Sunday, August 29, 2010
They're Baa-ack!
So Happy Together
With some milder temperatures, we took multiple trips to the park.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Home Again, Home Again
Things are going well at home. Grace is taking in more and more formula every day, and she has almost met her 34-36 ounce goal (just a half ounce short.) She is also taking in more with the bottle, and we have pretty much eliminated the syringe. That is a good thing! Hopefully, she will get back to her 4-feeding-per-day schedule soon. She will continue to have a weight check once a week at the pediatrician's office, and we will probably see a nutritionist sometime soon to make sure her dietary needs are being monitored and adjusted as she grows.
Life at home is a little crazy. But, then again, it is always a little crazy around here. We really are getting back into our routine slowly but surely, and everyone is sleeping great! (Thank you for praying for that!) Say a little extra prayer for sweet Owen -- this whole experience combined with the terrible twos has rocked him a little more than everyone else.
Thanks, again, for praying for us! It is so good to be home!
Twitter Feed
SO GOOD to be back at church this morning after 4 weeks away!! Wonderful for people to see the healthy baby girl they've been praying for. Sunday, August 22, 2010 3:20:41 PM via Twitter for iPhone
Grace just drank 6.5oz of formula I'm her sleep! Just a half oz shy of her 34oz goal today. Improving day by day. So relieved and thankful! Saturday, August 21, 2010 11:27:53 PM via Twitter for iPhone
Feeling a little overwhelmed today. Managing Grace's (still insufficient) calorie intake on top of our everyday crazy life is hard. Saturday, August 21, 2010 3:56:20 PM via web
Not gonna lie, bedtime was a little crazy. Hard to pull the boys away from their long-lost toys. They are glad to be home. Friday, August 20, 2010 10:59:53 PM via Twitter for iPhone
Knox: "Oh! I really missed my Thomas! ...I really missed my combine! ...I really missed my truck! ...I really missed these pajamas!" etc. Friday, August 20, 2010 10:58:21 PM via Twitter for iPhone
HOME! Except for having to leave the McDonald's playground, it was a perfectly happy trip :) So happy. Friday, August 20, 2010 8:45:48 PM via txt
Last update from the hospital www.gracewestmoreland.blogspot.com Friday, August 20, 2010 11:12:51 AM via Twitter for iPhone
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Day 25
Thank you, thank you, thank you for praying for our family during this ordeal! Our time here would have been far less bearable without your prayers. We are so thankful for so many dear friends and family who love and care for us so much!Please continue to pray for us as we make the transition back home...
- Pray for our travel today, as we will be traveling with all three of our children, which is never an easy task!
- Pray for our boys, as they get used to living under Mommy's and Daddy's rules again, and as they will, I'm sure, miss such regular interaction with Grandaddy and GG. And, pray in general, for a smooth transition back into our regular schedules. (Especially sleeping schedules!!)
- Pray for my parents, as they transition back into their life without daily interaction with the grandkids.
- Pray for Justin, as he will hit the ground running with RUF stuff. We are fortunate that UTM doesn't start until the 30th, but he has missed an entire month of planning and preparing for the beginning of the school year, which is always his busiest (and most exciting) time of the year.
- Pray that Grace will continue to thrive. She is still not quite up to her full caloric needs. Her goal is 34-36 ounces per day, and she did just a little over 30 yesterday. She is almost there! The great news is that she has started taking in more with the bottle and less with the syringe. If we can get her to take in the full amount that she needs, then we'll be able to eliminate the syringe/force-feeding altogether.
Last weigh-in on the hospital scales. This is actually post-weigh-in, with diaper on, thumb in mouth, and lovey in hand...the thumb and lovey have gotten her through a lot of hard days!
