Short Version:
Noah was outside with his sisters playing at the end of the cul-de-sac last week (Monday). After a while, they came into the house and Noah was rubbing his eyes like crazy. I took one look at him and knew it was his worst reaction to SOMETHING?? ever! Underneath his eyes was swollen out at least an inch. I yelled at him to wash his hands and face and lay on the couch. I ran for the Benadryl!!! I gave him 3 teaspoons -- his dose was 1 or 2 teaspoons but he really needed some and fast. I ran back over to the couch to closer evaluate the situation. I heard him wheeze and asked if he was having difficulty breathing and he said a little. As I looked at my baby boy I had a scary feeling that I would need to give him his epi-pen. I called one of my friends, Gayla, she had given her son an epi-pen last month and is in nursing school too. Next was a series of miracles:
1. Gayla was home (She is busy and hard to get a hold of)
2. I found Noah's epi -pen
3. The epi-pen was not expired
I told Gayla what I was seeing (face progressively swelling, eyes almost swollen shut, and difficulty breathing). I asked "Am I going to need to give him his epi-pen?" Gayla was like, "I think you are going to need to give him his epi-pen." She talked me through it with Noah panicking in the background because he could tell I was going to give him a shot! The girls were great and had him squeeze their hands while I gave the shot. The first time it bounced right off his leg but the next time it went in real good. It was kind of freaky because you have to hold the epi-pen to his leg for 10 seconds after you give it. Well, fourth miracle ... it worked!!! Breathing resolved and slowly swelling decreased. The worst swelling was his eyes -- the white part of his eye was swollen out past his eye socket and this I noticed after the epi-pen when I was looking at him from the side.
I called the Dr. and they said to bring him to the ER but after consultation with my two friends and with me in my pajamas, with 5 kids and swimming lessons and swimming fun scheduled with friends I decided to just observe him at home. After all he was breathing fine now.
Noah's thoughts, "It was scary when you were talking on the phone and talking about the epi-pen."
I didn't even think of taking a picture that day but managed to take a picture of Noah holding the epi-pen box the morning after.
We know he was playing in a cornfield for a few minutes outside and the corn husks did touch him all over his body. I guess that is what he was reacting to -- still not sure but definetly no playing in the cornfield anymore.
Update to this post to follow with more excitement to come ...
