Hospital Day Four

Today was very uneventful since we are now just waiting for Jonathan to keep food in his little tummy. Some tests results came back and he doesn't have rotavirus or any of the major hepatitis viruses. He has something though since his liver count was slightly elevated. We took enough blood to screen for some of the other major ones out there like mononucleosis, but they take longer to come back. We haven't heard those results yet. The gastroenterologist stopped by and told us we're going to have an ultrasound on Monday to take a different look at his GI tract. That means Easter 2011 will be spent in the hospital. We'll probably do another test like a barium swallow (actually, a tiny amount will just be added to his food once he keeps it down) on Monday to monitor the rate his stomach empties. If his stomach empties very slowly due to a stomach enzyme deficiency, then that could also explain why he doesn't want to eat very much. His little tummy always feels full. That would be a simple fix - like taking a vitamin.

My parents and Julia came to visit for the first time. It was good to see them, especially Julia (no offense meant). They've been a big help just watching Julia. To have to juggle her amidst everything would have probably pushed us over the edge. Jules is feeling better now, keeping everything down, and almost back to 100%.

It's the day before Easter and it's snowing tonight. For those who have lived here for awhile, that's not very surprising. Jonathan and I are snuggled up together as I type this - he asleep in the backpack and I in the chair. We're pushing 12 hours now since we first started food. That and his first dirty diaper tonight are both firsts. I think we've reached the beginning of the end of his illness.

Here are some photos of Jonathan doing much better this afternoon. You can see the NG tube in his nose and the next IV spot on his head. They couldn't find a good vein this morning, so they used the scalp. Next up, they're going to plug him into the kiddie Matrix.