It's About Time

Needless to say, I have been a slacker about posting recently. Pete has been so busy studying that by the time I have access to the computer, I am just about ready to go to bed. So I give in-- I'm posting without pictures via the laptop. Someday I will hijack "my" computer back and post some pictures.

First things first-- Caleb's hospital admission.

Two weeks ago we were getting ready to head out to church when Pete was changing Caleb's diaper. Normally Pete ignores anything that might be wrong with Caleb (I hear "He's fine" about a thousand times a day) so when he called me into Caleb's room to look at the diaper rash I knew something must be up. Since Caleb has very very very sensitive skin he is unfortunately prone to rashes. This means that our poor little monster is pretty much constantly covered in a diaper rash. His most recent diaper rash was being treated for yeast and he was getting an anti-fungal cream applied twice a day. We figured the cream would do the trick and all would be well.

However, when I went in to see Caleb it was evident that the rash had made a turn for the worse. Approximately five square inches of Caleb's abdomen was red, distended and warm. One of the pimple-like lesions from the rash was raised and it didn't look so hot. We decided to take Caleb into the ER-- thinking we would get some cream for the rash and be back in time for our third hour meetings.

Upon arrival at CHOP (I swear, if we go there one more time they are going to keep him) we were quickly told that he had an abscess and cellulitis. Neither one is a particularly life-threatening problem, but they both needed to be watched carefully and treated with IV anti-biotics. They were also debating whether or not to lance the abscess.

So for the next four hours we watched Caleb fight every nurse in the ER who tried to give him an IV-- the kid is determined, I'll give him that. After two failed IV's (he sweat them out-- don't ask me...) six tries and finally the IV team (the IV team is called in to give IV's to patients-- usually drug addicts-- who's veins will not cooperate with IV's) they finally got an IV to work. We were transferred out of the ER to our room and Caleb was quarantined.

Why quarantined? Caleb developed the abscess and cellulitis from a bacteria called MRSA-- Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus. Sounds scary huh? Fortunately, Pete had worked with a program in Pittsburgh that helped to stop the transfer of MRSA from person to person so we were already familliar with it. Everyone has millions of bacteria--called flora--living on their skin. The skin acts as a strong enough barrier to prevent us all from dying of a thousand different bacterial infections. However, sometimes we get cuts or cracks in our skin and that bacteria can then bypass our barrier and enter our systems.

The problem with MRSA is that it is a "super bug." It is resistant to the typical antibiotics and it must be treated with some strong medicine. Most people have a bit of MRSA on their skin at any given time. It used to be completely confined to the hospital setting, but it is now out and about in the community. Unfortunately with Caleb's diaper rash as bad as it was, some of that normally harmless MRSA entered his system through the cracks in his skin from the diaper rash.

Thus the need to be quarantined (to prevent spreading the MRSA any more) and stay in the hospital. Over the next two days Caleb was given two more IV's (yes, he ripped those out as well) and his cellulitis healed up well. The abscess was drained -- that was probably the grossest thing I have ever seen-- and he now has a nice little scar from where the infection started. They sent us home with Caleb on oral antibiotics and he is back to his monster ways.

Our diaper changing routine now consists of:
*Applying anti-fungal nystatin twice a day
*Applying anti-biotic bactroban twice a day
*Applying hydrocortizone cream three times a day
*Applying Butt Paste at every diaper change.
*No diaper at naps or bedtime

Since I cannot possibly apply all that cream before Caleb runs away diaper-less, we apply one of the medications at each diaper change and somehow manage to get it all in. I'm also doing more laundry than ever to keep up with all the wet sheets.

We're going to try a new type of diaper to see if that helps to cut back on the diaper rash. They are called gDiapers. Has anyone else tried these? They are pretty expensive (about 50 cents a pop) but if they work, I'll be thrilled. I'm hesitant to spend the money though if they are going to be a bust. Any tips would be appreciated.

We'll know in a month or so if he is still a carrier for MRSA-- in which case, wash your hands! All in all, we've learned (1) Caleb is not so great with IV's (2)Clindamyicin smells like rotten eggs and (3)Caleb sure knows how to keep things interesting.