Bronchialitis

Well... we had another bout at the hospital.  Poor babies got the RSV virus and it turned into Bronchialitis for Mackay... meaning the smallest little branches that move air in your lungs become swollen and your lungs get gunk caught in them.  We brought him into the pediatrician on a Wednesday and had him look at both boys.  He could hear the gunk in their lungs and told us that they had RSV and to watch them for signs that they are having a hard time breathing.

On Thursday we noticed some of those signs in Mackay so we brought him in again.  The doctor checked his oxygen levels and decided that we needed to take him to the hospital.  He lent us an oxygen tank to get us up there, so we didn't have to take an ambulance, and we were instructed to go out to the Children's Unit (operated by Primary Children's Hospital) in Riverton.  So we did.  They put an oxygen tube in his nose and hooked him up to some monitors.  We were there for two days, during which they would frequently put tubes up his nose and back into his throat to suck all the gunk from his nose and as much of the gunk as they could get from his lungs.

 He had to have an oxygen monitor hooked up to his foot, and a name band on his leg.

This time was a little easier in the NICU because we were all allowed to be in the room.  We asked if it would be ok for Nolan to sleep in the crib with Mackay, the doctor thought there would be a rule against "co-sleeping", but dad said there had to be a "twin clause" and they said they were fine with it, since Nolan was already exposed to the virus as well.  This made our lives about one million times easier, and it was so sweet to see the comfort that his brother could bring to him.

Right after they suctioned his nose, he reached out to find his brother.  All he could reach was his little ear, and that was comfort enough.

One of the nurses told us they had a mobile that the boys could play with... they loved it.  It's one of their favorite toys at home.

Mackay squirmed his way down to his brother, and once again, all he could reach was his foot.

By day two, he was acting much more like himself, although we could still tell he was pretty sick.  He was back to his usual screaming and smiling.  No matter how crappy he felt, this sweet little boy was always trying to smile at the nurses (except for the men who used the stethoscope to listen to his lungs, he didn't like them, they made him cry).  By the time we were told we were going home, the tubes and wires were fun toys.

In order for us to be discharged, we had to bring him home with oxygen, which we were comfortable with as we had done it previously with his brother.  He had to have oxygen at home for about another five days, and finally is back to normal!  

Now... if these boys can keep themselves out of the hospital for a few years before they start breakin bones...