Cooper came through the G tube surgery successfully
and was quickly able to return to goal feeds. As a result, the doctors
felt they were ready to send us home. We came home last Wednesday with
medicines, a calorie fortifier that is added to the breast milk he gets
and a list of doctors with whom we are to make follow-up appointments,
not to mention referrals to early intervention programs. I literally
have to write out a schedule each day to remember when to feed him and
give him the correct medications at the correct time. Life with Cooper
will require great discipline and patience(how will a
Cooper/Rogers/Julian ever accomplish such a feat?).
We have seen
a bit of improvement in his feedings. I think not being able to get his
normal amount of food during the surgery and recovery process made him
hungry enough to attempt to work for his food. A week agoS aturday, we
began to see success in the suck-swallow-breathe reflex and Cooper is
now taking a portion of 2-3 of his feedings from the bottle. The
doctors also told me that I could try to nurse him and his first
attempt was a huge success. He is able to regulate the milk flow and
his need to rest and breathe a lot easier when he is nursing. It is
work and it does tire him out however, so we have to finish his feeding
through the tube. I am anxiously awaiting the day, he finishes one
whole feeding by mouth! It is hard work for him and requires so much
energy that we cannot push him b/c he needs every calorie he can get.
As he gets older, he will get stronger and will be able to do this,
sometimes it seems like we will never get there --this is a prayer
request.
We are so pleased to have our entire family home and
together. Drew is doing okay with his little brother being here, I am
seeing a few things that I can't quite tell if his actions are due to
him being 3, being a boy or being a little bit upset at his
"dethroning" from being the only kid in the house. He is cute with him
though and always wants to help and wants me to get Cooper out of bed
so Cooper can watch Drew and learn from him (of course, today Drew spit
on and kicked my mom, not exactly the behaviors I will want him to
teach).Our prayer requests continue to be for weight gain in
anticipation of heart surgery (ideally he should weigh around 4kg or
9lbs.), continued improvement in eating by mouth and moving away from
needing the tube all the time (we think Drew thinks all babies are fed
through tubes in their tummies), and for guidance as we begin to get
involved in early intervention program(s)for his development (he will
require speech therapists, occupational therapists and physical
therapists).
Thank you all for loving us and for being our
family and friends, we would not have made it sanely through the last
six weeks without your continued prayers, encouragement and
support.This has been my daily prayer for Cooper taken from Psalm
139:13-17, "For you created [Cooper's] inmost being; you knit [him]
together in [my] womb. I praise you because [he] is fearfully and
wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
[His] frame was not hidden from you when[he] was made in the secret
place. When [he] was woven together in the depths of the earth, your
eyes saw [his] unformed body. All the days ordained for [him] were
written in your book before one of them came to be.How precious to me
are your thoughts O God! How vast is the sum of them!"
We are
thankful for our son and know that our Father was well aware of
everything Cooper will face and has ordained each and every one of his
days-- what love! Enjoy the pictures, all but the one of Drew and Cooper
were taken yesterday!
We love you all!
Amanda, Andy, Drew and Cooper |
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