NOT Again Joe

We went in for Joe's first doctor's appointment after being released from the hospital 4 days ago. It didn't go as planned.....famous last words with Joe.

The appointment started off with his nurse putting a warmer on his foot in preparation for the lab team to come in and draw a CBC. While they were in there, I asked if they could draw a little extra while they were at it, "just in case", as it was the beginning of the appointment and if his track record held true, something would likely pop up that would cause arise to another poke for some other test to run........I don't think they thought I was serious. They chuckled & said, "we'll see how he bleeds". When he didn't scream & kept his pacifier in instead, along with his foot bleeding nicely (poor hamburger heels), they asked if I really wanted them to draw extra? I said yes, do it......Okay then. It later came in handy.


Doc comes in, we discuss his progress. He's down 11% on weight according to their scale.... 10% is their borderline for weight loss, we up his feeding schedule, again. (I really hope it's just their differences in scales, but that's likely wishful thinking.) He still shows signs of jaundice, but he is over the peak there. His platelets have gone up a little, so things are looking good to do his circ & maybe move on with a positive note.......for a second.

Then comes time to look in his diaper. I have brought the empty prescription grade butt paste from the hospital & requested a refill & warned of how bad it looks, though possibly it's a hair better than a couple days ago....but still stomach churning. Doc looks in his diaper & the big fancy words fly out for the nurse to type, then he asks if he can take a picture to send to the pediatricians..... go ahead, please, fix him, whatever.

They confer, they call the NICU team in Rapid. There is talk of possible Zinc Deficiency. He is talking to me about the possibility of going back in the hospital........world. crushing. down.



NOT AGAIN JOE


Dodged a bullet, for now. After they all confer, it is decided it doesn't quite fit Zinc Deficiency and instead of readmittance right now, they decide on referring us to Wound Care. I didn't even know we had such a thing in Spearfish!? That's.....neat, if you have to have that kind of thing in your life.

They also tried for a specific kind of prescription ointment, but our area is currently out of a key ingredient for it today.....of course it is Joe. So instead we are doing a concoction of over the counter in a specific order until that comes in.

Wound Care is supposed to call us tomorrow to come in (this appointment started at 4pm, but by the time all this went down, it was after 5pm & the work day, for most, was done). I wonder what news they will bring to the table tomorrow? (please don't get infected, please don't get infected, PLEASE don't get infected.)








That's not all.


Before this appointment we had Luke & Jake's appointments with the ENT.

Well....between that, we hit the rocketship park to kill time & ended up at the new McDonalds. Sleek as it is, love the kiosk ordering, but it only has about a THIRD the seating it used to & it was full most the day any day before with that  much seating, especially during coffee hours.....
An elderly couple offered us their bigger booth to move to a small window booth when they saw us walk in (THANK
YOU), and about every table was full at 2pm on a Tuesday. (It is rally week, but again, it is the hills & there's always something going on.) I absolutely can not imagine a bus stopping to eat after a game & there being enough seating????? (and of course I'm sad about the loss of indoor play, but I don't think any can have those anymore -sigh) Drive in was packed the entire time too. Only one lane was open today, two will be awesome. Go check it out. I'm super glad it's back, at any size!

Rewind further.... we lost track of time & rolled in 5 minutes late to their ENT appointment where a new secretary was being trained. Good cover for the long check in ;)
He decided to go ahead (there was need) and schedule both boys for their tonsils and adenoids to be removed. He said usually it's a 10 day recovery & in hopes to not miss school, we went with MONDAY (the 13th) instead of the later choice of the 17th. School starts on the 21st for elementary students in Belle. Luke will have 8 days of recovery.

 (Fast forward again 2 hours......oh Joe, we can't go back, we have to go forward.)

At this rate, I hope I can get my classroom set up before my Open House the 29th & be ready for the year. I'm starting to get nervous about all the obstacles popping up. If things could settle down for a bit, that would be GREEEEEAAT. ;)

Joe doesn't seem to like the car. Another reminder of his likeliness to his brother Zach who could scream the entire 2 hours from Spearfish to Hot Springs to his Grandparents' house.
Joe could still be agitated by his infection, his sore butt or any number of his woes, hopefully it too will pass & hopefully sooner than later.
(Jake plugging his ears & singing Bird is the Word to drown out the crying.)