Dorado Lee was born 6:05 am October 17th. He was 9 lbs 3 oz and 22.5 inches long. I ended up being induced even though my body shared in the progress. I started a whole birth story which I will finish eventually. (since my mind loses these things, I need to document it for later in life) Considering the whole 41 weeks and a day that I was pregnant, the actual delivery went well.
At the same time we were welcoming our new little guy into this world, our business was declining. Fewer boats coming in means less income to pay the many monthly expenses. By Dorado's one week birthday, we were genuinely concerned for our lack of business flow. So, since I had already gone back to work four days after birth, the following week, I started trying to drum up more business. R was panicking ready to start selling off our toys. (a little premature, but not something out of consideration) Not much business came in, but enough to keep us going. I billed for our storage yard which being our gravy, was needed... a hard week back, (like I was even really gone), but at least we weren't in the red.
We looked forward to our first weekend with our completed family. R set up our trailer across the street. (something we try to sneak past code enforcement during the weekends when they don't work) The wind started picking up, (25-30 kts), but we were set in staying away from this house and business. It wasn't a pleasant stay, but it was nice to be away. Dorado started fussing a lot and actually felt hot and a bit lethargic all night Saturday. We got up Sunday, packed up and headed home. I took Dorados temperature when we got back... a fever 100.9. I fed him, waited, triple checked under his arm and anal with three different thermometers... a fever 101.5. I called his pediatrician and the on call doctor told me what I already knew... Go to the ER.
2pm Sunday we were checking in at the ER. They weighed him (10 lbs 2 oz) took his stats, fever... 102.7. and admitted us. While we waited for a room in the Pediatrics floor, they started the testing procedures. Spinal tap, blood work, urine, IV fluids, heart scan, x-rays and antibiotics started. My two week old baby was the human pin cushion. I just stayed numb to it all, just wanting him to be okay.
Somewhere around 7 or 7:30 we finally were brought up stairs into our own room, where we stayed until Thursday. The bottom line is that they never did figure out what was wrong, the tests all were negative, so suspect it to have been a common virus that a two week old baby had no defense system to protect him from it. During our stay were we monitored by the neo natal specialist. He was amazing. So hands on. He would sit holding Dorado, observing him, soothing him... just being there to see what was really going on. The monitors that observed Dorados stats, pissed him off. The nurses would go into panic mode when Dorados oxygen levels would drop, so they would actually start him on oxygen, when in reality Dorado was holding his breath, which made his level drop. Of course if they watched the monitors for a longer period they would be able to see his levels rise on their own... It was frustrating, but really nice to have a doctor using logic as well as technology.
By Wednesday his fever had subsided. They were still waiting for various tests. Thursday morning we were released. The release papers stating his reason for being there as: Fever-unknown source. What we have faced is a very horrible burn/diaper rash that extended on both of his butt cheeks in three inch strips. The pain excruciating as his diarrhea would burn the burn every time he went. (which was all the time) Butt creams did not work, they wouldn't stick. What finally helped relieve his burns... Maalox. His pediatrician told me to try and apply butt cream as I could, but with every diaper change pour some Maalox in his diaper. When he would go again, the antacid would neutralize the stomach acid in his diarrhea. After doing this Thursday Friday and Saturday, today his butt is starting to heal. The other side effects from his stay... a yeast infection on his butt and Thrush. Both brought on by the two different antibiotics they administered to him. So, now with his butt getting better, his mouth is worse and he's not wanting to eat. The only good thing is we have both been able to sleep since his butt healed. Last night we had three different three hour periods of sleep. Heavenly.
I know we are lucky that all in all he is healthy, I can't help but be depressed that I'm watching him go through so much pain so young. I'll be so happy to just wake up for regular feedings instead of the inconsolable pain...
