Thanksgiving Week

The week of Thanksgiving started on a low note for us.  Clayton had been sickly over the previous weekend, but on Monday he was looking better.  That night it became obvious that he was going to need to see the pediatrician in the morning, and he was going to miss his Thanksgiving feast at school.  I was so sad about that, but I took him to the doctor, and he was diagnosed with double ear infections. 

I mentioned to the nurse that I felt his color had been off that morning, and so the sat monitor was pulled out, and surprise, Clayton was ranging 69 to 73%.  Yikes!  That's pretty low for him.  He's usually in the mid 80s.  We immediately headed to the hospital for a chest x-ray, and it was quickly evident that Clayton had pneumonia.  No wonder this boy felt so bad.  Good thing I mentioned his coloring. 

An antibiotic, nebulizer, and lots of albuterol later, we were headed home.  We started breathing treatments every four hours around the clock, and I took him back to the doctor the next morning.  He was still satting in the low 70s, but he hadn't gotten any worse, and he was actually feeling a lot better.

That night we decided to go ahead with our plans and drive to Arkansas to be with my family for Thanksgiving.  I knew Arkansas Children's was right down the road, and they are very equipped to handle Clayton if needed.

By Thursday morning Clayton was a new kid, and we ventured over to the Bryant Senior Center, where we rent a large room to have our family dinner.  Thanksgiving is a big deal with that side of the family, and this year there were exactly 50 of us there.  It wasn't our largest turnout ever, but it was still good sized.  As usual, there was more food than we knew what to do with, and the company was great.  I always enjoy Thanksgiving in Arkansas.  It's the only time I see a lot of those cousins, and we really have a great time together.

On Friday we had a little birthday party for Eli, which I'll get to in another post.  It was soooo much fun.  Then that night my sisters and I went out to eat (without children... GASP) and to a movie (The Blindside, which was excellent) with our four friends, who are also sisters.  An interesting fact about us, is that of the seven girls, the two that look the most alike are not sisters.  I think Pamela and Melissa could pass for twins.  I don't remember them looking alike as little girls, but the older they get, the more alike they look.

Melissa is on the left, Abby in the middle, and Pamela is on the right.  Don't Melissa and Pamela look alike?

Mom, her three daughters, and her three grandchildren, and Mary Ann, her four daughters, and her five grandchildren.  Mom and Mary Ann grew up together, and we seven girls have been friends forever.

My sweet friend Hannah and our munchkins

On Saturday we visited for a little while, and then hit the road to come back home.  I really wanted to get Christmas decorations put up on Sunday, and it's nice for Ryan to have a day at home before heading back to work.  Our trip was so much fun, and thankfully, Clayton was feeling much better.

On Monday we headed back to the pediatrician, and Clayton's oxygen sat was about 80%, closer to normal, so now we're doing the breathing treatments three times a day, instead of around the clock.  Thank goodness.  We go back on Friday for another sat check and follow up x-ray.  I feel like we're living at the hospital lately because today we also had Clayton's GI appt.  Quick summary: lost half a pound since July (sad), grew an inch (happy).  Dr's summary: Stanford's 15kg goal by next summer ain't happenin!  No way, no how.  We'll see what Stanford says.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all.