Rhett and Stacie Stous
  • Home
  • About
  • Give
  • Photos
  • Subscribe
  • Contact


The (somewhat inevitable) First E.R. Visit

October 14, 2015 by Rhett and Stacie Stous

I think some part of me expected it. With four boys, an emergency room visit here and there is almost inevitable, given that one of our boys’ primary means of communication is wrestling. What I didn’t necessarily foresee was that every single one of our boys would have an emergency room visit within their first three years of life, for reasons totally unrelated to roughhousing. Milo had a staff infection at 10 days old, Owen (3) and Wyatt (18 mo) each had croup about two months ago which required ER visits, and now Lincoln has been inducted into the club, all because of a single fever.

Normally it wouldn’t have been a big deal, but because of his age, a hospital visit is standard, as is taking many tests- including a blood draw and lumbar puncture. LUMBAR PUNCTURE. On an infant. I realize that these are required for a reason, that if he had meningitis it would be very serious, but my heart could only focus on the fact that my baby had to endure a painful test; and, as it turns out, he would have to endure it twice, as the first didn’t produce the necessary spinal fluid. That was by far the worst part of the stay- more so even than thinking through the worst case scenarios was sitting in the ER, separated by a thin curtain from my baby as he cried. As my heart was breaking for him, though, I could feel the Lord holding the pieces together as I prayed and wept for my baby. There were so many people praying for him, and we felt so loved, both by the Lord and by the many people who were lifting us up to Him.

Likely because he hadn't been eating very frequently before coming into the hospital, he was actually a couple ounces below his birth weight when he was admitted to the hospital.
Likely because he hadn’t been eating very frequently before coming into the hospital, he was actually a couple ounces below his birth weight when he was admitted to the hospital.
Because his IV was in the crook of his elbow, he got to wear a big clunky brace on his arm, which (mostly unsuccessfully) tried to keep his arm from bending.
Because his IV was in the crook of his elbow, he got to wear a big clunky brace on his arm, which (mostly unsuccessfully) tried to keep his arm from bending.
Here's a shot of the second attempt at a splint to keep his arm straight. Also unsuccessful.
Here’s a shot of the second attempt at a splint to keep his arm straight. Also unsuccessful.
So. Many. Tags.
So. Many. Tags.

It was a long couple of days, but praise the Lord, all his tests were negative (although that included the test for viruses, which meant that our 48 hour stay turned into a 72 hour stay)! Though there were lots of pokes and hurt feelings (even though we had wonderful care!), we ended up once again bringing home a healthy baby boy, and a Mommy who was admittedly a little stir-crazy, but overall none the worse for the wear!

All of our nurses were very sweet to us, one of them gave him his very own teddy bear :)
All of our nurses were very sweet to us, one of them gave him his very own teddy bear 🙂
When the brace actually worked, it made Lincoln look rather super hero-y.
When the brace actually worked, it made Lincoln look rather super hero-y.
Towards the end, with hardly anything except daytime television to occupy my time, I took to taking a first-time-mommy amount of pictures of my sleeping darling :)
Towards the end, with hardly anything except daytime television to occupy my time, I took to taking a first-time-mommy amount of pictures of my sleeping darling 🙂
By the time we left, he had gained back over 9 ounces- back to birth weight!!
By the time we left, he had gained back over 9 ounces- back to birth weight!!

 

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: blood draw, comfort, E.R., fever, hospital, lumbar puncture, spinal tap

More Posts:

« Lincoln Henry Stous
Ode to a Father Who Provides »

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • About
  • Blog
  • Home
  • Give
  • Photos
  • Subscribe
  • Contact

Disclaimer: This personal ministry website is provided by Ethnos360 as a courtesy to its members. Ethnos360 makes no warranty regarding the accuracy of the information on these pages. Opinions expressed are provided by members in good faith, but are entirely those of the member and do not necessarily represent policy, doctrinal position, or opinions of Ethnos360. If you encounter information that you consider questionable, please e-mail the Ethnos360 web team.

Rhett and Stacie Stous

© Copyright 2025 Ethnos360. All rights reserved.

Log In

  • 