On my way to the hospital I got a call from Chris that they were going to let Parker try to feed from a bottle at 2:00 pm. Mind you this was about 1:10 pm and I was just passing Coopersville on my way to Grand Rapids. Well I just said to myself...I'm not going to miss this :). I arrived just in time to go into the NICU with Ashley. You know the drill...sign in with security guard, get you badge, healthy visitor sticker, up the elevator, mom signs in at nurses station, to pod 5, jewelery off, washing station where you wash up to your arm pits (just kidding it's only up to your elbows), and then finally in to see Parker.
He was looking so good...no more bump on the belly, no more nasal cannula, and they had moved his IV to his foot so his hands were free. He is a little rosy cheeked because his skin reacted to the tape. But in the words of his mom "if the least we have to worry about at this point is a little skin reaction, I'm good with that!"
Then the nurse prepped his bottle. Ashley has been working hard these past couple days to keep up on pumping and there was enough breast milk to make him a 10 ml bottle. Let me tell you people...that kid eats like his dad...there was no tasting and that 10 mls was gone in less than 77 seconds!!
Then his mom got a nice little burp...
We were able to stay with him for over an hour and then they came and took him to be circumsized. This was good because they originally told Chris and Ashley this wouldn't happen until Monday. Every new step is one step closer to going home.
While he was gone Ashley and I went back to her room and hung out until it was time for his 5:00 pm feeding. We traveled back over...this time it was just elevator through washing station :). We got back around 4:30 and Ashley was able to watch the nurse change him (not a pleasant experience for little guys who have just been circumsized.
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| make sure you fill the guaze with petroleum jelly... |
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| As you can see Ashley wasn't too excited... |
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| Almost done...and yay there's poop - another step to getting home!! |
After he was changed the nurse measured his stomach. I was having fond memories of when Cooper used to cry this softly so I took a short video (turn up the volume or you will miss it)
Then it was time for feeding #2 of the day. He wasn't quite as interested at first but after the nurse helped get him started he finished up that 20 mls!!
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| GREAT job Mommy |
And more burps...
As I was getting ready to leave Chris was up preparing for the 8 pm feeding. Parker was so tired that this feeding didn't go so well. He only ate a little and the nurse was thinking she might have to put in a feeding tube. In the words of his dad..."Wednesday he got evicted from his home, Thursday he had surgery to put his guts back in, and today they sliced up his manhood...I don't think I'd be too hungry either!". In the end they decided not to put the tube in until the 11 pm feeding when he ate well again. So no tube and that means he may be able to go home in the next few days - YAY!!
Ashley is being discharged today and I'm sure after she goes home for a shower and a little rest, they will spend the rest of the day with Parker. One really nice thing about the NICU is there are nurses in Parker's room caring for him 24 hours a day. And there is a direct phone line into his room that Chris and Ashley can call 24 hours a day to find out how he is doing.
That's what I know for now. But I also want to tell you all what an encouragement the events of Parker's little life have been for me. Ever since we found out that Parker had a birth defect, our family has been praying, we have selectively shared with our friends who were praying. Richard and I also added Parker to our prayer requests weekly several time at our church. We have received good news so many times during Parker's stay in his mom's tummy...the omphalocele was minor in comparison to many others...it's not as rare as you think...we operate on these everyday...Parker is growing like he should...the omphalocele is growing like it should with him so he can keep growing through full term. It has been amazing. Then he was born and did so well right from the beginning (and his mom lived through the C-section...you'll have to ask her because she wasn't too sure...). The doctors were able to do his surgery the very next day - the day after that he was already off oxygen and eating on his own. I mean how many times could our family continue to receive good news...it's like being on top of the world and God is to be PRAISED!! He has been working and I've been amazed to see His work. What a GREAT God we serve!!
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