My Scariest Moment as a Mommy...

...all thanks to a BEAN!

Tuesday, April 23, 2013 started off like any other day. Grace and I enjoyed a lazy morning lounging around the house, hanging out in our pajamas, playing and watching some DVRed episodes of Princess Sophia. I caught up on some of my picking up around the house and cleaning, after being out of town for a week and having my in-laws stay here with Grace. It was about 11:45 and I just laid out Grace's and my clothes for us to start getting dressed when she found a bean on the floor. It was a dried pinto bean on the floor. (I need to pause here and explain the dried pinto bean...I have made Grace several different sensory bins for her to play and explore with, one included dried pinto beans for her to sort, fill containers with and pour. She has had it for about 5-6 months and has NEVER put them in her mouth.) She picked up the dried pinto bean and said, "gurgy (dirty), trash." "That's right," I said, "Let's go put it in the trash." (I don't know about other now 18 month olds, but Grace LOVES to be a helper, especially when it comes to putting stuff in the trash for Mommy or Daddy.) She started off towards the kitchen, when all of a sudden she started making this strange coughing-choking-screaming sound. I immediately picked her up to comfort her and tried to get her to calm down. I just knew it was the bean, I just knew she that swallowed it or chocked on it or something. She was crying and coughing and gasping, and I was freaking out.

I called Paul and told him what happened and that I was going to call the pediatrician to see if I needed to come in to the office, take her to the ER, or what I needed to do. I called Raleigh Children and Adolescents (I feel the need to give them a shout out because they are AWESOME!...not just this time, but always.) I pushed the number for the option to speak to a nurse, she answered and I explained to her the situation. She told me to come in and they would work me in. I hung up and grabbed a sweatshirt and the diaper bag and headed for the door. My phone rang, it was her checking on me to make sure that I knew which location to come to and to see if I was on my way. I was in fact, in my mind, heading to the wrong office. I was thinking of the Brier Creek Office that we usually go to because it is closer. (They wanted me to come to their Blue Ridge Office location because it is adjacent to Rex Hospital, just in case) I told her I was on my way. I buckled Grace in her carseat, and we headed on our way.

I called Paul to let him know what was going on, and then I called my Mom...because I needed her to held keep me calm. As long as I stayed calm, Grace stayed calm and there was no coughing and gasping. When I had my little freak out moment, so did she, and she started not only crying, but coughing and gasping.

We got to the pediatricians office and they took us straight back. The pediatrician monitored her and checked her breathing and decided we should head next door to Rex hospital for an x-ray, just to be safe. About that time, Grace needed a diaper change, so we laid her down to change her and she because the gasping and coughing again. He said, "I'm glad you just did that, I changed my mind, I am sending you to the children's ER at Wake Med Hospital - Raleigh...by ambulance." Paul went and got Grace's carseat while we waited for the ambulance to arrive.

Once the ambulance got there, they strapped Grace's carseat to the stretcher and buckled her in. I road in the seat beside it, and Paul followed behind in the Pilot. We arrived at the Children's ER and went straight back to a triage room, and had a nurse waiting on us. He took Grace's vitals and hooked her up to several different machines to monitor her. A few minutes later, the ER doctor arrived and checked her breathing. He recommended that Grace have a chest X-ray. About the time, the pediatric ENT came in and checked her breathing and agreed that a chest x-ray was needed. They took Grace and x-rayed her chest. We got back to the room, and the doctors came in right behind us to let us know that the x-ray confirmed that the bean was in fact in her right lung and that she needed to have emergency surgery to remove it. We waited a few minutes, and they took us up to the pre-op room. After asking us the same 17 questions we have now been asked by everyone, the pediatric anesthesiologist took Grace in her arms and carried her back to the operating room to give her the anesthesia and IV to prep her for surgery.