Twitter Feed
Insurance is going to cover the formula! PRAISE THE LORD! It would have cost us $600 to $700 a month!! Thanks for praying for that! Friday, August 20, 2010 10:45:31 AM via Twitter for iPhone
Better get as much sleep as I can tonight on this cot because tomorrow it's back to parenting three kids -- and on a road-trip, no less! Thursday, August 19, 2010 11:32:41 PM via Twitter for iPhone
Bags are packed. Grace's iv went bad tonight so they stopped her antibiotics and took it out. She is unhooked and ready to go! Thursday, August 19, 2010 11:30:46 PM via Twitter for iPhone
Five ounces FROM THE BOTTLE tonight! Excuse me while I go pack our bags. Thursday, August 19, 2010 7:30:59 PM via Twitter for iPhone
Found out today that Grace's new formula is EXPENSIVE. SERIOUSLY EXPENSIVE. Calling insurance co. Please pray that they'll help cover it! Thursday, August 19, 2010 1:44:02 PM via web
The nutritionist stopped by and was shocked with Grace's progress. Monday, thought we'd be going home with an NG tube. When people pray... Thursday, August 19, 2010 10:14:02 AM via Twitter for iPhone
Last night's blog post www.gracewestmoreland.blogspot.com Thursday, August 19, 2010 9:57:29 AM via Twitter for iPhone
Grace just drank 4oz of formula from a bottle! Maybe we won't have to feed her with a syringe forever! 6oz total this AM. Still on track! Thursday, August 19, 2010 8:53:43 AM via Twitter for iPhone
Only two more nights on my hospital trundle cot. Oh, how I have missed my bed!! Thursday, August 19, 2010 12:15:38 AM via Twitter for iPhone
And, the grand total is...drum-roll please...30 ounces!! Looks like cutting off the
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Won't be long now...
If it wasn't for that pesky staph that showed up in one out of two cultures, we might be out of here already (or, at least, tomorrow.) The doctor is not overly concerned but wanted to pull the PICC line and continue to treat with antibiotics through an IV for a couple more days for good measure. (The staph can grow on the plastic in the PICC line, which is why they removed it and want to treat with antibiotics while it's out.)
Grace is a new baby! She honestly seems happier and healthier now than she did before she got sick. She is smiling and laughing all the time, even at strangers. I was worried that this whole experience might make her afraid of all strangers, but I actually think that the opposite may have taken place. I think she's going to miss all the people who come to see her everyday! And, let me tell you, a lot of people come to see her. Doctors, med students, nurses, occupational therapist, nutritionist, friends, family...it is busy in here, 24 hours a day!
Barring any unforseen obstacles, we should be headed home Friday. Pray, pray, pray that nothing will keep us here any longer!
Twitter Feed
Woohoo! Just had 6oz, that's 12oz before
Already up to 6oz this am. Took 2 from a bottle but then back to thumb/syringe method. Messy! Hoping she'll take more than 3oz/feed today. Wednesday, August 18, 2010 7:25:45 AM via Twitter for iPhone
Cut
Had a little getaway to Target. I really do love that place. Even ran into a friend. Grace has had 12 oz today, hoping for @ least 9 more. Tuesday, August 17, 2010 4:37:26 PM via web
New formula is vanilla and smells like cake batter. Took 6 ounces this morning! Needs 36 ounces in a day...that's going to take some work Tuesday, August 17, 2010 10:46:00 AM via web
Good news! Tried a THIRD formula and liked it! Never could do a cartwheel, but if I could, I would! #fb Monday, August 16, 2010 9:56:07 PM via txt
Bright side: sweet friends brought Zoe's for dinner, my fave! ...chicken roll-ups and deeee-licious chocolate cake made me feel better. #fb Monday, August 16, 2010 7:29:29 PM via web
Second try with "better formula" was not a hit :(. Trying the old stuff again... #fb Monday, August 16, 2010 7:25:58 PM via web
Pray for Grace: Wishing and Hoping http://goo.gl/b/RBqH Monday, August 16, 2010 5:57:56 PM via web
Monday, August 16, 2010
Wishing and Hoping
But, things don't always go as we hope...
When the doctors (finally) rounded after 11 AM, they were encouraged by her progress but not ready to cut TPN altogether. For one, cutting TPN too quickly can apparently have an affect on one's blood sugar, since there is a good amount of dextrose in the mix, which is why they wean people off of it slowly. The second reason that they're not ready to cut TPN is because Grace has not been taking in enough calories yet for them to feel confident that she'll continue to thrive without it. The ultimate goal, set by her nutritionist, is that she would take in 36 ounces of formula a day...yesterday, she took in 10 1/2, and it was a struggle to get her to take in that much.
