"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
--Jeremiah 29:11

Saturday, May 3, 2008

Eating Totals

Here's what Connie ate today:

7am: 7 spoonfuls of apples & blueberries
11am: ? bites of cream of wheat mixed with strawberry syrup/sauce
3pm: 1 and 1/3 jars of mangoes and fruit medley
5pm: 2/3 jar of fruit medley
7:30 pm: 1/2 jar bananas & plums

He's had a sippy of water with him all day and at meals he's been given peptamin to drink. He's doing better with the peptamin. At least now he's not making the face that says, "What is this? Where's my skim milk?"

Just thought you guys could say a prayer asking God that this pattern continues and his oral intake continues to increase. He's been without his tube since late Friday morning. I've put in a call and emailed his therapists about "the new plan" so we'll see what tomorrow brings. One day at a time, right?

Are You Sitting Down?




Because you won't believe what I'm about to tell you. Connie just ate one and one third jars of baby food! Doesn't seem so great for a 14 month old, but considering the most he's ever eaten is a couple teaspoons, this is unbelievable. We're talking major milestone here. Yesterday he threw up his tube and instead of replacing it, we tried orally feeding him b/c they always tell us to take advantage of the opportunity for him to eat without something in his throat. Well, he was a bit more receptive so we kept it out and fed him again orally before bed. When we tried to give him his meds he threw up b/c he didn't like the taste of the digoxin. This morning, I increased him to 7 babyfood spoon dallups (sp?)and he took it. He isn't drinking a ton, but he is more willing to drink the peptamin every time we give it. Then today after his nap, we sat him back in the chair and I started with seven dallups and he just devoured it so I kept going and he finished the entire jar! I stupidly tried to give him some meds orally and he threw up again. I didn't want him to have that taste in his mouth so I gave him some fruit medley babyfood and he had another 1/3 jar. I put the rest of his meds in some water and gave him that in a cup. He proceeded to throw all of it up but drank some plain water after that. This kid is amazing! We're going to keep it out and try again in an hour or so and see if he'll eat more. We're just playing it by ear right now and praying for God's will and guidance.

A big thank you to Connie's fan club for braving the gusty winds and cool weather to come out for heartwalk this morning. It was great to see Grandpa George, Great Aunt Barb, Meghan and her friend Emma, Nicholas, Mary, Clare, Cece, Mary Kathleen, Kathy Brown, Judy Schoene, Mary Ann Lyons, Carol Stadler, the Dietrichs and Aunt Julie. Connie even did a little walking (holding on to my hands, of course) himself. Your time and donations to the American Heart Association mean so much to us. And yes, my goal for next year is to get his face on one of those Survivor posters. He's more than a survivor, he's thriving!

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Compliments

I had to share this heartwarming compliment that Connie received today from his Occupational Therapist, Carla. We were finishing up his therapy session and gave him a peanut butter cracker. He excitedly took a bite and promptly gagged and threw up. He proceeded to gag and choke on phlegm for a couple more minutes before finally collecting himself. He immediately was playful and willing again to keep trying to eat (we didn't make him do the cracker again). She said, "Wow. He's got such a great personality. He just gets right back up on that horse every time, doesn't he? It just amazes me that he's so willing." I shared with her what Deb, the PT, said about him last Friday about being so impressed that he's willing to try everything she asks and isn't fearful of trying new things. Carla said that most kids have a lot of behaviors and crying and get upset when they throw up. Not our Connie. He just carries on. Then Carla said that that trait of getting back up and dusting off will serve him well as he gets older. That got me to thinking that maybe that's one reason God's letting us keep him here with us. Because we can learn from him. He's not 14 months yet and has already taught us so much.