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Friday, February 20, 2009

Not much sleep

Well...last night was an adventure! Let's start at the beginning.
At around 9:00 p.m. I decided to lay down in preparation for waking up every three hours to do diaper changes and get ready for feedings. There is a large vinyl chair that folds down to a "bed". It is definitely larger than a twin but I don't think it's quite a full. Kc was not tired at all, so he stayed up and read for a bit. About every 15 minutes there was some disturbance — alarms going off, nurses coming in to check said alarms, kiddos next door crying, nurses coming in to "take vitals", other nurses coming in to take blood samples, and pump machines making beeping noises. Noah was amazing and seemed to sleep through the whole thing. We, however, did not.
At midnight, after NO sleep, Noah's pediatrician came in to do rounds. He asked about how Noah's feeds have been. I told him that two days ago, because of the concern with how much Noah was spitting up, one of the hospitalist increased the time that his feeds are pumped through the NG tube. Instead of the typical thirty minutes, they increased his feeding time to ninety minutes. Because he is fed every three hours, he would feed for an hour and a half and then digest for only an hour and a half before feeding again. The feedings were so long that Noah was not feeling hungry and therefor stopped bottle feeding. I was unable to get him to take more than 10 ml the past two days and his OT, Sandy, couldn't do any better. Noah's pediatrician, Dr. Fields, immediately called a nurse in to the room and had her stop his pump feeding through the NG tube. He said that in order for Noah to go home, he needs to learn to eat, and in order for him to eat, he needs to be hungry. Dr. Fields then told me to bottle feed him every three hours. I am proud to announce that my little man has taken three bottles of 75 ml each over the past three feedings. He has not had any milk put on a pump to go down his NG tube. What do you know, a hungry boy will eat.
Kc left for work at 6:00 a.m. after a combined total of about one hour of sleep. He went in early because he needed to come back to Children's Hospital today at 10:00 a.m. for Noah's second trach change. Nana, Papa and Kc all got to practice putting in a new trach. Right before that, Noah had his first cast change. The nurse practitioner who changed his casts told me that "his legs are looking great".

Nana stopped by our condo to pick up the mail and feed Kitty. Waiting at the front door was a package addressed to Noah from Aunt Mary Lynn, Nicole, Marvin, Megan and Dakota, containing some Green Bay garb for next year's Super Bowl. Doesn't he look like a future Packer fan?
Hopefully tonight will be a bit more calm and we can get some much needed sleep between feedings. Either that, or we'll be so exhausted that we'll sleep through all the beepings and interruptions.

Thank you for the prayers! I am very hopeful and optimistic that we'll be going home soon.

8 comments:

  1. Yay, Noah! Avery says, "Hallelujah!" to eating 75 ml. We are all smiles reading such good news and we are continuing to praise and pray. We love you lots:)

    Debbie, Fred, Avery and Evan

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  2. Thanks for the pictures. He's so cute in his Packer garb! I'm glad to hear that he is eating much better. It's amazing how motivating hunger can be. Vanessa and I are both looking forward to the day that you get to take little Noah home! It should be soon!

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  3. Grandpa and I are very excited that Noah is eating so well from the bottle! Good going hungry boy! Good going mom & dad!!! He is looking so good and healthy. Ahhh home, bet you can't wait!
    Much Love & Prayers, Grandma & Grandpa

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  4. You're graduated to the bigger bottles! Congratulations. By the way, Becky, if you're pumping a lot you need to get one of these - http://www.easyexpressionproducts.com/. It's not pretty but it will save you A TON of time because you can muli-task!

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  5. Go Green Bay!!!! I knew he was creating a special place in my heart for a reason! Good to see you guys today!

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  6. Way to go Noah! I do hope that tonight is a much better night for you mom and dad! I love the pictures on your mom holding you and of course your dad looks good too! You truly have touched the hearts of so many of us. Good night and hope a little sleep comes to all of you tonight. Kim M.

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  7. Yay!!! What great news! Yes, hungry kids seem to eat more, go figure! I'm always amazed at healthcare professionals who don't get that, thank God for a pediatrician who does! And Kc, while you look so good holding your son, I am a little dissapponted in you.... What kind of Raider fan lets their son wear Packers gear? I expect to see him in black and silver soon ;-) Keep up the good work and don't worry, you will be amazed at what little sleep you can survive on!

    Love,
    The Grunaus

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  8. That sounds like a really LONG night!!! It sounds like Little Noah is just moving right along! I'm so glad he is eating so much more and his hunger is a motivator for keeping down those bottle feeds--who would've thought! Go Noah! It sounds like home is not that far off! I hope that tonight you sleep better and just block out all of the beeping/crying/people noises!
    Love,
    Jenn

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