So, we were a bit disheartened, to say the least, that it doesn't look like we'll be going home tomorrow (Justin was actually hoping for today.) Our doctor is very much on our side. He doesn't want us to be here longer than what is necessary. But, what may be necessary is longer than what we were hoping for. A lot of our doctor's decisions are based on recommendations from nutrition, and although he would like for things to move more quickly, he trusts their expertise in this area. We asked if the nutritionist could come talk to us directly, which she did, and she gave us a lot of helpful information to fill in the gaps that Grace's doctor couldn't.
The main issue now is this: FEEDING. In order to be weaned off TPN, Grace has to take in a certain number of calories every day by mouth. As I already mentioned, so far, she is not doing enough!
Before Grace got sick, she was breastfed. Though I've tried, she has never been willing to take a bottle, and I've never really had the need or the time to force the issue. This whole hospital experienced has forced me to wean her for two reasons: 1) With an already low milk-supply, my body could not keep up given the added stress, sleep deprivation, and poor eating. 2) Her weight gain (or lack thereof) since her six-month well check indicated that she was probably not getting enough calories from breastfeeding (plus cereal/fruits/veggies) to help her sustain a healthy weight for her age. That, combined with all the weight she lost from being sick, has made formula a necessity anyway.
So, Grace has this extra hurdle to get over -- learning to drink formula. And, that's actually two hurdles: learning to drink from a bottle/cup AND learning to like formula. And, that is our problem today. The nutritionist actually changed from one stinky formula to another formula (I think they are all stinky!) The new formula is still a more easily digested formula but supposedly tastes more like other regular baby formulas. I was excited to try the new kind (Alimentum --still very stinky) and really, really hoping she would take to it, but her reaction was actually worse than with the first formula. SO, SO, SO frustrating!! Granted, she's only tried it once, and we'll try again when she wakes up, but this seems to be the problem that might keep us here longer. And, there's really no simple solution, given that Grace is only 9 months and can't tell us herself what the problem is. It might not be the taste at all. Could be the texture, could be that it bothers her tummy. Could be...who knows? But, until we get something figured out, we are not making a lot of progress here. Please pray that we'll get these feeding issues worked out soon!
In short, what needs to happen: Grace needs to take in more calories by mouth, wean off the TPN, and continue to gain weight. (She needs to gain around 2 pounds to be in the 5th percentile for her age.) And, of course, we need to go home!
P.S. I forgot to mention anywhere in this post or previously that, since she started drinking formula on Saturday afternoon, she has been a new baby! Really back to her old self, playing, laughing, smiling all the time. It has been SO encouraging. But, I think that's also what makes this hard -- she looks healthy now, but she's still not ready to go home. However, I'll take this over our extremely sick, lethargic, malnourished baby from the last two weeks any day!!
Twitter Feed
Docs want to move slower than we do. Boo! Cutting
Baby slept all night in her crib and drank 4 ounces of formula this morning! Hoping they'll cut the
So glad to have my baby back!! Happy and smiling all day EXCEPT during feeding. Needs to drink more. Needs less stinky formula! #fb Sunday, August 15, 2010 9:19:20 PM via web
Missing
Pray for Grace: Sunday Update http://goo.gl/b/L7sA Sunday, August 15, 2010 12:43:16 PM via web
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Sunday Update
As Grace takes in more formula, they will cut back on the TPN until they eventually do away with it completely. Hopefully, cutting back on TPN will make her more hungry, because 1-2 ounces at a time is not going to be enough in the long run. She will need around 30 ounces a day to get back up to a more age-appropriate weight. They may not wait until she is up to that amount for us to leave the hospital, but she is going to have to work up to that pretty quickly. Please pray that Grace will continue to increase the amount of formula she is willing to drink in one feeding!
Right now, Grace will only drink from a syringe. I want her to use a sippy cup (she will not use the bottle, so we are not going to push that), but I am willing to use the syringe for now, if that will get her to drink! She will drink from a syringe while sucking her thumb. I guess that makes it seem more like breastfeeding to her??
