Doctors doctors doctors ...

Weight check = 9 lbs. 3 ozs.
Height = 22.5 inches

My husband and I left the house at 6:30 this morning to take Lilly to the hospital for her appointment with the pulmonologist. The goal was to start trying to figure out what is causing Lilly's obstructive apnea while she sleeps. Dr. H turned out to be very helpful and seemed to sincerely want to help. She spent a lot of time with Lilly and talking to us.

She shared with us more findings from Lilly's sleep study last month. One thing was that Lilly was "de-stating" (de-saturation) into the 60's at times while sleeping. So it looks like Lilly will be going back on oxygen while she sleeps soon. Dr. H scheduled Lilly a "theraputic" sleep study for next Thursday night. This time they will have her on oxygen and find out how much she needs to keep her sats up. They will also monitor CO2 levels.

Dr. H ordered a chest x-ray for Lilly and we are so thankful that she did. The doctor noticed that something was developing in Lilly's chest, perhaps pnemonia. So she gave us an antibiotic for it. (I had noticed lately that Lilly had developed a bit of a cough and that she sounded more congested than usual. You can hear it clearly in the video in my previous post. She also was having a harder time sleeping at night, which meant neither of us slept much the last 3 nights. My instinct was telling me something wasn't right with her. I need to follow it closely from now on!)

Dr. H said it looked like Lilly's tongue may be blocking her air passage so to have her sleep on her side. That was very interesting to me because we have always commented on how Lilly holds her head to the side and back when she sleeps. And how she sleeps better on her side or tummy. In fact, last night during her fretful sleep, I finally laid her on her tummy and she went right back to sleep and slept until I had to wake her this morning. And yes I know they say not to let a baby sleep on their stomachs because of SIDS. But we practice mattress wrapping so I am not worried about it. (To learn about mattress wrapping to prevent SIDS go to: http://www.cotlife2000.com/ and to order the mattress cover go to: http://www.babysake.com/BabeSafeUSA.htm )

Dr. H wanted us to consult with an ENT dr. too and was able to get us in to see one this afternoon. Dr. Z and Dr. H both want to do a brochoscopy on Lilly to see what they can see inside her. (They'll put a small scope through her nose and down to her lungs to look around.) This has to be done while she's sedated.

Lilly has a consult with a pediatric surgeon next Friday to see about getting a g-tube placed in her stomach. (We can't keep doing this NG tube in her nose much longer - it is driving her crazy. And she doesn't eat enough by mouth yet to sustain her.) So the plan is, when she has the g-tube placement surgery, Dr. Z and Dr. H will scope her then.

It is amazing all the doctors we have seen because of Lilly. I've never seen so many kinds of doctors in all my life! I like how Faith's mother puts it: our children are very expensive ministry. (Faith is still in the hospital. To check her updates go to: http://littlefaithtobigfaith.blogspot.com/ )

"Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” - Luke 8:50