Homeward Bound

It has been several days since our last post and the most notable item for discussion has been that we were finally transferred to Albuquerque-UNM Children's Hospital last Wednesday. We had been told that it was very possible that we were to transfer last Thursday but Wednesday morning came and it was a go to leave that day. Ernie had come in the Thursday after Mason's g-tube surgery and was with us when we got the news. That Wednesday we ran around and got supplies in order to pack up the breast milk we had stored in the freezer and Fedex it out to New Mexico. The same evening Mason and I boarded an ambulance that drove us to the Lear jet waiting to take us to New Mexico. We had to leave Ernie behind since he had already purchased a return flight ticket for the next day. Mason slept through the entire flight and cried only when we were close to landing at Albuquerque. We taxied over to Cutter-daddy's favorite stop-and another ambulance was waiting for us. We arrived at the PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit) and were settled in. It all worked out perfectly - Ernie stayed behind and cleaned up our room at Ronald McDonald House and checked out the next day.

The best part of being here was that Ernie was able to bring the kids to visit their baby brother!! Baby Jaylen just couldn't get enough of hugging and kissing him. Matthew was all over him and Jordyn concentrated on making up sweet songs to comfort him. Mason just loved it all. Ernie and I took the kids out to the balloon fiesta the evenings of Saturday and Sunday and the kids got to see a few balloon glowing and the fireworks display on both nights. The kids all loved the Ronald McDonald house and felt it was a great little trip. It was really a joy to be able to have some normalcy back in my life. I was so shocked to see how much baby Jaylen had grown! She looks so different from the last time I saw her, which was right after our July 4th camping trip. Both Matthew and Jordyn look a little more grown up but are still my little babies.

Mason continues to work on his feeding. Since UNM does not have the nasty tasting Monogen he now has to have the nasty tasting Portagen. Also, UNM does not have Prilosec so he is now on Prevacid. We have learned that you will receive whichever drug created by whichever pharmaceutical company has contracted with the hospital. We are really in the wrong business.

It is now a matter of time and thoughtful prayers that will allow us to go home before our next surgery date, which is tentatively set for November 11. If Mason can tolerate his feedings without throwing up we have a shot of going home before then. I have faith that this little boy will get us out of here soon.