They are still watching for possible infection, and we are hoping that we will not have to extend our stay at the hospital to deal with something like that. She is on antibiotics, and hopefully that is taking care of it. Please pray that infection would not be an issue in any way!
God is answering prayers, and we are so thankful!
Twitter Feed
Poor baby HATES this stinky formula, doesn't want more than an oz at a time. Good news: It's not making her sick! #fb Saturday, August 14, 2010 8:33:32 PM via web
We're up to 2 1/2 oz total so far in the last 3 hrs, and I think she's got more energy already! Playing and talking in her bed :) #fb Saturday, August 14, 2010 6:00:31 PM via web
Pray for Grace: Oh, Brother! http://goo.gl/b/zRqy Saturday, August 14, 2010 4:39:04 PM via web
Pray for Grace: Dinner Time http://goo.gl/b/GpHH Saturday, August 14, 2010 4:30:27 PM via web
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Dinner Time
"Yuck."
Grace is looking better and better. More color, more alertness, more willingness to sleep alone and to sit alone to read books and play with toys. Her progress has been encouraging! We are so stinkin' tired of living at the Children's Hospital, but it is easier to handle when we feel like she is getting better. We have continued to be so, so, so blessed by so many sweet friends (and even strangers) bringing us food and other things, sending us care packages. Most importantly, we have been so blessed by your prayers! I have said it before, and I'll say it again: Your prayers are sustaining us!!! We are doing better than you might expect. But, we will be so happy when we finally get to go home!
Thanks so much for reading our updates and praying for Grace!
Twitter Feed
Drank one oz of formula! Not from sippy cup but with syringe while sucking her thumb. Didn't love it but tolerated it. Next oz soon. #fb Saturday, August 14, 2010 2:50:59 PM via web
Fun visit from the boys and my parents this morning. I have missed them so much! Grace was happy to see them, too. Saturday, August 14, 2010 2:46:21 PM via web
Yay for relatively good sleep! Weight is up, antibiotics taken, hoping docs will do formula this AM. Playing w toys in her bed right now #fb Saturday, August 14, 2010 8:08:12 AM via web
Pedialyte is not happening. Tried sippy and opened wide for syringe but quit after one sip. Hoping to go straight to formula tomorrow! #fb Friday, August 13, 2010 8:48:08 PM via web
Bad news: blood cultures indicate Grace MAY have a staph infection. Has to start antibiotics and will pull PICC line if staph confirmed. #fb 3:34 PM Aug 13th via web
Clear pedialyte not a hit either :(. Letting her nap then trying again. This is not going how I'd hoped! #fb 3:28 PM Aug 13th via web
Tried orange Pedialyte in a sippy cup...not a fan. Trying clear Pedialyte next, whenever they get it ordered. Trying to be patient... #fb 2:46 PM Aug 13th via web
Still running fever off and on, praying it goes away. Will take something by mouth today, will start very slowly. Hoping all goes well! #fb 9:20 AM Aug 13th via web
Grace only lasted about an hour in her bed. Rough night. BUT, I am happy to say I did not drool on her head. #fb 9:18 AM Aug 13th via web
Going to sleep now bc Grace is asleep in crib. Hope she stays there all night, so I won't drool on her head like I did last night! LOL. #fb 9:32 PM Aug 12th via web
Grace gets to eat tomorrow! Pray for 1. complete healing of intestines, no diarrhea 2. that she would LOVE formula and the sippy cup. #fb 9:29 PM Aug 12th via web
Had an awesome night out with 3 of my best friends tonight. So thankful for those girls! #fb 9:01 PM Aug 12th via web
Mmm...@chickfila sure beats hospital food! So thankful 4 sweet friends who brought us our favorite food for lunch today (and yesterday!) #fb 1:03 PM Aug 12th via web
Sooooo excited to see my BFF in less than 1 hour! 10:22 AM Aug 12th via web
Ran some fever last night, hopefully it's nothing (could be teething), but running some bloodwork just to be sure. Pray it's nothing! #fb 10:22 AM Aug 12th via web
Smiles and Prayer Requests...Pray for Grace: Happier Times http://goo.gl/b/71OE 9:46 AM Aug 12th via web