Waiting

We arrived at Children's Fairfax office at 7:30 a.m. to see the GI specialist.

Well, we waited...

We waited for over an hour before we saw the doctor. The GI specialist asked us tons of questions, trying to assess Brayden's current situation. He wanted us to go to Children's Hospital downtown Washington, D.C. to have Brayden's G-J tube checked to make sure it was in the proper place, have blood work, urine and stool sample done.

We left Fairfax for DC. We waited in traffic, lots of traffic.

Once at Children's, we checked in with Radiology and Blood work to get in line, since we were add-ons and still hoping to get things done quickly.

Well, we waited...

The blood work we only had to wait for about 1/2 an hour. In radiology, to check his tube placement, we waited a couple of hours. We finally entered the room for the test, changed Brayden into his gown and we waited.

The radiologist finally arrived (whom we have seen before and really like him) checked the tube placement and it looked good. Then he took out Brayden's tube and gave him a new one (to find out how this works click here for our last experience). So that is looking good. Brayden did amazing. The tech strapped Brayden to the table. I literally mean strapped him down with three Velcro straps. Brayden did not fuss. The doctor slid out the old tube and put in the new one, without a fuss from Brayden.

So what is plan for Brayden?

The G-J tube placement was not an issue. This could have been an easy answer for the vomiting problem. Since it all looked good that is ruled out. We will wait on the blood work and samples to see what comes from those results. The GI specialist wants Brayden to take very big doses of one of his medicines (double what he has been taking). Over the next 24 hours Brayden will be feed by the J tube a mixture of half formula and half pedialyte. Then continue to feed him formula very, very slowly for 20-24 hours/day for the next few days. If that does not show much improvement then we may check Brayden into the hospital, have him only receive IV fluids for a few days and possibly scope his stomach and intestine to see if there may be any problems. Depending on what the outcomes are of all the mentioned things...I have no idea what the real solution will be because the problem is not easily found.

So for now we wait.

The funny thing is I was sitting in the car today complaining to myself (in my mind) about how awful all this waiting is: waiting for the doctor, traffic, tests, results, outcome...Waiting is hard. Waiting is exhausting. Jeremy and I call it the hospital hangover, all of that waiting is so draining. I am exhausted right now. Anyway, I was completely lost in my thoughts while driving when I started to listen to the radio, which had been on the entire time. I started listening to the words of a song:
While I’m waiting
I will serve You
While I’m waiting
I will worship
While I’m waiting
I will not faint
I’ll be running the race
Even while I wait
I’m waiting
I’m waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I’m waiting on You, Lord
Though it’s not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
While I'm Waiting - John Waller (click to hear song)

Hmmm, really? Did that have to come on then?! I was kind of happy complaining about waiting. It felt like a challenge...all of this waiting. Am I waiting on the Lord? Am I peaceful in the waiting? Am I faithfully waiting? I know that I am waiting but how am I waiting?