Paul and I emotionally and reluctantly went to check in at the waiting room. We started getting a little worried after about an hour, but thankfully the ENT came out and let us know that they were still working on her. The bean was coming out in pieces, since by now, it had been in her warm, moist lung for about 4 hours. About an hour later, they called our name over the loud speaker and we went to the desk where they told us that Grace was out of surgery...Praise the Lord! The ENT and anesthesiologist came out and told us that everything went well and that she was recovering well. They were able to remove all of the bean, although it took over 2 hours and them using the scope 37 times. We made our way to the recovery room, where we found Grace coming out of the anesthesia. They gave her a small does of pain medicine, to help take the edge off as she came out from under the anesthesia. They had me sit in a wheelchair and had me hold Grace in my lap while they attached all of the various machines to it and transported us to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

Once we got to the PICU, they transferred her to a crib and after giving her her "Pappy" and "Bankie" (paci and blankie), we were able to get her to go to sleep within a few minutes. By this time, it was about 8pm. Paul left to let out the dog and to pack us a small overnight bag (since he was still in his work clothes and I was still in my pajamas). He got back about 9:30, I took a quick shower, and we headed downstairs to grab a quick dinner. Once we got back to the room, we unfolded the love seat (which conveniently folded out to a double bed so we could both sleep there together) and went to sleep.

We slept pretty well, considering all of the coming in and out to check on Grace. About 4am, Grace decided to pull out her IV, which made her scream and wake us both up, and she got blood everywhere. Thankfully, a nurse was actually in the room, so I was able to hold and comfort Grace while Paul held all of the wires and 2 nurses changed the sheets and Grace's gown. We were all, thankfully, able to go back to sleep for a few more hours.

At about 8, the nurse woke us up so that we could help Grace eat breakfast and get ready to get discharged. Grace ate an entire banana, 3 pieces of bacon, and all of her eggs. The poor thing hadn't eaten since 7am the previous day. A few minutes later, the doctor came in and checked her out and gave us the OK to be discharged. We got Grace dressed and watches some cartoons as they finished her paper work. Finally, almost 2 hours later, we were cleared to go home. We were instructed to give Grace 2 different prescriptions for a few days and to check back with the pediatric ENT in 2 weeks.

Talk about an experience! I am so thankful that everything turned out OK. As soon as I got home, I did a sweet of the house to make sure that there were no more beans on the floor!...lol. The most important thing that I learned from this experience is to TRUST YOUR GUT, when it comes to your kids, trust your Mommy instincts!...and pray.

Grace's adventures with Grandmom

Paul and I went to St. Thomas for a week with some friends of ours and Paul's mom came to watch Grace for us. I missed her so much! Grandmom sent us an email everynight from Grace. There are so precious, I just had to share:

Sunday, April 14 ~

Dear Mommy and Daddy,
I had a fun day today with Grandmom. The spring sunshine and warmth made it so nice to play outside. And I love to play outside!
In the morning we played in the backyard again. I found a wooden flower by the steps. I picked it and carried it all around the yard. I even took it up in the play set (with Grandmom's help, of course).
We went to the store for something to do and to get a few things. Grandmom said I was so good riding in the buggy. I smiled at people and said "hi." I wore a pink bow in my hair to match my pink shirt. Grandmom wants to know if she can trim my bangs a little bit, because they keep getting in my eyes. But maybe you want them to grow out some more. It doesn't matter to me.
After my nap, I went over to play with Alexis. She came to the door when I was napping an asked Grandmom if I could come out to play. There were two other little girls there, too - Anna Kate and Molly. Alexis' sisters were at Sunday School. I had fun with balls and bubbles! Later, after Alexis went to church, I pushed my baby and doggie in the stroller over to Emerson's house.. Her dad calls her Emi sometimes. Emi pushed her stroller with her baby, too! It was fun.
Now I am sleeping and dreaming of you. I miss you. I asked Grandmom for Mommy today, and sometimes for Daddy. She said you will be back soon.
All my love,
Grace

Monday, April 15 ~

Dear Mommy and Daddy,
I talk to Grandmom a lot and she understands me better and better all the time. She knows when I say Momma or Dadda, or Mommy or Daddy, that I am missing you then. She always reassures me you will be back soon.
Today Grandmom found the mall! And she let me walk all around. I sat in a fire-truck stroller and pretended to drive it. I climbed up on the comfortable chairs and walked around and around the sofa, playing peek-a-boo with Grandmom. She likes to pay peek-a-boo and tickle me.
Then we found the playground for kids by Sears. I loved climbing up the little slide and going "whee!" on the way down. I was so tired after that, I let Grandmom give me a shoulder ride back to the car.
Grandmom says I remind her of Erin when she was this age. I can't wait to play with my cousins again!
All my love,
Grace

