Getting His Way

Thank you for all the nice, supportive comments on yesterday's blog. Clearly we were at a low point, and your comments did help, so thank you. Colin apparently knew mom and dad were down too as he had a much better day yesterday. Since having his transfusion, he's become more active and at the same time, sleeps more soundly. I held him last night during one of his feedings. Mom and I just gazed at him, watching his subtle, little movements: a slight turn of the mouth, a momentary smile (passing gas), a twinkle of the nose. He's just so precious, we can't get enough of him!
It's funny how Colin can change the doctor's plans too. Just as of a couple days ago, the doctors decided to hold bottle feedings for 2 weeks so he wouldn't exert too much energy and burn too many calories while eating. Well, Colin definitely didn't like that plan. He was getting more and more upset with each tube feeding, finally yanking out the very-well-taped feeding tube out of his nose. He would carry on so much that he was clearly burning more calories protesting not getting a bottle than he would if they just gave him the darn bottle. So, the doctors caved in yesterday and decided he could have 1 bottle per 12 hour shift. The first one he got yesterday, his eyes fluttered when the milk hit his mouth: a little surprised that he was sucking and was actually getting milk to come out :-) A paci, this was not! He ate with gusto, knocking that bottle down in 8 minutes (usually, they give him up to 30 minutes to finish the bottle)! Then, early this morning, they gave him another one. Since he's back on ad lib feeding (giving him as much as he will take), he managed to down 30 cc's this time (his tube feedings are set for 24 cc's). This is a really good sign, and as the days go on, they'll start letting him bottle feed more frequently. That is, as long as Colin agrees with it. He might have other plans ;-)