Scares and Prayers

I posted the short version on FB. Here is the rest of the story.

     I went for a run with Buck this afternoon in between the rain showers. Buck and I were just cooling down at the park when I heard my name shouted and saw someone coming toward me from the parking lot. I was very confused as to who it might be, since it wasn't Mrs. Penguin and she was the only one who would know where I was. It was one of my friends and co-workers, come to let me know that the Mrs. had called their house to ask him to come find me, since she had fallen down the stairs and thought she might have broken her ankle.

    I was very scared, as you might imagine, since she is 32 1/2 weeks along. We rushed home and found her sitting on the floor, her swollen and bruised ankle on a pillow with ice on it. Apparently she was coming down the stairs and slipped or tripped 2 or 3 stairs from the bottom. She and the kids all heard a loud snapping sound when it happened.

     I decided to call the ambulance, since I didn't think we could maneuver her into the truck with a bum ankle. Fire engines x2, Security Forces, Fire Chief's vehicle, and finally an ambulance arrived. They took her history and VS, splinted her ankle and took her away to the Emergency Room. Our friend took the kids home with him, and I followed to the hospital.

    We didn't spend much time in the actual Emergency Room, since it was packed beyond capacity with a full waiting room. One of the wonderful nurses there took her back and triaged Mrs. Penguin quickly, once I let the front desk know she had experienced a couple contractions. From there it was a short trip to the x-rays, then upstairs to L&D for monitoring of Mommy and Baby. We were there within about an hour and a half after the fall.

     Later I had to leave to get Mrs. Penguin some dinner, since she wasn't admitted and Gestational Diabetes requires regular intake of food. When I got back, she was cleared to go from the O.B. standpoint, but there was still no word on her ankle. So back to the E.R. we went, where she got a splint, crutches, a prescription for percocet, and a follow-up appointment consult.

     And now we are home, our family is back together, and I am so grateful for wonderful friends who help the instant a need is recognized, friends who call and care both near and far, and the love of our church family and the prayers offered on our behalf. THANK YOU ALL! God Bless, and Good Night!

8 Hours in the E.R.

     I been sick. Ucky sick. It started Thursday night when I spiked a fever, had the chills and aches to go with it. Friday was nausea, headache and abdominal pain (Right sided under my ribs) progressing to the D word. I finally managed to get to sleep about 1:00 in the morning this morning, only to be woke up just after 4:00 by sharp, stabbing pain in my back, under my shoulder blade, and front, up under my ribs on the right. Couldn't get back to sleep and it felt like it was getting worse. Finally woke Mrs. Penguin up about 4:45 and had her take me to the E.R.
     I was so impressed by everything that happened in the first hour: admitted, questioned, I.V. started, x-rays and ultrasound of my gallbladder complete, 1.5 liters IV fluid, zofran 4 mg IV x 2, Morphine 4 mg IV, and Dilaudid 1 mg IV which took care of my nausea and pain. And then the day shift took over and things slowed way down. I drank my oral contrast for my C.T. by 8:00 (all 1.5 liters), but didn't go to C.T. until almost 11:30. I did get another 1.5 liters of fluid and 4 mg of morphine because the pain came back while waiting for the C.T., and developed a reaction to something I got while there. The results: nothing wrong with my gallbladder, diagnosis gastroenteritis.
     Discharged to go pick up meds at the pharmacy about 1:00 this afternoon with instructions to follow up with my PCM on Monday. Fortunately, because I missed Friday, plans were already in place to cover my 12 hour day call tomorrow. I had had Mrs. Penguin notify the on-call doc this morning and got a call from the boss this afternoon letting me know that my shift is still covered for tomorrow - Thanks everybody!
     That was my weekend so far, how has yours been?