Tuesday, April 16 ~

Hi Mommy and Daddy,
Today Grandmom and I found a new ride at the mall! It was free, too! Grandmom and I went up and down 4 times. I even figured out the way to the down part all by myself after the first time. It was fun! I said "whee!" and held Grandmom's hands so I didn't fall when I stepped off of the ride.
On the way back from the mall, Grandmom found my favorite place to eat and got me a kid's meal. I ate all of the chicken and fruit (except for some of the apples) and I drank some of my milk.
I was so tired from all that playing and stuff that I took a nice long nap.
I love salmon! Grandmom gave me some of hers when I finished all of mine. After dinner, we played outside with Savannah and her friend, Sarah. Then Alexis came home and I gave her a big hug.
I like to brush my teeth all by myself. It feels so good on my gums. I'm a big girl now.
Night-night! I miss you.
All my love,
Grace

Wednesday, April 17 ~

Dear Mommy and Daddy,
I'm such a big girl! I help Grandmom clean up my toys, and tonight in the bath I washed my whole body with the washcloth. And I can say a lot of words.
I was tired today so I took two naps. We went to the park this morning and I played on the playground. I love the slides! Whee! There were a lot of kids there. I like to watch them play and then I play too.
Alexis and Savannah came over for a little while after school. Grandmom said it was too hot to play outside. Savannah really likes my bean bin. I showed her how to put her feet in the bin and bury them with beans. Fun! We made sure we didn't get beans all over the living room.
Pop-Pop is coming tomorrow! Tonight when Grandmom was reading me a book I saw a man with a mustache and I pointed to him and said Pop-Pop.
Sweet dreams, I miss you!
All my love,
Grace

Thursday, April 18 ~

Dear Mommy and Daddy,
Pop-Pop came today! Grandmom was so happy to see him and I remembered him right away. I showed him all my toys and we played and played while Grandmom fixed dinner.
I took two naps again today. I miss you so much! When I miss you, Grandmom holds me and shows me our picture. She says, "Who's that?" And I say, Momma!" Then she says, "Who's that?" And I say, "Dadda!" Then she says, "Who's that?" And I say, "Grace!"
We went to the store and I rode in the buggy, but I was grumpy so we didn't stay long.
After dinner, I showed Pop-Pop my slide. Whee! I went down three times and Pop-Pop caught me at the bottom. Then we all went for a walk to the park, even Jasper.
I am sleeping now and remembering our chat on the phone, so I will have sweet dreams. I love you! I will see you soon!
All my love,
Grace

Friday, April 19 ~

Hi Mommy and Daddy,
We went to Marbles today. I love Marbles! I showed Grandmom and Pop-Pop the toddler room and the baby room. There we lots of kids there from school trips. When they went outside for lunch, I drove the big school bus and went down the slide. Whee! I went shopping for groceries and pushed a buggy all around. Then we went upstairs and I showed Pop-Pop and Grandmom the green balls - they were everywhere! I had so much fun.
We ate lunch outside and I watched all the kids and people. I saw a big bus and a big truck, too.
After my nap, I played outside with Pop-Pop and Alexis. Then we went to Red Robin for dinner. I was so hungry! I ate all of my chicken on a stick, my oranges, and some of Pop-Pop's fries. Yummy.
While we were eating, Pop-Pop was looking outside and looking worried. The wind was blowing and it was getting pretty dark. So he took me to the car while Grandmom gave the nice lady some money. Then it rained and rained and the wind blew very hard! Pop-Pop had to drive to pick up Grandmom so she didn't get all wet. When we got home the garage door wouldn't go up and there were no lights! Pop-Pop found a flashlight in the garage.
Now I am in my bed but I'm not asleep yet. I'm just talking to my lambie. Grandmom opened my window cause the fan won't work.
Night-night!
All my love,
Grace