Feed Me!

Yesterday afternoon I arrived right at 2:00 in time for his afternoon "cares". Aaron's doctor came right over and asked if I had spoken to the nurse practitioner yet. I told him I had just gotten there. He then told me they had decided in rounds yesterday to start giving Aaron Vitamin D and Omega 3. They then decided that it would be better if I actually gave it to him through his feedings. I told him I was happy to do whatever I needed and he gave me the doses of the vitamins I would need to take. This is a no brainer, tell me what to do and I'll get it done.

After he left Aaron's nurse asked how long I was planning on staying. I told her I could stay as long as they needed me to. She then asked if I would like to hold him, I said of course and asked if they were changing the linens again. She said no, they were changing the entire bed out and that I could hold him on my chest. I noticed she had brought a rocking chair in and I asked if that was for me. She said she knew I would be coming and waited to change the bed out until I had arrived. I was sooooo excited and cried a few tears. I finally got to really hold my son! It was wonderful. I held him for almost an hour and a half and it was the sweetest feeling. Aaron talked to me during our time together. He would squeak and I would look down to see if he was crying, nope just talking. I wish I could record it, its the cutest thing.

The nurses told me he had been upset all morning and that they could actually hear him fussing across the room. His nurse tried to settle him and even gave him his anti-anxiety meds but that didn't work either. She finally realized the boy was hungry. Unfortunately he was still 40 minutes from his next dose. Last Friday they finally restarted his feeds at 1 ml every 6 hours. Then they moved to 2 ml every 6 hours. Then to 2 ml every 3 hours., and yesterday he was upped to 3 ml every 3 hrs., and today he will get 4ml every 3 hrs. He likes to eat! We hope this means he will start to grow and gain weight. Ronny asked last night what the most he will get at one time. They will increase him to 7.5 ml every 3 hours 1 ml a day. As his weight increases they will up his max amount. Today Aaron will have another echo to make sure his pulmonary hypertension has resolved. The cardiac specialist will then weigh in on what to do with the PDA. We should know sometime tonight what has been decided.

As I was holding Aaron I noticed that several nurses, doctors, and staff would come in the room and walk right to his bed. He is in the very corner and at the end of the room. They would walk past several other babies straight to us. They would all say, "I just came to check on our peanut." Aaron's story has spread in the NICU and all who come in contact with him immediately fall for him. He is well cared for and looked after. Many of them call him "my baby". We love to see so many take an interest in him and feel of his spirit. He couldn't be in better hands!