Updates on Nolan

We went to the Urologist today. They checked on Nolan’s growth and general health and approved him for surgery. They first offered us the date March 3rd: too soon, too soon we said! Actually, the main reason we wanted a later date was our trip to Alabama: Ronan needs to be able to concentrate on making work and with the recovery period being around ten days it was just too close to our departure date. (Though I wouldn’t know I can’t imagine it is any fun to travel with a catheterized toddler).

So March 31st is the official date, we won’t know the time until the Friday before. The surgery is only around 2.5 hours and as long as things go well he will come home that evening. The surgeon is hoping to accomplish everything with one surgery though the severity of his hypospadia might mean it will take two surgeries; The Dr. seemed confident he could get everything in one go but said he “didn’t promise anything”.

It is good to have a date set so there is an end in sight. However, I don’t look forward to it, except the part where they come find us in the waiting room and say everything went well and we get to take him home. Just being in the hospital triggers memories/emotions for me so I will be a bit of a mess on the 31st. Probably on the 30th too… Knowing you are out there thinking of him will once again be a source of comfort for all of us.

I forgot to say, Nolan has finally had the tip of a tooth pop through those poor gums! He has been drooling/teething for 8 months! Hopefully the rest of the teeth will get the idea and follow soon and give dear Nolan a break from the pain.

On Feb 11th Nolan has been home with us for one year! He continues to blow off all statistics by not returning to the hospital, not going back on oxygen, eating well and acting like he never had a massive brain bleed. We tell him how amazing he is many times a day.

He is completely off the g-tube now. His liquid intake has greatly increased, especially just in the last week, he drinks almost too fast sometimes. There was a month where he lost weight and we started hearing rumors of returning to the g-tube for calories. I was determined not to go back to that and started bringing Ben & Jerry’s vanilla ice cream home to make shakes. The only ice cream I could find with more calories is Hagen Das but it wasn’t significant enough to override my loyalty to B&J. Almost needless to say, the shakes are working and he is up to 18 Lbs 4.5oz as of the 12th. He is drinking the shakes from this cool cup his pt brought him, it has a straw that keeps the liquid up near the tip so he doesn’t have to work so hard for a drink. The only bad thing about all this is the temptation a pint of Ben & Jerry’s is for me; I am doing better about it now but the first week I have to admit to helping finish one off. Mmmm.

We don’t know when the g-tube will get removed. We have certainly passed the “time test” that is required but they won’t take it out during cold season. They may want to leave it in until his (final?!) surgery is over, not sure. We will know more about when that will be after his urology appointment on Feb 25th.

I finally got a few new photos up for you. Now that I know how I will be able to update more often. The video isn’t up yet, Maria will have to do that simply because of the size of the file. Enjoy the new photos. He is changing so much everyday that most of these new photos look old to me now…

Take care everyone.