Sick Days and Santa Claus

Tyler sure has had a rough couple of weeks. He had just gotten over strep throat and was off antibiotics for only two days when last week Friday (December 18th) he developed a nasty cough and fever. Saturday evening we decided to take him to our hospital's Prompt Care because we noticed his chest was heaving when he was breathing. We found out at that time he had another ear infection in his left, which was causing the high fever (it got to 105 degrees at one point). They also did an influenza test and chest x-rays. The influenza test was negative but the Prompt Care doctor said it looked like he pneumonia. That doctor wanted to admit him to the hospital at that point however Tyler's pedetrician was on-call and decided it was not needed since he was getting enough oxygen on room air. So Tyler got sent home on antibiotics and breathing treatments. We took him back to his doctor on Monday and the doctor said he doubted he had pneumonia but something more like a viral respiratory infection. His left ear was starting to look better so we kept up with the antibiotics and breathing treatments. He was still playful and had a good appetite so he didn't seem too sick at that point. However, over the next two days, we noticed Tyler was becoming more lethargic and less playful. Wednesday afternoon, he woke up from a nap with a coughing fit that lasted over 10 minutes. He was having trouble catching his breath so we rushed him to the doctor's office. They found at that point that he was low on oxygen (about 85%) so he was directly admitted to the hospital. Right away they put him on oxygen then re-tested for influenza, RSV, took more chest x-rays and blood work. All the tests came back negative but his white blood cell count indicated he had a nasty viral infection. Also, the ear infection he had in his left ear cleared up but he now has an ear infection in his right ear. So he was placed on some different antibiotics and steriods to help open up his lungs. We spent the two nights there trying to wean Tyler off of oxygen. He needed it overnight both nights but the doctor today said all he needed to be able to do to go home is take a 30-minute nap without oxygen. He was able to do that so he came home tonight, on Christmas--the best gift we could have asked for! Santa luckily heard that Tyler was away from home and was able to find him at the hospital. Here are some pictures from the day....
Tyler and Mommy on Christmas morning

Opening his first present

A cool spinner that lights up--one of the first smiles we had seen all day

We had been reporting to Santa the week before Christmas that Tyler wasn't feeling well so Santa promised to work extra hard in his workshop to make him another special gift for Christmas. It was this phone so that Tyler could call Santa anytime throughout the year.

"Hello Santa."

Opening another gift--a xylophone

Once we got home, Tyler had one more present under the tree from Mommy and Daddy. We could tell he was feeling a little better because he was much more smiley and having fun ripping the paper.

Turns out the box was more fun to climb on than what was in the box (a Little People race car set).