tests, visits, chest pt

Lars & Lisa M, his fabulous godmother, this morning.

Difficult afternoon to write with two-hands-on-full-time toddler guy. Also lousy luck connecting to the internet.

PH probe/impedance study is done; we may have results by mid-week.

Several conditions we're now testing to rule out. One, which is keeping us inpatient, is a possible ureteropelvic junction obstruction (I think) in which the ureter becomes kinked or blocked intermittently. They want to do an ultrasound in the middle of a pain crisis. Though there have been several such crises today, they have lasted less than five minutes each & ultrasound hasn't been possible.

Apparently when Lars was intubated for his procedures on Thursday, they accidentally collapsed part of the right upper lobe of his lung. So he's been getting chest pt with Plainlabelpt today, who said his lungs sounded "a little crackely." So far he hasn't really minded the chest banging too much. Lisa M sang to him this morning; I was on song duty this afternoon. He liked her better. By a landslide. Monica is on song duty tonight.

They've sent a stool sample for parasite tests. The two tests they're doing Monday are a Meckel's scan, which is a nuclear medicine study, and a full spinal MRI. Both are under sedation, but I don't know yet whether they'll be done at the same location or not.

The Meckel's scan tests for Meckel's diverticulum, a condition in which there is a pouch in the intestine that has stomach lining. I'm not exactly sure all the things they're ruling out with the full spinal MRI, but I think essentially observable spinal reasons for pain.

We had visits from Dr. Interrupticus, who lived up to his name (Lisa M's description was "weak at dialogue"), Dr. Youknowbest from pain service, and Dr. Sweetyoungfreshface, who's the resident for the day.

Lars had a bit of a rough day with lots of discontent of unknown origin. Understandably he seems to be sick of the room he's been stuck in for the past 8 days. We had really sweet roommates, though, and a competent and hardworking nurse who came in numerous times just to ask if I needed anything. Tonight Susannah snagged him--she's had Lars on every one of her shifts since we arrived, and is smitten with his adorableness, too.

Today was feast or famine for me. I was half the time toast: alone, worn out, not feeling well, low on creatve ideas & energy to keep Lars out of misery. And half the time pampered by fabulous visitors, starting with Lisa M this morning who brought coffee & egg sandwiches, and fed my & Lars' souls for hours with her voice & presence.

Then Grandma & Joa came, bearing lots of energy & lunch. They also got to go to the MFA together & had a great time.

Denise, Jen & Frieda all paid most wonderful surprise visits in the evening

and Monica & Mike came for the night shift.
How did I not get a photo of Mike?

Andey was out all last night with four pronouncements and other visits & phone calls on top of that, so she had to sleep all day & didn't make it to the hospital. I have to teach for 9 hours tomorrow, the first day of a 5-Sunday intensive. Monica & Mike are actually staying with Lars in the hospital overnight tonight. As we were leaving Monica was getting ready to sing him through an IV change. She reports it went well, with only a second of crying. He's a trooper extraordinaire.

I can't get back until around 7:00 tomorrow evening (Sunday) & we don't yet know what Andey's night will be like tonight & how much she'll need to sleep tomorrow before going back to work at 8 p.m. If anyone has time to come stay with Lars some tomorrow afternoon, this could be very helpful. We're also looking for a second person to be there while we're at his IEP meeting this Wednesday. We'd both need to be gone 11:30 - 4:30. Grandma can stay, but could use some backup. Of course, maybe we'll be home by then...