Saturday, January 17, 2009

I love the sound of flushing toilets

One good thing about our hospital room is that the water in the shower is hot. And the pressure is good. The shower isn't the cleanest (sorry, Sara) nor is it anything more than just a hospital bathroom. But I do love me a hot shower. Even though it's bad for my skin. And the best part is that several times throughout the shower, I'll hear someone somewhere flush a toilet. And for about ten seconds my water gets a burst of hotter water. Mmmmmmmm............................bliss.

Things here are good. Not great. But only b/c there's not much that's great about being in the hospital. This room is much smaller than the one at Vanderbilt, and so the walls are starting to close in on me a bit. And while I really have enjoyed my food three times a day (breastfeeding mothers get a tray), dinner is served at 4:00. What am I, retired in Florida? I'm starving by 8:00! So right now Matthew went to Amigo to get us some yummy Mexican food. I do hate it that downtown isn't really convenient to the interstate or any of the places we usually go to. But oh well.

Benjamin is improving more and more. He hasn't had any pain medicine in over two days. We're just waiting for him to eat normally again, and they're easing him into it. He did poop today, with the help of some Dulcolax, and seems to feel a little better. After over two weeks without a poop, I'd say so.

So here's the deal. Right now he has a tube down his nose that is going into his stomach past the repair in his duodenum. Through that tube right now he is getting only a minimal amount of breastmilk. (I think it's like 1/5 of an ounce per hour.) It's mainly still there just in case he starts to not do so well with the feedings by mouth, then it'll already be in place where it needs to be.

By mouth, Benjamin is now getting two ounces of breastmilk every two hours (if he's awake). That's up from one ounce at a time of Pedialyte yesterday and 1.5 ounces of breastmilk at a time today. The doctor said that if he tolerates two ounces at a time for awhile, then we'll do 2.5 ounces at a time and pull the tube from his nose. If he eats well all day tomorrow then there's a possibility we can go home on Monday. That would be perfect since Matthew has Monday off work anyway (MLK) and really needs to get back to work. (Remember: he hasn't worked since Wednesday the 7th b/c he went to Orlando.) I am thinking more like Tuesday that we'll go home but I think it's just b/c I don't want to get my hopes up.

I'll try to post some pics next time. There really aren't that many pics of cute Benjamin in a bed that look any different than the other ones, and that's about all we're doing. Oh, I'll take a picture of my dinner from Amigo and make all of you drool. :)

7 comments:

Jenn said...

I love those bf mom's meals in the hospital LOL but yeah, dinner at 4pm is really just a snack. Enjoy your Amigo's.
I am keeping up with all the updates and pray that you are able to come home on Monday (Benjamin too LOL).

j.

Susan Massoud Farley said...

Glad you are getting a good dinner! That Amigo's may make for some interesting flavored milk for baby B. later, LOL.
I hope you all can go home monday, but not until the doctors are sure he is ready. I love that you love and trust doctors and nurses, because I am totally that way too! But I also know how ready you are to be in your space with your own routine and both of your boys...it drives me nuts to be out of my routine and surroundings. Just remember, no hot meals served three times a day magically appearing at home!

Unknown said...

OK first of all remember that there is an Amigos super close on Dayton Blvd, you just go down frazier through the tunnel to Dayton Blvd and it is right beside Ace Hardware and Wendy's. I am so glad to hear the B is drinking some milk, out of a bottle at that! Fingers crossed for Monday. Meltdown at my hOUSE GOTTA GO

Sharon said...

Hi! I just wanted to tell you that Bejamin is absolutely adorable! I hope that you will all be home together very soon. My little guy also started spitting up after he started solids and his weight gain has really slowed - so I'm glad I came across your blog and am definitely going to have my pediatrician look into this more seriously. So, thank you!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the update :) I have been thinking about you and praying for Benjamin. Your updates help keep my prayers pointed in the right direction :)

becky bell said...

I'm glad Benjamin is doing well so far. We are praying for you guys!

Branton Family said...

I have been thinking and praying for you all. Oh the memories. . .not looking forward to going back to that hospital room. Tell Benjamin to stay strong. . .keep your eyes focused on home and prayerfully you will be there soon! Amy