors and nurses were great with Timmy.  I was kind of afraid the experience was too good and might make him want to go back!

Now he is sleeping peacefully and hopefully life will resume it's 'normal' course tomorrow.  We appreciate your prayers that this ordeal is at an end.

Shannon

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Comments

• Sep. 13, 2008
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Posted by werethericheys

Aww...Poor little guy! How old is he? My little boy is almost 4 and we he has only started using the potty a couple of months ago. He is all about being a "big boy" now. So we told him that big boys go in the potty. That was all it took! It's funny, I though he would never be interested. But he so desperately wants to be a big boy.
I'm sure you're glad your "big boy" is using the potty now.

Blessings,
Crystal Richey

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• Sep. 25, 2008
Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous

maybe the er trip should be a sign about potty training......LOL

Why didn't he cry? You know it hurt!

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