Decisions

Mason had his VCUG study, his hypoxia study, echocardiogram and PH Study and all was great. The VCUG studied barium filling his bladder and determined that there was no back flow into his urethra. It appears his kidney and urethra are all just fine. The initial echo on day 1 of life was not the best and this is what lead them to believe he may have the double urethra and smaller left kidney. Apparently, the echo was not very accurate, another one will be done just to make sure. The hypoxia study involved placing him in a small, clear,plastic cube and filling it with oxygen and then reducing the oxygen levels to determine how he would do in the airplane ride back to New Mexico. His 02 levels were approximately 87-88-not a problem at all. His PH probe study involved placing a tube down his nose that had a probe at the end of it. It was left in overnight (Monday through Tuesday) and the results were ready today. Again, all was just fine, meaning he is digesting his food properly and his acid was normal. Quite possible the NG tube was triggering some of his acid reflux/emesis(throwing up). The NG stays in the esophagus and keeps the spynxter muscle to the stomach partially open. The current discussion is still deciding how we will be handling his feeds.

Yesterday, Mason had his first full bottle by mouth. This was 55 ml, which he took down in just a few minutes. The next feed he only drank 30 ml by mouth and the rest was fed through the NG tube (gavaged). The feeding after that he took in a little less, 22 mls. This has been the pattern-ups and downs in quantity and as a result it is the reason they believe that the G tube will be the best to fatten him up. Danielle, Nurse Practitioner on our team, has spoken to Dr. Goens, the cardiologist in Albuquerque and Dr. Ethridge, our Silver City Pediatrician, and they both believed the best option was to have the G tube surgery. It seems that everyone believes it is a clear cut choice-everyone but Ernie and I. We are just fearful of putting him through another surgery. We will have to make this choice soon, but are being given the chance to have surgery either Friday or Tuesday of next week. Tough decisions.

In the meantime, he took a "bath" today and is in a sweet little outfit. He is just so beautiful. Both Tessie and Deacon Don stopped by to visit and say prayers and good thoughts for him. Last night, Kristi Heckelman stopped in to visit. Their daughter, Emma, who just had the Glenn is back for a bought with reoccuring Chylothorax. She experienced some hard breathing and they brought her in and discovered her Chylo had returned. This means back off the breast milk and back on Monogen. She is 5 months old. During rounds today the team felt Mason needed another xray as it appeared he may be breathing a little "rougher." Tachypnic I what I believe it is called. Not very worrisome, but they thought they would check it out. We pray all is well.

Pending our decisions on the G tube we may be air flighted to Albuquqerque next week. We will be staying there for a couple of days to determine how Mason does at altitude. Thank God it appears we are getting closer to home-we really can't wait to see everyone.