thisendoftheswamp

Eldest daughter called around noon on Saturday to say that CHOP, after more tests and multiple plans of action,  had operated on the baby that morning. One of the doctors, in a flight of fancy, had gone back to the NG tube idea, because he thought Austin’s little tummy muscles weren’t contracting. His dad refused that suggestion, saying if his stomach wasn’t contracting, then putting food into it was pointless, and considering the power with which Austin was shooting food across the room, the muscles jolly well were contracting.

So the surgery was performed and the doctors agreed that it had definitely needed to be done. In fact the doctor who was pro-NG tube admitted it wouldn’t have worked at all.

Austin was a bit of a celebrity at the hospital, with nurses and other staff popping in to see him. Apparently, the pyloric sphincter growing shut a second time is pretty rare.  I asked if he was giving autographs, but apparently not.

Everyone is back home, and we are hoping and praying this second operation really does the trick!

Tags: Austin, very sick baby

Eldest Daughter called at 1:30 to say she was on her way home from Philadelphia, and about ready to drop in her tracks. She’d been up until very, very late waiting to see what was going to happen with the baby, and then she and Austin’s mum had tried to catch a few winks in recliners in the hospital room, with the baby unhappy and medical staff coming and going. She just called again to say our grandson had arrived at CHOP and the doctors are going to operate in the morning.

When I last visited with the kids, a week or so ago, things seemed to be going pretty well. Austin had gained a bit of weight, and even though he was still spitting up, it was no more than the usual baby stuff.  Early Thursday the baby started the projectile vomiting again, and was frantic with hunger. His mum would give him four ounces, and he’s shoot it across the room, and be rooting for more. Add to that the fact that he was becoming dehydrated and had dry diapers, and you have a very sick little boy.

When the kids first got to the hospital, the doctors were talking about an NG tube, which our grandson vetoed very firmly. If the food isn’t leaving Austin’s stomach, putting him (and his parents) through the insertion and cleaning of the tube was a waste of time. Another doctor suggested something else, and yet another came up with Plan C.

Dear God, let this surgery do the trick. Austin is three months old and only weighs 5 ounces more than he did when he was born.

Tags: Austin, very sick baby

Austin was admitted to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia yesterday afternoon. He had not, at the time he was admitted, had anything to eat for seven hours (he is a not-quite-three months old) and was not interested in eating.  Obviously, both of his parents are with him.

The doctors had done a sonogram and requested the original films from Hopkins for comparison. They have put him on IVs to build him up, and he will be needing another surgery in the near future.

Watch and pray.

Tags: Austin, very sick baby

Since his birth two months ago, our newest great-grandson has had more than his share of problems – and so have his parents!

He was a very big boy – almost nine pounds – but didn’t seem to gain weight the way newborns should.  It turned out he had pyloric stenosis, and had surgery when he was barely a month old. His mum, our granddaughter-in-love, had to take him back to the hospital on Monday morning because he was throwing up non-stop again. They kept him overnight, and sent him home this morning. They don’t seem to be sure if his problem is a recurrence of the stenosis or some sort of gastric upset. The doctors are understandably reluctant to operate again on a new born. At any rate, he lost seven ounces while he was in the hospital.

And that’s a lot for a little baby.

So now, he has medicine to take – infant Prilosec, I suppose – and his poor mum has to feed him every two hours and take him back to the pediatrician every other day to see if he is gaining, losing, or just holding his own. When the poor girl will get any sleep is another matter, but various family members are taking shifts to see that she gets some sleep. To make life even more “interesting”, our grandson is in the military, far, far away.

Hid name is Austin, and prayers are appreciated.

UPDATE: 7:20 PM – Eldest Daughter just called to say the baby’s father just got home. The military sent him back a month early!

Tags: Austin, very sick baby