Monday, September 30

This day was seared into my mind.  Matt and I were leaving to take Jack to Vanderbilt for his procedures.  Kate was left in good hands with my mom.  (I did worry a little about her hairstyles for school).  First up...kindergarten school pictures.  We fancied Kate up for school and off she went with a hug and a kiss from mama and Jack.  

 Matt and I loaded up, dropped Drake off at the Mason's, and off we went.  Traveling with Matt is always "fun," because we are never late.  Not ever.  Early.  Always early.  Like an hour and a half early.  To a hospital.  In a different town.  With a toddler who can't have anything to eat or drink.  So, we hit the park.  Jack was happy.  He didn't know where he was going next, so the park is always a fun event.

 A bridge to walk across with Daddy.  New things to do.

 We got to the hospital and checked in.  Had to be there two hours early.  We waited.  And waited.  And played with the new animal pac Grandma and Grandpa sent just for this occasion. And Jack cried.  Not a whimper.  Not a typical quick storm.  Nope, a big tantrum.  Hungry?  Check.  Thirsty?  Check.  Some strange man checking my vitals?  Check.  Forty-five minutes later, we were taken to the holding cell.  Sorry, I mean the pre-op staging area.

 This is what a tantrum looks like after an hour.  And having nothing to drink (since he doesn't eat) since 6 a.m. and it is now 3:30 p.m.

 We had pre-op with all of the docs (Anesthesiologist, GI, Pulminologist, and ENT).  They would each do his/her part and then come out to tell what they saw.  Biopsies and fluids would be tested and those results would come later.  Jack woke just in time for them to carry him to the OR for sedation.  Matt and I, with apprehension, hustled down to the cafeteria to grab a quick lunch/dinner because we needed to be back up to hear.  Each doctor said pretty much the same thing...all looks great, no abnormalities.  We waited for Jack to wake.  We went back to see him.  Still sleeping off meds and with his no-nos on so that he couldn't pull the Impedance probe out of his nose.

 Jack had no interest in waking.  Matt left to check us into the hotel and return.  I waited and chatted with yet another nurse.  All of the medical staff were amazing and so calming.  WHen Jack woke, he had to drink some apple juice so his pH level could be established.  Remembering that my mom said Kate had been teary a couple of times that day because she was worried about Jack, I FaceTimed her so she could see him (and me).  I put the phone close to Jack and Kate started singing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.  Jack started to open his eyes.  He looked for her.  She was on the phone...happy.  We talked about his arms, his tube, etc. and Kate seemed more at ease.  Jack woke, drank, and off we went.

 Poor guy wanted to watch the TV in the car on the way to the hotel.  Of course I let him have the remote.

 He drank a Pedia Sure and then wanted to try out the sippy cup the hospital gave him.  We took his no-nos off, and he never grabbed at the probe.  We put them on to sleep, but in the middle of the night, he had another Pedia Sure and fell asleep on me without them on.  So, we left them off.

 The next day we walked around Nashville.  Jack with his tube and probe.  Since it is such a large medical community, many strangers stopped to ask what he had:  feeding tube, probe, etc.  Each were curious, not being mean.  And each had a friend who had a child that didn't/wouldn't eat.

 We went to the mall because we didn't have many options.  He didn't want to eat and he couldn't go to a park with the tubes.  He does not like malls much.

 At noon the tube was removed.  These are my two happy boys ready to go home and see Kate.

 Ahhhhhh, a Diet Coke makes it all better.

We are still waiting for some of the test results.  We are continuing therapy with Jack three times a week and he is off any reflux meds, which is promising.  BUT, we still have no answers for what is going on.  So. We. Wait.