New Floor, New Challenges

Yesterday was exhausting and left me little time or energy to update. Major things:

We moved to the floor. Everyone kept saying, "Oh, it will be so much better when you move to the floor." Well, it is because you get to be with your baby and it means your baby is healthier, but it is a lot harder! Justin and I have more responsibility for her here, which is scary and tiring. Our sleeping arrangements are less than ideal. We also have less freedom to leave the hospital together, because one of us needs to be with her all the time. We had sort of been enjoying spending so much uninterrupted time together on our little 3rd honeymoon here in B'ham (the 2nd being in Jackson, TN when Grace was in the NICU, the 1st being in Jamaica -- yeah, that one was the best one.) Being here in the room with her kind of makes the reality of this situation set in a little more, realizing that this tiny little hospital room will be our home for who knows how long. (Hopefully not for too long, but even a few days to a week is depressing to think about.)

Other things:
Right leg was still swollen yesterday afternoon/evening, which seemed to cause a significant amount of discomfort and lots of crying. Under control now, seems to be going down and not hurting as much.

Not wanting to sleep without someone holding her, actually wanting someone holding her all the time. This is getting worse, which is probably a good sign that she's feeling better and not so out of it. BUT, it is hard! Not even willing to have someone lie down with her, must be sitting upright. Got barely any sleep last night. seems like tonight won't be much different. All 3 of us are so tired.

On NG tube again. Doctors are frequently reassessing her progress or lack thereof and trying to make feeding recommendations accordingly. Currently, she is receiving small feeds through the tube every 4 hours using a very broken-down, easily-digested formula, and the plan is a slower, continuous feed overnight. This is the newest plan as of today, because yesterday's and last night's feeds seemed to be too high in volume, and diarrhea increased. The increase was to be expected and was not alarming to the doctors. but I think they are trying different methods to see if any will be more effective in having more of her formula absorbed.

We worked with an OT today on drinking from a sippy cup. She did best this morning, using a syringe and got 7 ml down on her own. (We give the rest through the tube.) This afternoon she got 15 ml down (of 20) and even took a few sips from a sippy cup. This is great, as she is going to have to drink formula from now on to have enough calories in her diet. She has pretty much been weaned from breastfeeding now, mostly because my already low milk supply has gotten even lower during this stressful, tiring situation. However, this evening, she refused the syringe and the sippy cup, which was a little discouraging.

She has also been allowed, today, to eat some cereal or fruits/veggies after the formula, which she did a little of.

We are discouraged this evening because it seems that, while her feeds are increasing, so is the diarrhea. It's frustrating to think that we could be headed in any direction that would keep us here longer. Hospital living is not fun.

Things to pray for:

• Wisdom for the doctors as to the proper way to provide Grace with nutrition and to allow her body to heal. And, for wisdom as to the cause of this.
  
• For Grace's stomach and intestines to heal. For the diarrhea to stop.
• For Grace to gain weight.
  
• For Grace to continue to be successful with a sippy cup, and to be able to take in enough calories of formula and food orally that the NG tube won't be necessary.
  
• Rest for Grace, Justin, and me.
• My parents, as they continue to take care of our boys.
• Our boys, as they are away from us and away from home for two weeks now.

Thank you so much for praying for us!