Last Wednesday the 17th, Ava's two month birthday, Our Little Miss decided she had had enough with her feeding tube. Around 9:00PM we were discussing which Christmas gift to buy next on Amazon.com (because I am not sure who actually shops in a store anymore) and Ava pulled the tube right out!
Not a word was spoken, she didn't mention that she planned on doing this, she didn't even give us a heads up. We looked down and noticed it and all the anxiety that we had before leaving the hospital about this moment was gone.
There wasnt any crying, she didn't say a peep -- just laid in her bouncy seat looked up at Mommy and Daddy and smiled the biggest smile ever!!! Basically her way of saying -- "Yea, I was over that thing!"
The day prior to the most uneventful feeding tube dismount Ava took her first bottle in its entirety! The night she pulled it out she had taken three full bottles without us having to supplement any feeding through the tube! We took this as a sink or swim sign - that we should give her a go without the NG tube. The following day Ava took every single bottle by mouth - obviously we are thrilled!
We met with Dr. Batish on the 19th. She was very happy with Ava's progress and told us to keep the tube out for the time being. She mentioned that she would only instruct us to put the tube back in if Ava didn't continue to gain weight. She weighed 10 lbs 13 oz at the appointment with Dr. Batish - she recommended that Ava should gain at least 5oz over the next week - so we are keeping a close eye on her weight.
We met with Dr. Batish on the 19th. She was very happy with Ava's progress and told us to keep the tube out for the time being. She mentioned that she would only instruct us to put the tube back in if Ava didn't continue to gain weight. She weighed 10 lbs 13 oz at the appointment with Dr. Batish - she recommended that Ava should gain at least 5oz over the next week - so we are keeping a close eye on her weight.
Dr. Batish also reccomenndes for us to use a breast milk fortifier in each bottle we give her. The fortifier essentially turns her breast milk cocktail into a calorie filled protein shake!!
Ava has gone from not wanting to take a bottle when leaving the hospital to sucking them down - even screaming for them when service isn't fast enough! Since the tube came out on the 17th she has graduated to taking approx 4.5 oz every feeding. Also, since we came home on the 11th she has slept at least 9 hours every night...
We are definitely blessed - have begun very serious talks with her about her behavior now and what our expectations are for the future. The way we see it, Ava has already given us each three to four heart attacks, so this whole eating well and sleeping through the night thing is expected to mantain until she is at least 25...
As for the WATERPARK boys -- lets just say they are making us pay for not being around for 2 months...
We have had numerous discussions with Georgie our elf -- asked if he knew any Elves that were out of work and would be willing to come help watch a 4-year old protaganist and a 2-year old antagonist. Georgie reported back and said "Good Luck!"
Wishing all of you a very Happy Holiday!
Hope you all get your own Christmas miracle as we did!!!
XOXO
XOXO
Thank you Meyer's & Anderson's!!!!!!!!!
You're making me cry! Merry Christmas, my friend! You truly are so blessed! XOXO Eileen
ReplyDeleteThe best Christmas gift a Great Aunt could get. All my love.
ReplyDeleteAunt Virginia