Asher has had a really hard week with eating. He's stopped altogether taking a bottle. He's also been coughing/gagging/spitting/throwing up quite a bit as well the last few days. And that's tube feedings he's throwing up...so we are a little puzzled as to what is going on. His stricture would cause throwing up during bottle feeding, but not really tube feeding. We are going back to Children's Monday to have his esophagus looked at and dilated again, and to see if they can tell what else is going on. We hope we can find some answers! It's very frustrating to take steps back...though we are VERY familiar with that pattern from the nicu. We had 3 speech therapists come by today and they all think he wants to eat, has the skills, but is just very averted to it because of his feeding tube and all his experiences so far with things in his mouth...and whatever is uncomfortable internally with reflux and the stricture. Poor. Little. Man. I just want him to enjoy eating and for it to be EASY. Not God's plan right now. So, in the mean time, we will keep trusting in the Lord's plan, and asking for forgiveness where we are not doing that! (I need to do this, like several times a day lately!) I've had a very hard week, emotionally and cried many times over all this. It's so frustrating and hard not to know what to do to help him. But, I am so relieved to finally have some help at home! We have speech therapist coming now, and will soon have some OT and PT support as well I hope. I am so excited about this!
Please pray for little Asher and his tummy, esophagus, and that the doctors and therapists we encounter will have wisdom for what to try next to help him. And please pray for patience for us in the mean time, and trust, like I said. Thank you so much for your prayers now and this entire journey. They have been heard over and over again!
Dear Asher,
You are such a sweetie!! You have learned to smile and coo at us, and you LOVE to make all kinds of faces! You also love to focus on people and some toys now, but mostly people. I can talk to you for a long time and you will look at me and gaze at me with your big, blue beautiful eyes as if my voice is just so magical and captivating! Will you always listen to your mommy so well?? I hope so! And then you start trying to make sounds and faces back at me as if you want to talk back. You are a happy little boy almost all of the time! The only time you get really upset is when you are trying to learn to eat. And we are working on helping you with that so that it will be more fun! We love you so much, and we are so thankful God created you, and gave you to us so we could be your parents. You are teaching us a lot about having faith in God's plan and trusting Him! We can't wait to see you grow more and more! But not too much.... I loooove you cuddling with me and falling asleep on me. I will miss that when you are a big boy. Happy 6 Month Birthday!!
Love,
Mom
Hi Robyn,
ReplyDeleteHeard of your sweet family from a friend, who is also a preemie momma, as am I. Since then, I've followed your blog and prayed for y'all. We also had feeding issues, although reflux related. It was such a trying time. I remember the anxiety before and during every feeding, the tears and the prayers, and celebrating every ounce. I hope that the OT is helping. It is so important to have a support system of people who understand. Keeping your family in my prayers as your big man gets bigger!
Thank you SO much!!!!
Delete