4 Miles

Well you can ignore what I said before.  After talking with the Infectious Disease Specialist (who strangely looked like Jimmy Johnson) he does not think he has an infection in the bone. I don't remember the reasons why very well, but the good news with that is that infection is what requires the antibiotics via IV. If it is just an infection of the  joint or muscle he can have antibiotics orally. He thinks he'll be sending us home in a few days doing that. He isn't quite sure, he listed a whole array of choices (such as the MMR vaccine he got last month–but that is very rare and it's been awhile since he got it, or strep throat–but kids under 2 usually don't get it, or other options I don't remember).  They will be running a whole slew of tests to see. We are going to be here for Alex to get the antibiotics via IV while we wait to see if the cultures from his surgery grow anything.  He said he'd like to talk with the Dr. who suspected the bone infection to see why he felt so strongly that might be it. He came back and mentioned he may do a bone scan on Monday (the earliest they can do it) to help rule out/confirm that–it'd be easier on Alex then an MRI. 

Alex just got out of surgery and I'm waiting to be let into recovery. It went well. No damamge to the joint or cartlidge had occured.  His foot is now wrapped up in a split and immoblized so he can relax and stop keeping the muscles tense (to avoid being hurt).  Now we're just going to wait for the cultures (should be done Monday or Tuesday) and to meet with an Infectious Disease specalists on Monday to determine which antibiotic to be on and how long. (And I'm sorry for all spelling mistakes. My fingers are thick and my brain is slow!)

Some of you may have already heard but Alex's ankle is not doing better. We took him to a specialists yesterday and he ended up having us admitted to the hospital. After X-rays again showed no fracture he suspected Alex has an infection in either the joint or the bone.  Yesterday it seemed everything they tried to do failed. It took them 3 attempts to get an IV in. We had to wait a long time to try an MRI to confirm the suspecisions of the Doctors. The medicine they used for sedating Alex didn't sedate him well at all…he was alseep for only 2 minutes or so, so the MRI never happened. I thought they were going to try it again this morning. Alex was put on antibiotics all night.

This morning, there was no change in the swelling and he still had the fever that had started yesterday.  Instead, of doing the MRI, Alex is in surgery right now. (The Dr. felt it was a waste of time to put him under, do the MRI, wait for him to wake up, then put him under again to do the surgery.) They are going to drain any fluid that has built up in his ankle. They will also put a small hole in the bone to drain the infection he strongly feels is there. Then the antibiotics will be able to get in and work better. They will also be taking cultures to see if they can identify what type of infection this is.  The rush and concern is becuse he's had these symptoms for over a week and a half.  After that Alex will be on the antibiotics for 3 weeks. But, these aren't your ordinary ear infection antibiotics. They will be adminsistered by IV.  I was told this morning he will be in the here until at least Tuesday. (And I was sad the nurse said "See you tonight!" because I was hoping we'd be going home today! Little did I know then!)  That date is assuming I will learn how to administer the antibiotics.  Since I don't want to stay here 3 weeks, I will be learning.  We'll try to keep you updated on things. The hospital does have internet (and even wireless in the rooms), so I can keep the blog updated. Not quite as easy with the emails, I'll be able to read them and reply, but my address book is stored on the home computer. (And I'm not sure how much time I'll have to reply to each one.) 

Thank you for your prayers! We very much appreciate them.  Obviously this is a serious infection to be treated so quickly.  Please pray Alex will handle being hooked up to an IV well.  So far the hardest part has been not feeding him before each attempt of doing work (sedation yesterday and surgery today)…he did not like that either time. I'm hoping once I don't have to keep from feeding him he'll be a better patient.