Sprout is in the hospital!

It's been a hell of a night. Zach had a couple little episodes yesterday that we initially thought were hiccups or just normal newborn weirdness, but that started to progress into something that was a little more worrisome looking, so I took this video:

http://www.dropshots.com/xoliandra#date/2008-04-08/11:58:28

I posted it on a couple boards and the overwhelming response was that they were hiccups or reflux (and absolutely NO hard feelings to anyone who told me that, seriously, because I thought the same thing!), and since we were going to the doc the next day (I guess today) then we just decided to wait it out and see if it got any worse before taking him to the ER. Obviously, they got worse.

I'm too tired to retype so I'm c/ping from another board I post on:

Zach is doing better. Not fine, but better. He's stable and they stopped the seizures, though he still looks so pathetic. They gave him phenobarbytol (sp?) and ativan (sp?) and he's still intubated. They said he's trying to breathe on his own and they're basically waiting for him to get pissed off (more responsive) before they dope him up again.

The whole night was a nightmare and when I can get my mind together a little I'll tell the whole story. Just the basic gist is he'd gone a long time without eating (he slept almost all day) and so I pumped a bottle and basically just shoved it in his mouth to get him to eat something so he wouldn't get dehydrated, then he had another fit and stopped breathing and I had to breathe for him so my mom came flying over and we went to the ER and it obviously went downhill from then. Took them over an hour of trying to get an IV in him (over 40 sticks *sob*) before they gave up and put a line directly into the bone in his leg -- which promptly came loose and they couldn't use it. So the transport team from the picu (I called it nicu but it's picu so whatever) came and had to have a line before they could transport them so it took like two hours and minor surgery and they got a line into what tiny bit was left of his umbilical cord (good thing I hadn't done the alcohol like they'd told me to huh?)

*sigh*

So anyway, they're doing an assload of tests, pumping him full of antiseizure medication, antibiotics, and cyclicsomethingorothers (the doc thinks I may have chicken pox? how the hell does that happen??) to see if any of it helps. Head CT came back clear (though they said he may have a hairline skull fracture from birth -- but no visible brain trauma), I think they said the EEG was clear, and the spinal tap (!) was clear but they're still waiting on the blood cultures from that to rule out a virus.

Here's him from this morning

Mike and I are staying in the Ronald McDonald house which is a few blocks from the hospital. It's a really nice place and the staff is super considerate and helpful (and it's only $15/night, and they said if God Forbid our stay becomes extended, they can waive the fee for us if it becomes a burden, which hopefully won't happen but I though that was pretty awesome)

I don't normally trust doctors but I REALLY like Zach's doctor. He's very very down to earth and patient and I can tell he really does care about Zach (rather than one of those docs who's just there to do his job and go home -- you know the type)

Anyway, I'm going to go get a shower and maybe get something to eat and head on back up to the hospital. I think they have internet there so I'll update when I can.

Jess