R-2's Hospital Stay

Well, this week started out sort with him having a little bit of greenish-colored diapers; which after reading online I saw that most of the time it was a problem with him getting too much foremilk and not enough hindmilk, so I tried pumping in a way so separate the two and make sure he got enough of the hindmilk. It seemed to have work a little bit, but then on Tuesday he had a whole day of projectile vomiting (all three feedings in the day) and it was enough with the greenish stools to make a trip to the nearest pediatric urgent care. We were also worried because he was showing signs of having a problem with his stomach called pyloric stenosis that would require a minor surgery to correct. (This picture was taken just before the 2nd vomiting episode.)

Well, we made our way to the urgent care and saw a Dr. who also thought it sounded like pyloric stenosis and told us we better take him to Phoenix Children's Hospital and make sure that it's not. We arrived there about 7:00-7:30pm and, at the time, R-2 was having some extremely neon green and runny diarrhea and started to get sort of lethargic (or just SUPER sleepy) so that alone was enough for them to want to admit him and do some basic blood and stool tests, as well as an ultrasound to check for pyloric stenosis. It was so sad to see him go through everything he did. Randall stayed with him while he got his IV put in around 9:00pm and I went to the family waiting room and called my sister Becca for some moral support (who helped tremendously). Afterward he was taken almost immediately for the ultrasound where we were SOOOOOO fortunate to have caught a main ultrasound doctor that allowed us to get immediate results instead of having an ultrasound technician do it and have to wait for the results to be evaluated and then finally get word. He ruled out the pyloric stenosis and we were so relieved!


After that, we waited a bit and then were taken to our room that we ended up sharing with a little girl who was in for an infection with fever... so sad. This picture was him finally getting to sleep again after the whole ordeal. Randall ended up going home to get some sleep around 1:30am and I stayed with him for the night. Wednesday morning we were supposed to have some upper GI tests done, but the only test that ended up being performed on Wednesday was a urine test that they had to put a catheter in to retrieve. Again, Daddy was the one to be there for that. I still have been more emotional lately than I ever did during my pregnancy or even during puberty or periods or whatever. It's kinda interesting...














I was able to have 3 meals a day delivered to me since I was breastfeeding (pumping), which was nice so I didn't have to leave him and go to the cafeteria every time. Randall came back in the afternoon of Wednesday with more supplies from home since they said it could be another 2-3 days stay. Poor Randall... he's had to put up with a lot during the past few weeks. I know that I have, too, but he has just been so wonderful and has taken it so well. Nearing the end of our stay at the hospital this time our nerves started to unravel a bit, but that was only because I think the communication of things started to slow down between us and the hospital staff. Not like they didn't do a good job, it was usually during a shift change that information would slip through the cracks, I think. All in all, they did a good job.

On Thursday morning the last tests were performed, which actually turned out to be beneficial and that was nice because it would have really sucked if we had been there for no reason. Not like I wanted anything to be wrong or anything, I'm just glad that we will be able to give Randy some more comfort. We finally had the upper GI tests performed, which consisted of two different tests performed under x-ray. He wasn't able to eat for a few hours before the test and it was really hard to see him so hungry! The first test he was strapped down to a table and they had him drink a bottle with barium in it for the contrast on x-ray to see if his esophagus, stomach and small intestine function properly. The x-ray doctor said everything looked good. The second test was performed with that doctor as well as a speech pathologist where they had him drink different thicknesses of the barium to see if any would go down his windpipe. They started with breastmilk consistency which is the thinnest liquid and it should that he did have a little problem with it trying to go in his windpipe. The same was with the formula consistency and then there is two other consistencies called nectar and honey (honey is the thickest). He did better with the nectar and honey. So they ended up prescribing this gel that I have to add to his breastmilk bottles to make it to the 'nectar' consistency. So far today (Friday) he seems to be doing a lot better with feeding and being less hurtful and fussy! I'm so glad. So he will be on that gel for at least a month they said and that it should correct itself in time.

It's so nice to have him home and in our care exclusively again. We had a really good night and day together today. He actually slept from 1:00am to 6:00am and woke up happy as a clam and then went through today with his regular 3 hours sleep and 1-2 hours awake. During which, he fell asleep in my arms and I had his boppy pillow next to me to put him in, but literally as he was falling asleep Ween came in and stole the boppy pillow (don't worry sistas... there was a blanket over it, so I could easily clean away any hair and stuff :) ) but seriously it was so cute. I didn't get a picture, but Ween ended up laying in it just the way that a baby does! So cute. I also let it happen because he has been so nervous of the baby and it was nice to see him so close to him for once... I think it will help his psyche. Thanks to everyone's prayers and well wishes for him this week. We definitely could feel the love and are grateful to have such a caring family.