Virulent Virus

Well we figured out pretty quickly after my last post what was going on with Mikan. He had severe stomach cramps, gagging/wretching, and diarrhea that afternoon/evening. Since his Nissen wrap doesn't allow him to vomit, it all came out the other end (9 diapers from 2:30-6:30 to be exact). Unfortunately, our healthy immune systems weren't enough to avoid this bug, and I suffered a vomiting spell the next day, then our two nurses the following. John was nauseous for a day, but avoided the vomiting. Mikan still has diarrhea, but it's not as bad, so we're just trying to ride it out, mixing pedialyte with his feedings. To top it off, last night he started getting congested and he's had a runny nose all day. Poor kid.

Mikan's new g-tube hasn't been causing any problems, so we're thankful for that; however, since he's contracted this bug, he hasn't been interested in taking anything by mouth, so our glimmer of hope with his cup is on hold once again. It's all a big waiting game.

?

The Miralax has been working a little too well, so we've decreased the GI doc's recommended dose. Hopefully the blood in his stool was associated with the enterovirus and not a new GI issue we have to worry about. We are supposed to test his stools at home over the next few weeks.

So far the new g-tube is working ok. The extension tubing is more difficult to attach, and the site is still causing him pain, but it's working. We had to apply silver nitrate yesterday because of new granulation tissue growing around the stoma.

Mikan is still digging in his ears and acting pretty lethargic today. I hope this doesn't mean he's still fighting the same ear infections. He definitely isn't himself. In fact, he's just wanted to lay in my lap all day, which is uncharacteristic of him even when he is sick.

Mikan's nutritionist is happy with his growth though. He weighs 23 lbs 9oz and is in the 10th percentile for his adjusted age (20 months). This is good news for his pulmonologist and ENT too since that means he isn't working too hard to breathe while he is capped.

Mikan is demanding my attention right now. Pray that he gets over whatever is bugging him lately.

Dr. Appointment

Today was our trip to Ft. Wayne.

Mikan had four orifices examined.
1.) First a little surgi-lube was used to get some fecal matter out to check for bloody stool. Apparently, he had blood in his stool.
2-3.) Second, the doctor looked in both ears for infection (no infections found), but I'm not sure the GI doctor has looked in many ears lately. So, I'm not sure if this is fact.
4.) Mikan's G-tube was changed. The new g-tube is larger, so when we switched over it was quite a scene. Upon the insertion of the new g-tube, his site started bleeding and he did an almost complete sit up (out of pain).

Things that go without saying today...
Mikan is tough.
Jenna is tough. (half an hour after getting home from Ft. Wayne she went to class)
Our water heater needs replaced.

Dr.'s Orders as of today...
-Miralax twice a day to clean out the system
-Soda twice a week to clean out g-tube
-neosporin on g-tube site and rotate the g-tube
-something else I forget