Crazy Week/Hospital re-visit

A lot can happen in one week's time! This past week was a full one, most of it revolving around our newest member-Easton.
SATURDAY: Easton was born at 2:52 AM in the ER (see the crazy story below). Everyone came to the hospital to see little Easton and Amber.

SUNDAY: It was Easter. Travis took Kennedy, Camden, & Addie to church (even did the girl's hair-what a good daddy). Amber and Easton were released from the hospital early that evening, and right after we did our Easter egg hunt. The kids were so good to be patient for the entire day! We had dinner brought by a kind soul. The day was a little crazy with all the new things and the added sugar-so by the end of the day, we were all ready for bed.

MONDAY: Travis took the day off from work, and took Kennedy and Camden to school. Amber had to go to court because of her run-in with the cop (see below). He wrote the ticket for exactly 21 over so she had to attend court just to say "yes I'll do driving school." Luckily there were some kind girls that moved her up on the list, or else she could have been there for hours.

TUESDAY: Travis woke up sick-good thing he had the day off work. Kennedy and Camden had a t-ball game that evening. Then in the middle of the night, Kennedy woke up crying, with a bad cough and scratchy throat. About the same time (2 am) Easton started spiting up with flecks of blood in it.

WEDNESDAY: Both kids had gotten worse, so off we went to the Dr, all 4 kids and Amber. And for some strange reason, the Dr's office was crazy-the staff was disorganized, it took forever to get back (not normal for this Dr) and the kids were crazy in the room. She felt like she was one of those women that people look at and think "Her house must be a disaster cause she can't take care of all those kids-why does she have so many!" Turns out Kennedy had strep throat and we were told that Eaton was probably OK and just swallowed a little blood from nursing. Later that day, Easton's stool went from bright yellow to black-not good (sign of blood in the stool). After playing phone tag with the triage nurse, she suggested to take the diapers back in to the Dr. So off we ran again to the Dr's. The Dr did a test to see if it was blood-it was-and sent us immediately to the ER at the children's hospital.
Travis stayed at home with the 3 oldest, while Amber took Easton to the ER (after a priesthood blessing). She tried to huddle in a corner, not wanting her 4 day old baby to get anything else. After 2 hours, she was taken back. At first the Dr was just going to send her home, but by this time Amber was not going home without some kind of information. After a lengthy discussion, it came out that the Dr just thought it was meconeium stool, then when he realized it wasn't, and that it really had blood in it, he was ready to admit Easton. At this point Amber just doesn't know what to think-one minute he's going to send them home and the next he's admitting-without any tests or explanation. They decide to do some blood tests-little Easton had to get an IV. (If you've ever had to witness/help put an IV in your baby, sorry-it's not pleasant) At 1 am they are finally admitted to the pediatric unit. At this point Easton is put on a hypoallergenic formula and hooked up to an IV, and being observed (aka-every stool sample is analyzed)
THURSDAY: About late morning, he stool started to lighten in color (meaning the blood was decreasing). We had another amazing person come and take our kids for the day so Travis could join Amber at the hospital. Early afternoon his new Dr came in and discussed all that was going on and was so kind and gentle. Since the blood was black it meant that it was being digested high up (aka the stomach).
So the Dr thought it could either be: 1-from Amber while nursing, 2-from a protein allergy, 3- or possibly something going on in the stomach/esophagus (he did have to have a tube put down his throat shortly after birth). So the plan of attack was to keep him on this formula for a week and put Amber on a dairy-free diet for 2 weeks. If his stool stayed clear of blood for the week, then we could start to nurse him again. If he stayed blood free for the 2nd week, then Amber could start to resume a normal diet. (Many were surprised by the amount of blood in his stool for being so young). So Easton was released early that evening, and Amber went to get all the needed supplies (hospital grade breast pump, special formula, etc).

FRIDAY: The kids were great and a big help to Amber. Everyone was showered, dressed, and ready to go for the day (including baby Easton). Amber took the kids to school, then went to a follow-up Dr's appt. Felt much calmer in that appt and not so much like a crazy lady. And so went the day-it was one of those great days where everything goes smoothly.

SATURDAY: During the middle of morning chores we get a phone call from the kids t-ball coach. "Are you on your way to team pictures?" That smooth day was now gone and back was the craziness. We did make it to the team pictures in the nick-of-time.

SUNDAY: It was stake conference, so we all went-Easton would be fine in his car seat covered well. Half hour into it, he needs to eat, so Amber takes him into the empty mother's lounge. And she stayed there until he fell asleep (90 min later). Poor Travis was left with all 3 kids-which wouldn't have been bad, except that Addie wanted mommy and not daddy. Well at least one of us was able to hear the talks.

So that was our crazy week. If you are hearing about this through our blog don't feel bad. Amber was able to keep it somewhat together through the whole thing, until she started thinking about it, then she was a crying mess. So really the option of calling someone was not there. It was just so hard to think of your brand-new baby being admitted to the hospital, and all those thoughts that go with it-plus let's face it, she's a little sensitive right now anyway ;o) And Travis didn't do much better-it's just too hard not to think of the worst case scenario sometimes.

BUT, we want you to know that we are so vary thankful. Thankful for:
- great kids that have been troopers and big helpers
-amazing people that have just stepped in and helped, with kids, meals, special diets, phone calls to know that you are thought of (we can't say enough-a great ward that we have only been members of for 6 weeks)
-the power of the priesthood and priesthood blessings
-the miracle of babies coming into this world, and that we have 4

Our hearts are just full. And when we look back at this week we don't see the crazy, negative we think 2 things. 1-Can't believe we have ever been so excited about poop, & 2-We have a great life and are very thankful for all that our Heavenly Father has given us and continues to give us.