Wednesday, December 29, 2010

December 2010


Wow, amazingly enough, we made it through the holidays with out a hitch. Ever since Mateo had the Step Procedure done back in October, he has not had one bout of gasroenteritis or dehydration. We have not seen the inside of the hospital (as patients) since he was discharged after surgery!! I couldn't be happier! :)

Mateo is doing well all in all. His weight jumped dramatically since his discharge from the hospital. We are working closely with his dietician at OHSU. He is currently fighting a nasty cold; deep, harsh cough and runny/stuffy nose. I took him in, and they said it turned to a sinus infection, so he is on antibiotics and now is doing much better.

Lately, well since surgery, I have been struggling to find the right appliances or bags if you prefer, for Mateo. His output is a little bit more of a thick consistancy, but he is still needing changed every day or more.

To top it off, I am struggling with the insurance, who decides that 20 bags per month is the max allowance that will be covered, even though for the last two years, we have been receiving 50. His sript changed after his surgery in October, because he has outgrown the previous bag, and his stoma is about 2-3 times larger than it was before surgery. So, I have been on the phone for days with his pediatrician, surgeon's office, the Ostomy Supplier, LIPA (insurance), and his Ostomy nurse. I WILL get these 50 bags a month if it KILLS me!!!! It drives me crazy how many hoops you have to jump through just to get what is MEDICALLY NECESSARY for my child. It is so hard sometimes just to cover the basics!! He seriously can't go without ostomy supplies!! Come on NOW!! ARGH! People just don't understand!

Anyhow, I had to vent there for a few... So back to Mateo! He is doing so well and I am so happy!! We are working on wiening him off of his G-tube... working with his dietitian. We also head to Doernbecher (OHSU) in Portland to see his gastroenterologist on the 4th. This is routine, we go to see her about every 2 months or so. At that appointment we usually take care of his labs and see the dietitian as well. 3 birds with one stone. :)

Christmas went well. We had my extended family over to our house and exchanged gifts. My mom spoiled Mateo. (he is her only grandchild). For Christmas eve, we went to my mother in law's house with family. We ate good mexican food and exchanged gifts. Mateo got new clothes and some cool toys! Christmas day, I was really sick and slept most of the day, but we did have our own little family christmas and opened stockings together!

It's been a year to remember, that is for sure. We have had many, MANY bumps along our road, but it's our adventure and we are taking it day by day!!!