The Latest from Valerie . . .

We had another trying day at the hospital. We got there at 7AM to run a gall bladder ejection something or the other. I think it is a bad idea to arrive during a shift change! The new shift didn’t realize that we weren’t family members waiting in the waiting room that we had been directed toward by the night shift. When they did figure us out, the hospital itself was confused and had us scheduled for tomorrow although they had told our doctor today!

Long story short, Trent got the IV without a hitch, waited until 1pm to have the test run. He did not complain at all about being starving…..more than 100 times, anyway! The test was to inject some radioactive substance into his IV that would fill his gall bladder, then to inject a second substance and measure how much passes through in a certain amount of time. He ended up laying still on a table for 87 minutes….pretty much 11 year old torture!

I think it is weird that I went into this test wanting something to be wrong. Sorta demented, but gall bladder would be a quick fix to his problems.( albeit more than the little tablet fix we were hoping for! ) Things were looking pretty good (which means strange) when it took over an hour for the first stuff to go into his gall bladder. The nurse had just come in with a dose of morphine to help it along when it finally opened up. Apparently this was very uncommon. Then they measured the output. I am not a dr, I just play one on TV, but here is the scoop in layman’s terms…… 10 or below would have meant take it out tomorrow, above 35-40 means perfectly healthy. He scored a 26. That just means confusing.

For a little while, I was hopeful (Trent was miserable) thinking surgery was still a good option. Next came the ultrasound that showed a good looking gall bladder. More confusion, less hope for an easy decision.

WELL, wonderful Dr Rob Wiley called and said that the pediatric gastroenterologist he has been consulting with from Lubbock just “happens” to be passing through here on Friday. He graciously wants to meet with us on Friday at 4pm. He will look over all our mess of tests, and from his vast experience will help us make the call as to whether or not it is his gall bladder. Interestingly enough, Tom had his out 9 years ago, and it didn’t present at all on an ultrasound. Who knows??? I know the Lord does! We just need him to make it good and clear to us before we are willing to have our boy cut on.

So that is where we are at. Trent is happy that he didn’t have surgery today, that he finally got to eat at 4pm, and that his mom let him watch “Lord of the Rings” for the first time. (I know what you are thinking Kendall and Reed…Remember “Life isn’t always fair!”)

Pray for my sweet hubby. It isn’t looking too good for us to leave next Thursday at all. He is doing great so far, but I know it is hard to do it all for a long amount of time. I miss my other kiddos. Pray for them, as well, to feel safe and secure and comforted.

Pray, most of all, for wisdom and CLARITY!!! Thank you so much. We are desperate for each prayer you pray on our behalf.

Valerie