Brown and Pink Polka Dots : Love

A positive post for the end of the week :)

Ever been someplace where you just knew your kiddo was cared about?

Today we had Jillian's GJ tube change out. This has to be done in intervantional radiology every 3 months. Jillian has had a tube that goes into her intestines since she was 4mo old, so we have been in IR at least every 3 months since then (we had a few pain in the butt NJ and PEG GJ tubes, but since switching to buttons we have been able to go 3mo every time!) Honestly we see them more often then a lot of our family and friends.
How Jilli reacts to tube change outs is really a testament to how great that department is (all except the one guy, who Brent disagreed with again last time, but he is not around much). They greet us so kindly when we get called back. They are just so calm. I remember how scared I was sitting in the waiting room when Jillian's first NJ tube was placed, all I wanted to do was cry while she was back there (I was in a room full of people so I kept myself together!) but now I have no worries sending Jillian in for tube change outs.
When we first got to radiology check-in today there was a service dog in the waiting room (Jillian is allergic) so I had Brent wait in the hallway with her while I checked her in. Then they called us back to IR to check in about the last time she was fed, her weight, ect. Then Brent suited up to go back with her. After the first couple of change outs they started letting one of us go back with her to hold her hand, which I really appreciate. Since I am pregnant, Brent gets to do all the tube change outs right now. At Jillian's last tube change out we were not telling people yet that I was pregnant, however at this point you can't miss that I am pregnant, I have most definitely "popped" and this baby is good at kicking. Jilli was busy telling them that she wants to name the baby "Monkey Play-Dough." Brent and Jilli then headed back into the room and I headed back to the waiting room.
A little while later out they came, and Jillian was holding a Barbie. She was SO excited. Brent said that she did an amazing job and did not make a noise about having her tube changed, so they gave her a Barbie. Jilli is just starting to discover Barbies. Over Thanksgiving I dug out some of my old Barbies at my parents house and let her play with them. For her birthday she got a couple and she got one for Christmas. We were at Target last week and she noticed the Barbies and asked if when she was bigger if we could think about buying her more Barbies. She said it so matter of fact and not in a begging sort of way. I told her that we would definitely look into getting her more Barbies when she got bigger, so to get a new Barbie today was a huge deal to her.
We then headed up to the second floor so Brent could grab my cousin Jake subway (there is now a Subway in the skywalk). Jilli and I hung out in a waiting area so I could get her tube feedings started again. Then a very familiar face walked by, our GI nurse Lisa. Lisa and Jillian go back to when Jillian was a tiny little 2mo old who was puking all of the time and not eating. When Jillian was younger we kinda lived in GI and were blessed with an AMAZING GI team. Between the doctor, nurse and dietitian, we had a team of people that were really looking out for the best for Jillian and helped this first time momma figure out how to take care of a child with feeding needs.
Jilli and I were able to catch up with Lisa for a while (we have since changed GI doctors , and she has changed departments) which was really nice. I really appreciate how much Lisa cares for Jillian. Seeing members of our original GI team makes my heart smile (not that there is anything wrong with our new GI team, they are great, there is just a lot of history between us and our original team)
Days like today remind me about how blessed we are with such an amazing hospital! There are times that I get frustrated when things don't go as quickly as I would like, or times I disagree with a doctor, but overall it is an amazing hospital. When we have days like this where we see IR and I see how much the care about my child and work hard to do the best and safest thing for her, all while making her feel comfortable, and then we run into Lisa who also has worked so hard to do the best things for our little girl, I am reminded about how Children's has become like a family to us over the past 3 years. We are so blessed to have such a great hospital so close to us (Lisa and I were joking today that my car just knows the way).

After we finished talking with Lisa we headed over to see my cousin Jake who is in the hospital. We let Jilli play with her new Barbie while we visited. On the way home Jilli fell asleep in the car and is now resting. She woke up a little bit ago asking for her daddy. She is such a sweet girl! Looking forward to a low key weekend!