Hunter's TX Children's Hospital update

Today we went to Texas Children's Hospital to meet with a Gastroenterologist who wanted to thoroughly check out Hunter and examine his digestive/gastro area. Well, we packed up the car and we ALL went. We looked like a zoo. Oh yeah, we actually went to the zoo later that afternoon, too. But more on that later. Sarah was such a big help watching Madison. TX Chil is such a wonderful facility - so cheery and lots for the kids to do. However, it's so heart wrenching to see some really sick children. Thank the Lord for these wonderful doctors who can help them.

Our doctor was amazing and we loved him. He spent a lot of time talking with us and examining Hunter. Hunter does have severe reflux, but on a scale of being termed good or bad, he is termed good - or as they say, he's a "Happy Spitter". There are different degrees of reflux. Some kids even spit up blood or have bowels including blood. Hunter does not do this, nor is he losing any weight. In fact, he weighs 12 lbs 7 oz and is 23.4" tall. That was great news. The doctor said that it is going to be a lot of work for us feeding him and very time consuming. It will require a lot of patience. He is going to switch to another medicine which will hopefully help his irritability. Hunter is in so much pain much of the time, grunting, breathing rapidly, irratable, never seeming content. However, he never screams or really cries, so we're blessed in that respect. Reflux can get worse and then better and then worse again. It is usually caused by the muscle separating the stomach and the esophagus. All babies are born with this underdeveloped muscle, hence the reason why most babies spit up. Hunter's is just worse. And, acid reflux is hereditary - both my mom and Mark's dad has it. So, Madison got it and Hunter has it, too. Most babies fully outgrow this by one year. We'll just have to be patient and do the best we can. It's best Hunter eats less amounts of milk and at more frequent times. This is also best for adults who have reflux. This is time consuming, so this is how I'll be spending most of my time the next few months. So, other things will just have to wait...but that's okay. I just want my little boy to be okay and not in pain anymore!!! Hunter also had a chest xray to make sure none of the reflux has entered into his lungs. It has not, so that is good. We have a follow-up visit in a few months again. Plus, a lot of instructions on feeding him, etc. from here on out. We hope this medicine works better for him and feel blessed we could get in so soon to see this doctor, since I've heard it can take months to get an appointment. Overall, we got really good news.

I'll post pics tomorrow.