3 Days, 3 Doctors, 300+ Miles

Yes, you read correctly. We've been to three different doctors in the last three days. I am glad to see the end of this week peeking around the corner. Here's the quick run-down:

Tuesday, opthomology: still near sighted, vision is stable, no glasses as yet because Jack's whole little world of interest is right in front of his face at this age. Come back in four months.

Wednesday, urology: Good news there. I am very happy to have at long last actually seen my son's penis. Sound weird? Of course it does! But he's almost 17 months old, and until now, his foreskin has had zero inclination to recede. Wednesday must have been the day, because a very funny MD slid it right down and off. This has only been an issue because Jack pees up! The newborn documentation also claims he has an epispadus. Until now, we've had no suggestion otherwise, because we could not see where the opening actually was. He doesn't! His little pee-pee has the opening right where it should be! Yes, I know it's a penis and a urethra...but on my baby, it's a pee-pee! Good news there. No surgery needed to correct the opening! Although, I was kinda hoping for a "medically necessary circumcision." We have some steroid cream to complete the process; come back in a month.

And today, we saw our final doctor for the week. Jack has a new primary. The final straw for Dr Asshat came this week. After the long months of waiting and getting denied at every turn, Regional Center has funded our LVN and she started Monday and we love her! After signing the plan of care and all the orders we've sent to Dr Asshat, he refused to sign the start of care for our LVN. He said it would be fraud. He said he had patients to see. He hung up on me. Bastard!

I like the new doctor. He listened to me and gave his best medical opinion. Nor Jack's LVN or I agree with his assessment that Jack's mental retardation is "moderate to severe" but Jack was sleepy with a full belly and was no where near being up to his usual antics. He's been just a little off his usual self, which I kinda suspect may be a return to of the sinus infection, now that the ten days of Amoxicillan are up, but he's had no fever and just some mild crankiness which could be getting-another-molar related. The doctor only saw us for 15 minutes tops, during which there was much animated discussion while I rocked a sleepy Jack in my arms, so I'll forgive him this one transgression. We disagreed on the nutrition of soy milk versus formula versus Pediasure, but he said he'd research further and that I might be correct. In the meantime, we're to try Jack on Pediasure and see if he tolerates it. As far as I know, it only comes in a milk based version, so we'll start that this weekend and see how it goes with Jack's tummy. Moms ~ please comment with your high calorie, non lactose, nutrition packed alternatives! This doctor sees lots of developmentally disabled children, but Jack's his only little one without a Mickey button. He said he would research lactose free alternatives too, to try the Pediasure in the interum.

And here's the rub. Jack has lost another 2 ounces. he's down to 20 pounds, 2 oounces. No more soy milk for him. The doctor whole heartedly agreed that Jack now needs skilled nursing for the hours when I or The Daddy are not with him. We've been approved for 11 hours a day, 5 days a week. We have a share of cost, but it's still cheaper than the babysitter who doesn't really know when trouble is brewing. Even if it cost twice as much as the sitter...the peaceful feeling I have driving away, knowing he is in good, loving and skilled hands is worth it! The doctor said to have the orders faxed to him, he'd be more than willing to sign them!

And there's the 300+ miles. Two of these days I drove 45 miles to pick up Jack and his nurse, only to drive back 57 miles to the doctor, then 57 miles back to take them home, then 45 miles back to work. Today I had only had to do the 45 mile trips...4 times!