Our Marathon Day!

Hello Everyone:

We have survived one VERY LONG day!!! We hit the road at 6:30 this morning and returned home at 6:00pm. We started off with our God-given appointment (b/c of a last minute cancellation) at the Skeletal/Genetics clinic. We met two fantastic docs who could handle any and all questions from Kat's MD (AKA: Mama Doctor)!!! AMEN!!!! The first doc did an entire history from pregnancy to present, a full genetic genogram, and a thorough physical exam. Then, we met the 'top dog' geneticist who just happened to be Italian; which was a definite plus;-) He never lost eye contact with me, remained seated the entire appt., interacted with Kat like she was worth being respected, and told me I was one 'sophisticated mom'!!! I give them both an A++++++++++. We left that appointment with an entire skeletal x-ray order and a full chromosome blood panel.

Appt #2: We ran to the Pediatric Surgery appointment....an hour late but we were still treated with the upmost care! Doc #1 acquired a full history AGAIN, listened to everything I said, and made appropriate faces when I explained that Kat had enterocolitis since Christmas week but was not treated for it until the end of January (not for lack of trying on her mom's part)!!!! Then 'top doc' pediatric surgeon #2 came in to see Katarina. She reviewed the 'rectal biopsy' results from our West Texas GI doc and was fairly confident that the 'Hirschsprung disease' diagnosis was accurate. Then, Miss Kat had the pleasure of an exit only exam;-( and left that appointment with an order for a 'barium enema'. If she had only known what her day would entail before we left the house this morning, she would have found an escape route in the night!!!

When we left the GI appointment, we checked in for the x-ray imaging and managed to survive through at least 15 images. Kat fought with all 14lbs and was so mad that the veins on her head felt like they were going to explode. By the time we made it down to the hematology lab, she had fallen asleep in her stroller. Then she had the joy of waking up for the blood draw...but fortunately only two vials for this round!

And last but not least....the BARIUM ENEMA; which was preceeded by a quick lunch at 2pm!! I don't remember chewing anything!! Kat put herself in the fetal position on the lab table as if she knew what was coming. Let's just say she was NOT a happy camper when her colon was maxed out by the barium! And yet, the screaming ended with a stroller ride out of the lab.

Whew! I'm tired just summing it up, but that's not the end. We requested specific directions for accessing the HOV lane on our way home, only to end up in a residential area where the signage left us hanging ;-( Then, we were instructed by a not-so-informed mailman, only to have completely missed the HOV lane and ended up in the wonderful Friday 'it's a long weekend' traffic.

Well, if that wasn't enough, we managed the rest of the way home in one piece, stopped to fill up for gas, and up came everything Kat had eaten all day;-p And yet despite all that....we arrived home, landed in the tub, finished off with a home grown enema by Mama Doctor, and a smiling Katarina within an hour! I can't say I would have been smiling after all she endured today, but that's my girl! I hope everyone else had a less pokey, proddy, pukey day than we did!

Oh...one more thing. Kat has two more appointments next week, one with endocrinology and one with pulmonolgy. Then, we will be given a surgery date for the colon operation and get to return home for a couple of weeks (we sure miss the men of the house)! We will return to Houston for the surgery and will be in the hospital for about a week. The surgeon gave us great hope that Katarina can lead a 'typical' bowel functioning life!

Please continue your prayers that Katarina does not acquire any more initials after her name, unless it's a BS when she's in her 20's!!

Your prayers have made all the difference today!

God bless,
Nicole