10.3 and RISING!

We really were not expecting her to gain today. So it came as a delightful surprise. Tomorrow's going to be a big day as they try to get her to feed from a bottle.

We will also have some decisions to make as we lay everything on the table: The tube, the bottle and nursing from me. Please pray for wisdom in these decisions especially for me as I push my emotions aside regarding nursing. My greatest desire tomorrow is to see bottlefeeding become successful. That way we can control whatever goes in the bottle and then take her off the tube. But we are ready to come home. So whether we come home on the tube or on the bottle, we will be happy. We'll see what they say tomorrow. 

(I should add something here. I realize that if I was at home  with the other children and responsibilities and phone calls and household responsibilities, Phoebe's care would be diminished instead of priority. So I actually feel like we are in the best place for both she and I. And I am very thankful for that. This hospital has provided the perfect environment and professional help that we needed. They even bring me a "breastfeeding mom's plate" at breakfast, lunch and supper that has been specially prepared to be dairy free. This has been a wonderful blessing.)



This was one of our nurses named Emily. She showed a real warmth toward Phoebe. She took wonderful care of her and gave her  the sweetest little orange teddy bear.





Skippy was another fabulous nurse who came in the middle of the night last night and put Phoebe's tube back in after she pulled it out. She also took one of Phoebe's outfits home and washed it herself because  Phoebe had a blowout in it and we have no way of doing laundry here. These nurses went above and beyond their call of duty to help us. Oh, Skippy also brought us a hospital bed in here so we could get a better sleep.  As you can see in the picture we have to keep Phoebe's hands wrapped in "mits" made of diapers to prevent her from pulling at the tube in her nose.
This picture was taken Sun night at midnight.  That's seems to be when Phoebe will finally close her eyes for the night.

David:  Our greatest decision tonight was thinking thru the flow rate for the pump.
So many professionals here and yet so many differing opinions.  Right now we are pumping in twice the amount she was getting at home.  At times she seems a little uncomfortable when she's had about 3/4 the amount of each feed.  We were seriously considering backing off her volume for the night but a couple of the staff firmly believe we need to set a consistent rate of flow so that her body can adapt to it. It will hopefully prepare her to handle larger volumes of breast milk and or formula from a bottle.
We are praying that she will make a good transition.
Phoebe had a great evening.  It was so nice to get out for a wagon ride down the different hallways while Michelle was busy "keeping supply up."  We are very thankful for their big freezer.
Once again... they really are a great staff.
We have thanked the Lord many times for them.