Baby Boy vs. Baby Rattlesnake

So I've been avoiding this post for some time because frankly I'm still in shock that this actually happened to us. To our baby. Almost 2 weeks ago Benji got bit by a baby rattlesnake on our back porch. Crazy. Obviously, he is perfectly fine now but let's just say we were in a bit of shock for a couple of days there. If you remember when we first moved in, Trav killed a snake and taught Peter what to look and listen for and with the arrival of spring, he's been doing snake walks all around the property to make sure none are making a home in our yard. We feel like we're pretty snake conscious but somehow one just got in. I'd been hanging out with the boys on the porch for 30 min or so when I heard Benji start crying. I walked over to him saw a snake hanging out under Peter's scooter. Luckily Travis was home at the time and he came running when he heard my panicked screams.

By the way, from the orientation of the bite marks (on his ring finger), we think Benji was reaching out to pet the snake. I know it seems prejudiced but we've put our foot down -- no more making friends with poisonous reptiles Benji.

Once I realized Benji had been bit we rushed to the hospital and they got Benji started on the anti-venom serum almost right away. Already his hand had started to swell and turn red but luckily it never went beyond his wrist and he never had trouble breathing or heart problems. 

That, I can tell you, was a big big fear for me.

I guess there is a major snake bite expert down in Loma Linda so they decided to FLY us down to that hospital, which is about 2 hours away.

Well, you can imagine the silent dialogue that went on between Travis and I about who would get to ride with Benji on the helicopter, but when we were told the lightest person would go, in my head I did a tiny victory dance.

Can you spot Benji's carseat strapped inside? It was pretty close quarters in there.

And here's the snake (minus one head), which one of the helicopter RNs carried in a biohazard bag in his flight suit(!!) since we were pressed for space in the helicopter. 

We spent a day and a half in the Loma Linda ER (not in a room, but in the ER!) and by the end, Benji was more than ready to go home. The kid was a total champ. And if it wasn't obvious before we are now more than positive that he really, really doesn't like hospitals or doctors. I don't blame him. I've about had enough too.

And where was Peter during all the excitement? Well, our wonderful friends Barbara and Meredith kept him and he had an absolute ball at their house. They are true angels as we basically called them from the ER asking them if they could come get Peter for a bit and he wound up staying with them for almost 2 days! They deserve some serious thanks.

We cannot begin to say how lucky and grateful we are that Benji is okay. We know that our entire family was being watched over the entire time. Thank you to everyone who was praying on behalf of our family. Benji is one blessed and lucky, lucky kid. Needless to say I'm a bit paranoid now when it comes to our yard. I know there's nothing we really could have done different but I still have panic attacks about what happened. We don't want to live in fear however so Peter is just having to make due with me following him around constantly whenever he decides to go out and play.

After the initial shock wore off, we sorta just shook our heads over Benji. Because if this first year is any indication of what the next 17 are going to be like, I think we need to invest in a toddler sized hamster ball or something. Travis' mom just thinks it's payback for all he put his parents through. 

Also do they sell season passes to the hospital? Cause I really think that would be a much cheaper option for us at this point.