Thursday Update 7:30pm

"Hey, how's Henry Doing?"

That's the Million Dollar Question. Or maybe even 2 million...

I see you, peeking over Lil' Eric!

The short answer: Henry is doing well. "Better" might be more accurate. Henry's abdominal region is healing gradually and he is visibly in less pain daily. I am able to cradle him and rock him and sit him upright for PT (physical therapy) work. I'm able to clean his little nose-nubbin with minimal fuss and he's been looking more and more bright, alert and happy. Content. Comfortable.

It's very obvious when Henry is not feeling well. He LOOKS miserable. His eyes get glossy and pink and don't open all the way. His skin tone is sallow and splotchy. He looked pretty rough and worn-out on Monday and Tuesday. Pain meds helped him greatly get over the discomfort hump and I'd like to think lots of Mommy hugs and lovin' helped, too.

The longer answer: Henry's mid-section, his torso, is pretty beat up. I've used the word "battlefield" a few times. He's got the heart chest incision that is a pink scar. Directly below that is his new nissen incision, which ends immediately above his belly button. This incision is very red, sore and oozing in two spots, which everyone who's anyone is keeping an eye on, especially ME! They are keeping that covered with dry gauze and I imagine at some point will try to let it air dry. He is on preventative antibiotics right now via IV which I hope will kill whatever is thinking about hunkering down in that open, fresh wound.

His GJ-tube has been coverted BACK to a regular G-tube, since he got his nissen surgery. Because the nissen prevents reflux, it would be redundant to keep his feeds via the J (or jejunal) tube. Now, all his meds and feeds go right into his stomach and KNOCK WOOD (no... seriously.. find some wood and knock on it... i'll wait...) - - he should not reflux anything anymore. It IS possible to do so with a nissen, though very rare. It is also possible that he could arch his back with reflux discomfort, or even wretch as though attempting to reflux, but I have seen neither of these actions from Henry. The only 'bummer' about the G-tube site is that it is leaky. The stoma (or "hole") is not taut and snug around the tube, so the tube is able to move too much and some feed leaks out. The game plan might be to stop all feed to allow it time to DRY and heal (which can't happen if it's always wet!). You might be wondering how he would get nutrition. Well, when situations arise where feeding cannot be done traditionally (or in Henry's case, via his G-tube into his belly), an IV fluid called TPN (total parenteral nutrition) is used. Henry would receive nutritional formulas containing salts, glucose, amino acids, lipids and added vitamins. It's not ideal, of course, but it could help in the long run if it allows the G-tube site time to HEAL and be snug! This has only been tossed out as an option. We'll have to see how things go over the next few days. The key is to get Henry to gain weight, and that can't effectively happen if his formula is leaking out! For inquiring minds, Henry weighs about 11 lbs. now. He is a little over 4 months old!

So I think, this visit, the idea is to let time work its magic. Henry needs time to HEAL. His heart issues have been fine - very little bradying, no pauses and a steady heart rate. But this is how Henry is when he is WELL. I am watching him with my eagle eye, and if i see him starting to act differently or sluggish, i'll be waving a flag. I do not want my bugger getting sick on top of all that he is here for. NOTHING ADDITIONAL!!! Nothing NEW. Let's get his belly healed up and let's be on our way...

Thank you all, for your thoughts and prayers. Henry says Thank You too!