First thing I would like to write is THANK YOU, thank you for all your prayers and love, and phone calls, messages, and visits. We are blessed with a very supportive family and friends.
Carson has had recurring issues of vomiting and diarrhea with no other symptoms like a virus or fevers. Recently he had been throwing up puddles of clear liquid (acid) randomly. I took him to the doctor because this was new for him, and wanted some type of answer, and was not given an explanation to what is really going on. We continued to struggle with the vomiting and diarrhea since had failure to thrive and lost weight at about 8 months old when he went down to 13 pounds. This struggle of keeping him hydrated and gaining weight has been weighing heavily on Tom and I because the doctors cannot figure out why and have tested him for everything that they think of.
With this history, he started vomiting more and more, and we no longer could keep on top of it, February 22nd I tried to get him up in the morning and he would no longer stand, walk, or lift his head up. I called Tom and rushed him to the doctors office by our house and they rushed us out the door to the ER. When I took him to the ER my hope was to just hydrate him and send us back home, but after 11 sticks for IV placement I knew he was in more trouble then I realized, and when the ER doctor came back to tell me he was critically hydrated with a critical bi-carb level. He was admitted to the hospital and more tests and things were done. He was hydrated, and was doing well, medicated so he would not throw up, but the diarrhea was terrible and constant. Every time they had to draw for labs, he was poked between 7-11 times. Terrible bruising, his hands, arms, feet and head were so bruised because of all the digging with the needles, it was torture for him. He is such a tough kid he really is! With him improving with the IV fluids the Doctor decided to send us home, and gladly we were more then happy to take him home to let him sleep and avoid all the blood draws. We get home, and not even home an hour he begins to vomit everything he ate at the hospital. Tom held him while he vomited most of the night, I cleaned and we all cried. My heart just broke for him. They have tested him for most food allergies and tested him for everything the doctors could think of and no answers. Tom and his father gave Tom a blessing. The next step was Primary Children's, we have been there quite a bit to see specialists but this time the GI doctor decided to do a endoscopy and colonoscopy, and see what they could find. After the procedure the doctor could not see anything to cause concern right away and told Tom and I that he would call with the biopsy results, so we waited to hear. We never got our hopes up because the fear of being disappointed, and having to face the reality of more things this kid would have to endure had been keeping us up at night, but the doctor called with the results and gave us some direction, Carson had a blood reaction to egg whites, so he has an internal reaction to eggs, but he is loosing white blood cells in his small intestine, and he can see that there is a problem. The thinking is Celiac Disease- although the tests usually come back negative when kids are young, but he shows signs that he is in the beginning stages of this disease. That is our direction for now, although his diarrhea is still worry some, we are changing diet and adapting to it. We are all going gluten free. Thankful for some direction, and hope this is it. Not officially knowing is always in my thoughts, but we will see what happens.
Again I thank all of you for the love you have shown us, not knowing has been quite the stress, and to not know what to do for your child, or how to help them breaks my heart, but because of the prayers, Tom and I found strength, and our baby is doing ok. We love you, I cannot tell you thank you enough!
While Carson was going through a blood draw and they were having a hard time getting a vein, he was screaming and I was bawling like a baby (not helping) a knock came at the door and balloons, and Ernie showed up from my mother and father, I cried like an even bigger baby because the timing could not have been better, and I still cry thinking about it. Carson would NOT let go of Ernie and that was a very tender moment. He still sleeps with Ernie. Thank you mom and dad.
He just did not feel very good at all.... but puffy from the fluid. Cute little Carson! He hates me taking his picture!
The hospital brought in a dog for therapy, Carson loved petting that dog. Cutest thing to watch, they would give him treats in his hands and he would feed him and let him lick his hands. It made everything better- dogs are mans best friend! Aunt Shannon was great taking are of him.. Love her!
Carson held his Ernie doll and watched cartoons! He loves that thing! Tender moments...
Tom holding Carson while they prepped him for his procedures. They gave him some drugs so he would not be so scared and that he would relax, and we laughed so hard while taking this picture because he was being a goofy kid. Love him.
He did so well after the procedure! They gave him a blanket and Tom got him a "big bird" stuffed animal, and Carson was scared of it, and would not have anything to do with it, we should have brought Ernie.
So blessed to have him in my life. Blessed to be his mother here on earth. I never left his side. Every poke, every tear, and everything he has had to endure, and as much as I was there to comfort him, he was staying tough for me. There is no stronger love then a mother has for her baby!
