Monday the vomiting stopped but the pain increased. By the end of the day he didn't even want to walk.
Tuesday my mom came and picked up Lion Cub and I took Rhythm to the ER- he refused to walk at all by then and would not uncurl from the ball he had huddled himself in.
More than 2 hours after arriving at the ER we were finally seen by a doctor and told that he likely had an appendicitis. This diagnosis was confirmed by an ultrasound about an hour later, but it was thought that the appendix had not yet perforated.
By 5:20pm Rhythm, no longer even speaking at this point, was rolled into surgery.
Around 7:20 he was taken to recovery and we were informed that his appendix had perforated. Luckily his colon had flopped on top of it, essentially acting as a blanket on the fire and limiting the damage, but none the less, a leak had sprung. They thoroughly lavaged his abdominal cavity but he is still extremely at risk of abscess, which would not present itself until 5-7 days after surgery. He is on three different IV antibiotics and will be in the hospital 5 days-2 weeks.
Yesterday was mostly about pain management. He was given morphine every 3 hours and a heavy duty ibuprofen every 6. He walked to the bathroom a couple of times, at mom's prompting, but mostly stayed in bed. His temperament was good and he worked well with the nurses. His bowel tones were still low, so he wasn't allowed to eat, but he never had a fever and did quite well.
Today was more difficult. He was off the morphine and handling pain well, for the most part, but his attitude had turned very grim. He was argumentative and uncooperative. When he spiked a fever of 100.4 late in the day, he spit out his tylenol and a nurse actually had to hold his mouth shut and blow in his face to get him to swallow on the second try. Although he was allowed to start soft foods, he was so picky about what he wanted (specifically- a donut or a muffin) that it was difficult to get him to eat.
I made him get out of bed a few times. We walked to the end of the hall to check out a movie to watch and he mumbled and complained the whole trip. At one point a nurse came up and told him what a great job he was doing. His response? "My looser mom made me come out here and walk. I'm so mad!" (Alright, so I was actually trying really hard not to laugh while I told him that he was being inappropriate and disrespectful!)
After the fever situation and some sudden, increased pain, we realized he was experiencing gas pains as his bowels truly began to wake up. I once again made him get out of bed and walk down to the movies and playroom. He SCREAMED the whole way down the hall, and continued to carry on as I left him in the hallway and said that even if he wasn't going to check out the playroom, I was!
A few minutes later his interests were peaked and he ventured into the room himself. Well, wouldn't ya know? He wanted to spend the rest of the evening in there! He played Wii with his dad and would hardly go back to his room! It is amazing how much things can fluctuate in a matter of a few hours! We pray he keeps that attitude and continues to heal, avoiding further complications.
For me, it has been a trying and exhausting ordeal. Although I know he is hopefully on the road to recovery, it is very difficult to see your little one in so much pain and have to push them to do things that hurt, even when they get so mad at you, because you know it what's best for them. It has been especially difficult to also have Lion Cub be so young, an age when he still needs me very much and has difficulty sleeping without me. Plus, he is just a handful and can become very taxing on those who are watching him. I feel so torn and inadequate- needing to take care of two boys who are in different locations. I feel spread thin. My husband is also still working full time, which makes it even more difficult, knowing he needs sleep, and food.
I feel as though I am wading through a bit of a fog. Even when I am with Rhythm during the day at the hospital and he is sleeping, I just sometimes feel... blank. Too much going through my head. Lots weighing on my shoulders. So much to take care of and no way to do it. It is a very isolated and alone feeling.
Sometimes, even though I want to pray, I just don't have the words, or the energy. I just keep thinking, "God, please know where I am at right now, what we are going through, and fill in what I should be saying to you. Heal my boy, be with Lion Cub and whoever has the task of managing him, and just help."
I am just trying to do the next thing, as a dear friend shared with me the other day. Right now, that is all I can do. I don't know how long I am going to have to try to juggle all this, but somehow it all has to get done. I don't know how long Rhythm will have to go through all this, but he is such a trooper and I am so proud of him.
Living in the midst of a trial and expectantly waiting on what the Lord will show me through it,
Be sure to visit my sponsor- Marmee's Bread Market- for recipes and everything else you need to easily make fresh baked goods for your family!
