Apparently pooping bile is much nicer and easier than pooping formula. He's been eating formula mixed with Pedialyte all day since about 9:00 a.m. (he didn't do so well at all on straight formula) and his digestive system is not liking it. We are all hoping and praying for things to move on through and that this is all just par for the course of being npo for 4 days. We shall not forget that he was cut into and rearranged either, minor details. It makes sense, but all involved are getting a bit anxious to see something come out that cute little behind. For several hours he was not peeing either which was causing some alarm, but then he made a nice big soaker of a diaper and we ticked one thing off the 'to be concerned about' list. He's been soaking diapers ever since.
He is extremely uncomfortable with all the build up of stool and gas, not to mention his most extreme rash. It's normal in Hirscshprung's patients to get the most heinous diaper rash ever, and nothing really cures it but time so far as anyone has been able to determine. Constant changing, wiping, and applying generous amounts of goop, do not do much to sooth or ease the pain either. Why would a person want to poop at all if he had to go through such nonsense? Irrigations are seeming more and more friendly as the days go on and we have to watch our little guy go through so much. I suppose he wouldn't really appreciate that in college though.
His little hand is getting raw from the bandage/board thingy they use to secure his IV so he can't rip it out. Not so much from the bandage but the fact that he keeps gnawing at it which keeps everything nice and wet. Wet tape and gauzy stuff sitting on extremely sensitive skin all the time is not so much a recipe for happy skin. It's impossible to keep it covered so he can't chew on it. He rips socks off in an instant and before you know it everything is soaked and you are certain, certain that you were watching the entire time and never saw him get it to his mouth. He's got skin issues enough without adding nasty bandage hand to the list.
I do want the ultimate goal, and I do want to get there good and right and true. I just want to skip a few steps today. No intestines learning how to deal with food. No anxiety over did it really work this time. No heartache over watching my baby try so hard to do what he needs to in order to be well and get to come home and live a happy life. No more anything, not today.
Mom's are supposed to be able to make it all better. I can't make it all better. All I can do is trust in God's plan and the amazing surgeon we have in Dr. Aiken. And of course, pray like crazy and put on a smile for my baby so he believes too. We did have a fantastic game of peek-a-boo today. We also had a smashing round of tickle, tickle, tickle. It's enough to get me through whatever is to come. That and the four other precious souls that are strength enough for many. Right now I am hogging it all.
This morning, before the cessation of all things poop related, Dr. Aiken was hopeful for a homecoming tomorrow. We shall see what the night brings. Here's hoping for poop, and a baby that is ready to come home to his bed.
As I walked by his room tonight, it hit me for the first time that he's not in there. There really isn't a reason to have the monitor on. The empty bottles on the counter are screaming for me to quench their thirst. The irrigation tote is creating a perfect still life subject. The irrigation station is begging for a new purpose in life. It's getting quite empty here the more time passes. I don't know why. We were told to expect a week at least. It's been 3 days because you don't count the surgery day. It sure seems like a few weeks. Time and space are funny things sometimes.
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