We’re squeezing in a whole bunch of appointments before I start school next week. And one of them was a visit with my dietitian at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.
They have a statue of a dog outside that I’m now tall enough to ride!
I don’t remember what I was doing here, but it was probably pretty great.
We rode the tram, of course!
And after my appointment, I was really hungry and got my favorite food from the cafeteria – falafel wrap!
I had my annual check-in at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital with my nephrologist, Dr. Rozansky. My kidneys look awesome!
Of course, I was most looking forward to riding the aerial tram. I don’t go to the hospital as often anymore, so it’s been a while since I’ve gone tramming.
It was time for my annual g-tube checkup at the Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. It had been so long since my last visit there!
I knew this would be an easy checkup, so I was actually really excited and played with all of the toys in the waiting area.
Then I just waited for the doctor to come in. (In case you’re wondering, I had already received quite a few compliments on my pants.)
Then, of course, I went on the tram. It’s tradition.
I went back to OHSU’s Feeding Clinic for the first time in a year and a half. We talked about all the cool things I’ve accomplished since then and what my therapy team can do to help me progress.
But first…I wanted to wander the halls and take the tram, of course!
I took a picture from the front of the tram, looking up Marquam Hill to the hospital.
At the bottom, I got to see a Portland Streetcar.
After my long appointment was done, I was all smiles! (These are my favorite seats in the waiting room.)
I went back to Doernbecher to visit my nephrologist for a routine follow-up. Everything looks good! I’ll go back in six months to visit the gang.
Then I got to the important work of taking the tram! I was so excited, I had to run the whole way there.
I am now the proud owner of a g-tube. We checked in at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital at 6am on Thursday morning. By 9am, I was a tubie.
When I got to my hospital room, I practiced feeding my g-tube baby.
Daddy practiced feeding the g-tube baby, too.
That day and night, I tried to walk around, but it was not so fun. So I hung out on my bed and played with cars and planes.
The next day, I was afraid of walking around. So the nice ladies at the hospital lured me out with the promise of Legos and airplanes. After that, I just wanted to wander around and play in the playroom.
After I was discharged, we rode the tram!
Yesterday, I went to Doernbecher for an Upper GI x-ray and a consultation with the surgeon who will be placing my gastrostomy tube. During the x-ray, I got to see the pictures of barium going into my stomach. And I told the nurse my favorite airlines and she told me she’s going to Texas on Alaska Airlines!
It was a really icy day, but, of course, we still rode the tram. This was our view:
And here’s a picture I took of the tram from the 7th floor of Doernbecher!
The hospital has been giving me free tickets for the tram. I love giving my ticket to the tram conductor.
My most recent visit was to talk to the gastroenterologist about a g-tube. We’ll most likely be going through with it, but we have one more consultation with the pediatric surgeon. I’ve been feeling so well getting good nutrition and hydration through the NG tube. Everyone wants me to continue getting great nutrition and hydration to see what all I’m capable of!
Yesterday, I went back to Doernbecher Children’s Hospital to get my nephrostomy tubes removed. I spent some time traveling through this hall while I was in the hospital, but this was my first time walking it on my own two feet. Victory lap!
But first…we rode on the Portland Aerial Tram again!!!
Tram!!! from the Dexter Video Collection.
Yesterday was my follow-up appointment with the urology department at Doernbecher’s. I’m an old veteran at this ultrasound stuff now. It showed that my kidney stones passed on their own and I can have my nephrostomy tubes removed!
And afterward, I got to ride on the Portland Aerial Tram, which leaves from the hospital. And they gave me a sticker!
(By the way, yes, I’m wearing the same two shirts every day. With my NG tube going through my nose, I don’t like it when Mommy or Daddy puts a shirt over my head. So I alternate between my two button-downs. You’ll be seeing a lot of these shirts.)
