Wish it was Just a Bad Dream..

So, there are no pictures from the first half of our ordeal--I didn't realize I had a camera until I knew Justin was going to be alright...

Still asleep from the anesthesia

On our way home!

Saturday afternoon just before two I was downstairs in Annie's room helping her with a few things. Justin was with me, but as quickly as he crawls he soon made his way toward the playroom. Moments after he left Annie's room I heard him sputter. Everything goes in his mouth (he is so much like his oldest sister!) and I am used to scooping all kinds of things out of there. However, when I got to him there was nothing there and it instantly seemed to me he just wasn't himself. He was also shuttering with each swallow. I took him upstairs for Travis to hold while I called around to find somewhere to do an x-ray on a Saturday. As I finished my second call I told Travis I better just take him to the ER as everything was closed. Just then, Justin threw up. It was a strange throw up and we went into high gear. I grabbed him and rushed to the car telling Travis he better go with us. We called Romriells (we love you guys) from the driveway to tell them there were four kids alone at our house and we needed someone there. Travis drove (maybe he flew) to the ER. Justin was trying to fall asleep and he had just woken up from a two hour nap before the swallowing. At the check in I didn't even get half way through my explanation before they rushed us back where a doctor was right there to see us. While I was talking to the doctor Justin threw up again which caused quite a bit of pain for him. The doctor couldn't feel anything in his belly and sent us to x-ray. As they were wheeling us down there I heard the nurse order a crash cart for our room (breathe in, breath out). The x-ray showed a perfectly round object stuck at the top of Justin's esophagus. The doctor said it was very important for us to hold him still as any agitation could cause the object to head right to the lung. He also said this object needed to be removed by a pediatric gastroentorolgist and he was in Boise and he had a call in to him and was waiting to hear back. While we were waiting Justin's pulse was high then low--as it would drop he would fall asleep. I swear I never stopped praying. Soon the doctor got the call that Dr. Thompson was at the hospital and ready to operate. So, Justin and I got on a gurney in the ambulance and headed for downtown St Lukes with Travis close behind in the suburban. Justin slept Almostthe entire ride--he was white as a ghost. When he was awake he just kept his little head on my chest. Dr. Thompson was waiting for us at the hospital as was Grandpa and Grandma was not far behind. As soon as Travis and my dad had a quiet minute they gave Justin a blessing. Soon Justin was back in surgery--Dr. Thompson was able to cut in line in front of those who were waiting for scheduled surgeries. Twenty minutes later he brought us out...a nickel! He said without surgery it would never have come out--just gone to even scarier places. Justin woke up from surgery like a champ and by 7:00 we were enjoying a frosty together. We could not be more grateful. Looking back on the day, it is truly amazing how smoothly everything went--we were definitely watched over and protected.