More Hospital

Today is Bobby's one month birthday. Unfortunately, we had to put the cake and ice cream on hold because Bubba is back in the hospital. He was admitted for a fast respiratory rate and difficulty in gaining weight.

The respiration problem was diagnosed in the emergency room - he has fluid on his lungs. This is expected and treatable. In fact, the doctors have already found the combination of drugs that will keep his condition under control while he gets bigger.

Two consultations with the hospital feeding specialist identified our problems there. Bobby can't drink breast milk from a bottle - it's too thin and he can't swallow fast enough to keep it from flooding his mouth. So, he's now on formula by day and fortified breast milk via a nasal gastric tube by night. He's gained 4 ounces since Thursday night, the same amount he'd gained in the last 2 weeks. He's 7 lbs 11 oz now. Our surgery goal is 11 lbs.

He continues to be a good sport through all the poking and prodding, although we're testing his limits as we practice the insertion and removal of the feeding tube. His sweetness draws everyone close to him. The hospitalization is hard on us all but it's been a blessing to make so much progress in just a few days. We look forward to him blowing out the candles on his real birthday cake 11 months from now.