Friday, June 15, 2012

My Son is Full of It

This article appeared in the January 8th 2012 edition of the Northland Family Magazine


My Son is Full of It and I have the X-rays to prove it....

My son is full of it sounds a little harsh, but let me explain……….

First of all, my son Kolby joined cub scouts this year, but unfortunately we’ve only been to one of our den meetings.  Our absence was due to several issues, once we were out of town, another he threw up right before it was time to go.  So, Friday nights den meeting was important, we didn’t want to be another no-show.

Secondly, my husband and I are currently in the middle of child rearing, rarely taking time for ourselves, much less with each other.  So when our friends from long ago invited us to a Christmas party, we decided we should go.  Granted it was an hour away, and it was Friday night; the same night as Kolby’s den meeting.  However, I could make it happen.  I just needed a little help and a babysitter.

I worked it out to be at the den meeting, but slip out just a little early.  I asked a friend if they could bring Kolby home.    By then Keith would be home and we could get the party two hours later, but at least we’d be there for a while.

Due to my excitement about going to the party, I decided it was time for new clothes.  For once I took my time, had fun shopping and even got boots to match.  I am definitely not a shopper and rarely get new clothes, so this was a big deal for me.  To top it off, I bought some hair color and covered up the long-ago-didn’t work-out highlights, that now started in the middle if my long brown hair.  New clothes.  One color of hair.  Babysitter.   Date with hubby.  Seeing old friends.    All is well.  Life is good.

Until.

The kids got off the bus.  Kolby was walking very slowly, hunched over, not standing up.  When I inquired as to why, he stated it hurt too bad to stand up.  My mind immediately started reeling;  no, no, no……..the cub scout meeting, the party, the planning, the babysitter………stand up child!

Kolby is almost in tears as he comes inside.   I do the usual routine when the kids’ stomach hurts, “let’s get something to eat, why don’t you go to the bathroom.”  He chooses the bathroom.  When I went in to check on him, he was sitting on top of the closed lid, “Mom, I’m scared, it hurts.  My bladder hurts.”

“Your bladder?   Don’t you mean your tummy?”

“No mom, my bladder?”

“You’re seven, how do you know about your bladder?  Ok, honey, why don’t you come lay down,” He stoops over, walks to the couch and lies down.  When I try to check on his tummy (oops, I mean bladder) he cries out in pain.  Ok, time to call the nurse line. 

“What?  Go straight to the urgent care at Children’s Mercy?  Why aren’t you asking me any questions? You want me to go downtown?”  The nurse explained to me that I had already told him enough information, just the description of how Kolby was acting.  He also explained that his bladder was right next to his appendix.  Don’t wait he warned me,  go now!

My head has a zillion thoughts going through it………it’s not his appendix, Kolby over reacts……….he’ll be fine, I should wait……….I can’t wait, what if it’s his appendix……he’s in a lot of pain………I HAVE NEW CLOTHES, NEW BOOTS, I DYED MY HAIR……if I miss another boy scouts meeting they aren’t going to believe I’m for real……I NEVER GO ON A DATE WITH MY HUSBAND……I want to see my new-old friends…….can this wait?

I called my husband Keith to make the arrangements for Kyle and off we go to the Urgent Care at Children’s Mercy.   I opted to the close one rather than going downtown.  When we got out of the car, Kolby stands up right.  “Whoa, wait a minute buddy, aren’t you supposed to be hunched over, are you feeling better?”  He explains he is feeling better, but then points out that he is still hunched over “some”.  I think to myself, well, you better hunch yourself over when we walk in there mister!   

After a very short wait to be seen, the first thing they do are x-rays, to where he walks upright, darn near skipping all the way there.  As I watch him, I begin to wonder where in the heck I am going to wear my new clothes.  Appendix, or bladder infection or a big nothing, I doubt very seriously I’ll be going any where tonight.  And why is Kolby acting JUST FINE???!!!

When the doctor came in to examine my perfectly fine little boy, she showed us his x-rays.  In his abdomen, he was full of poop!  Literally, full of poop!   Whaaaaat?  I’m missing my party because my son is full of crap?  Really?  

The doctor went on to explain that this volume didn’t happen over night and it wouldn’t be solved overnight.  This was the cause for his pain.  Thank goodness.  Darn it.  My new clothes.  My pretty hair.  Thank goodness he’s ok.

In the end, we did go out for dinner, but I wore jeans.