the chism trail: August 2012

Matthew's rattlesnake bite...

On August 18, 2012 our little Matthew was bitten by a baby rattlesnake out on our back patio. I had let him outside to play that afternoon after lunch, and the snake was coiled up underneath his Strider bike. I heard him scream, and so I hurried outside to see what was wrong. I saw the snake still under his bike, and knew that he had gotten bit. Shane tried to calm me down, and told me to rush Matthew to the ER. Meanwhile Shane stayed behind to kill the snake, so it wouldn't bite our two dogs that are in the backyard.

It was a 12" baby rattlesnake. We think it tried biting Matthew a second time because he had three fang marks on his hand.

My brave little boy at the St. Joe's ER. They gave him a dose of the anti-venom there before sending him off to the pediatric unit at UMC. His hand had swollen up to the size of a golf ball, and the swelling started going up his arm. Michael was being a good older brother and entertaining Matthew while at St. Joe's.

He was then transferred by ambulance to the Diamond Children's Medical Center at UMC.

He was taken good care of, and had lots of attention by the Dr's and Nurses. Everyone wanted to see this brave little boy's snake bite. The first IV he got lasted about 1 1/2 days, and with all his squiggling it started coming out. So he had to get a new IV put into his wrist. The nurses wrapped it up good, so it would last through the rest of his treatments.

They had a really nice play area for the kids, and Matthew and Michael loved it there. When Matthew couldn't get out of bed the staff brought toys to his room to play with. It made for a very happy boy and Mama. :)

After being in the intensive care unit at the hospital for three days it was finally time to go home. This picture was taken right before we were discharged. His hand is still a little bruised, but he is doing a lot better. We're so thankful for all those who have kept us and Matthew in their prayers and thoughts. I know that Matthew was watched over, and I am forever grateful!

First Day of School

Michael - 4th Grade
Matthew - Preschool

Lots of puddles to play in...

We've had a pretty good monsoon season this year, which has filled up the park just down from where we live a couple of different times.

The bath water was very dirty that night! :) They had fun though, it was like their very own lake to swim in.

Michael loved riding his bike in it.

The Boy's Birthday Parties

We celebrated Matthew's birthday at my friend Kim's community pool. Her daughter Brooke and Matthew share the same birthdays! We thought it would be fun to invite our mutual friends, and celebrate their birthdays together.

We celebrated Michael's birthday at Peter Piper Pizza. He had a lot of friends come, and it was a star wars theme including a cake. Grandma Chism was there for both kids birthdays!

He was one tired boy, since the party was in the middle of his usual nap time. His favorite movie is "Toy Story," and so of course that was his theme for the party.