Home Again

Teryn got up to her full feeds again this morning around 2am. She is still on continuous feeds 24 hours a day but she is finally getting food in her stomach!!!!!!!

We will remain on continuous feeds for a couple of weeks for her stomach to learn to expand again. We will eventually talk about some bolus feeding trials. This means giving her a larger amount all at once. An example of a bolus feed would be giving a larger amount over a shorter period of time. Instead of giving her 35mls per hour every hour, she may get 9o mls/hour every 3 hours. We will be seeing her surgeon and pediatrician within the next ten days. We will evaluate how she is handling things and talk about options then.

So far she has been handling it very well. We have learned that we have to giver her meds very slowly so that she doesn't spit them back up. She was still spitting up a little when we got home. we decided to try a thicker anti-regurgitation formula. So far, it has been working very well. Hopefully her stomach will be able to adjust to it easily.

I am really loving the new feeding system with the Mic-Key button. I was laughing with one of her nurses. It is very funny the things that you get excited about. I am so excited that I can now prime her feeding pump and giver her meds without having to wake her and take her tubing out of her clothing. Her new tube also has a port where I can insert a syringe and put meds directly into her stomach if I need to. However, for a while we will probably give them slowly through the tube. Anyway, it makes a couple things a little easier in our daily routine.

She still has a little congestion from the cold she acquired in the hospital. She is learning to cough a little to clear it. But most of the time it sounds like a horrible gag. Still, she was in much better spirits tonight. This girl really likes being at home. She was also very glad to be able to get a "real" bath tonight. We were having to do sponge baths in the hospital so she was very happy to splash in the water tonight. She has been laughing and smiling since dinner. She is so precious. She is incredibly brave and strong. I am so proud to her her mommy.

Here are a few shots from the hospital and at home tonight.

She was getting very bored with laying in the hospital bed. Sitting up helped with her reflux so we put her car seat in her crib and brought her mobile from home. She LOVED having the mobile so close to her face. She kept reaching out to the animals going by and even grabbed them a couple of times. This is an amazing milestone for her. We have been so excited and proud. I had to call Grandma and brag right after she grabbed the parrot for the first time.

That was a lot of work. She decided it was time for a rest.

Mommy and Teryn lounging. She loves to look at herself and the patterns on this mirror. It gave us a break since all she wanted for 2 whole days was to lay on my shoulder. She would not let me move. If I even turned my head to talk to someone she would get upset. Poor baby, she was so sore from her surgery. I am so glad she is feeling better now.

Home, Home, Home! She is showing off her skills again. She is so happy she can reach and touch things now. She gets so excited when she is able to do it. This success is in a huge way due to all of the stimulation, love, and therapy she is receiving during the day with Grandma and Grandaddy. We are so lucky for the tremendous blessing they have given us by keeping Teryn during the weekdays.

Almost there....

She does it again!

So we have now crossed one of our hugest hurdles by getting her back to feeds into her stomach. Stay tuned to see what our amazing girl is going to accomplish next.