Tests, tests and more tests

Since we have gotten back to Salt Lake, we have done a lot of waiting!!! I hate weekends at hospitals! You get the on call docs as opposed to your regular docs and no one wants to do ANYTHING!!!!! It is really frustrating! Combine that with Reno on call docs trying to work with Salt Lake on call docs and it has made for a very frustrating weekend.

Today we started to see some action. They took Hallie down for an enteroclysis-- they stick a tube down her nose into her intestines and inject dye and follow it through to determine if there are any blockages. We did this test a few weeks ago and they didn't sedate her. They strapped her to a board and it was very traumatizing. We walked into the same room this morning and she freaked out. At first, they were just going to do it with me and a few techs holding her down so that we didn't have to strap her down. Then the radiologist decided to be nice and sedate her. Yeah!!!! We LOVE Versed! It makes Hallie very happy. She kept smiling at me through the procedure. She even told me that she loved the tube because it tickled her nose. Some of the things she was saying was so funny! But what is normally a half hour procedure turned into 2 hours as we waited for them to make arrangements to sedate her and recover her after. She walked away with a porcelain doll, a stuffed moose, a ring, 2 bracelets, and a new blanket. Talk about a haul!

We had to go back multiple times after that for x-rays to see where the contrast had progressed to. I feel like we spent the day in radiology! Her surgeon was supposed to come see us when we were done, but he got called into emergency surgery, so we are hoping to see him in the morning.

Hallie is eating again, although it hurts a lot. Her bowel is functioning to some degree, but we are just anxious to get the test results back. She is in a lot of pain again, which is hard to see. She has lost 3 lbs, which she didn't have 3 lbs to lose. Today she hardly wants to eat or drink anything. It is a very nasty cycle. You eat, but it hurts, so you don't want to eat, then you lose weight and get very hungry until you decide to eat, but it hurts and so on and so on. We just aren't sure how much to push her until we find out if she is partially obstructed or if it is just her intestines having a hard time adjusting. We also won't have an idea of how long we will be here, until we know exactly what is wrong.

Thank you all for the help you are extending to Derrick as he is taking care of the boys by himself! Kind of scary to leave it in his hands, but we have had so many offers of people to help out, that we don't know what to do with them all. My mother-in-law is flying out from Kentucky to help Derrick out, especially with Easter since I don't have a thing ready for it yet! Hallie has a dress in Reno and I did buy Tucker a new dress outfit and Carson a tie, but other than that, not one thing. Good thing Grandma is coming! I would hate to see what Derrick through together in between taking care of the boys and working.

We are hoping for a good night tonight, that Hallie gets the rest that she needs. My mom called to talk to Hallie today and she told her that she couldn't talk because she was ornery. Isn't that the truth! It's embarassing to have people come into her room because she is just mean! I know she doesn't feel well, but it is so uncomfortable to have her stick her tongue out at complete strangers! Maybe a good night sleep will help! I sure hope so!