Mama called the doctor and the doctor said...

Last week Rio spent a couple of nights in the hospital with pneumonia! :( It started out with a little cold, and then before I knew it, his breathing was frighteningly labored and shallow! I called on a Thursday morning, June 26th, to try to get him in to see a doctor, and the receptionist was like, "Hmm, we could get you in on Monday at 1:30?" DUH. Did you hear what I said, lady? My 2-year-old son is wheezing and struggling to breathe. No, Monday probably won't work for us.

So later that afternoon, I decided to take him in to the ER; I was worried he would quit breathing during the night! They x-rayed his chest and drew blood and watched/listened to him breathe. After 2 hours in the ER and me singing the ABC's AT LEAST 35 times while we waited, Dr. Besendorfer finally returned and informed me that Rio had pneumonia and that he was going to admit him. Let's just say that after already having had his blood drawn, Rio was not cooperative in the least bit with the IV. Which, I can't entirely blame him for. After Nurse #1 blew two more of the poor kid's veins, traumatizing him in the meantime, I politely asked if there was someone else who could try. By then, it took 5 adults (no joke) to hold this 28-pound kid down while Nurse #2 tried to poke him AGAIN and hook up the IV, and he fought and cried and SCREAMED over and over and over, in the most confused, desperate little voice, "MOMMY, HELP ME! MOMMY, HELP ME!" Yeah, I was NOT okay. I hope I never hear my son say those words that way again.

I had called one of my best friends, Ryan Wright, to come and give him a blessing. He came right over, which I was so grateful for. We had just taken Rio to his room, when Ryan and his friend showed up with the oil and gave him an awesome Priesthood Blessing. He brought Rio a sick toy police car that made all sorts of siren noises. It was JUST what Rio needed. He completely--well, almost--forgot that he was chained to a hospital bed with a clear tube strung out of his arm! (Thanks, Ry! You're the best.)

Rio and I spent 2 days curled up together on the little Barbie hospital bed--watching Tom & Jerry, coloring, reading, more Tom & Jerry, singing the ABC's, eating delicious hospital food, and watching--you guessed it!--Tom & Jerry. The nurse gave Rio one more shot of antibiotics in his leg the last day; he was so brave! What a scare. I'm glad he is okay--it amazes me how resilient this little guy is. And boy, was Mommy ever glad to get back home to her mommy-sized bed. :)