Day.....Something or other

We're still at the hospital! Big surprise, I know! Hmm let me think where I left off last...

Hayden was on room air for about 5 hrs yesterday. She did well but got very tired out. I had a lactation meeting to go to, and made sure they put her back on o2 before I left. I don't like to leave her much at all now that we're no longer in ICU. Especially now that she's awake more. Can't have her waking up looking for Mommy, who is no where to be seen! As far as her feeding goes, I was getting very frustrated with the dr's and felt we were standing still with their plan, which was not getting us home anytime soon. I got enough of their attention that a new plan was made last night. Woo hoo! They had been letting me try feeding her if she was awake and interested. All the while she was staying full by almost constant tube feed. She hardly knew what it felt like to be hungry, so of course she wasn't going to work for it if she didn't have to. Smart girl ;) With the new plan, I weigh her before and after feeding her 4 times a day. At 9am, noon, 3p and 6p. After each time they immediately start her on a tube feed of 35ml that runs for just a half hour (they had been running it over an hour and 15 min to reduce the reflux, instead of just realizing she was TOO full! Ugh!). I don't think they expected her to wake up to eat all 4 times on the first day. She had to prove them wrong and has done great! I knew better than to get my hopes too high right away, and expected she may not do so well everytime. They only let her eat for 10 min so far, just so she isn't burning more calories than she's getting. Makes sense, but she sure seems ambitious to eat more. She's been sleeping in between, like a normal baby, but right about the 3 hour mark she's letting you know it's time. As she proves she can consistantly get half of what she needs they will change the plan to emit the tube. It may be a slow process but at least I feel we are headed in a much better direction towards getting us home. It's already thursday so I'm hoping things start moving fast!

The goal is for her to also be off the tiny bit of O2 she has been needing for the last week. I'm guessing if she's not at the time she's eating well enough, they may send us home with O2. Or maybe when the time comes she will be ready to do it all on her own.

Hopefully tonight goes a bit smoother. Hayden was wanting to be held a lot and I was exhausted already. The chair wasn't so ideal for sleeping. A nurse this morning asked how our night went and I told her not so well! She was so nice and helped me arrange all the tubes and wires so they would reach to my bed so she could lay next to me. We spent a lot of time resting that way today :)

Now here's some pics from today.

Love, Kent Brandie & Hayden