On Our Way!

Friday was the real turning point.  I was greeted with the news that Marlo had nippled two full feedings in a row.  It's unheard of for her, so naturally we were elated!  Skeptical that the next feedings would go so well, we approached the next feeding with little expectation. 

Much to my surprise, she took the entire bottle once again.  And the next one, and then the next one!!!  It was a miracle.  I started to believe the talk of the switch.  :)  The remainder of the night went well, and her percentage of feedings taken by nippling was at a whopping 85% for the day. 

Yesterday, she did well, but was a little tired from all the effort of the day before.  She still did a total of 82%.  Complete surprise!!! 

Today, we are trying something a little different.  We are letting her eat when she is hungry, and take as much as she wants, not forcing anything more down the NG tube.  She was waking up and eating when she felt like it today.  They are letting her try it out for 24 hours.  So far so good for the day.  At 6am she took 65, 8:45 it was 25, and hour and a half later, 40, an hour later 40, and then about 3 hours later 70(cc's).  When I left at 6 she had nippled all by her little self, all but 25cc's of the amount that they had been wanting her to take the day before for that shift.  That is the way to get home! 

Unfortunately, the nurse that has her tonight has never worked with her before.  She doesn't know her quirks, and there are many.  The other trouble is, with ad lib on demand, there is no waking her up to make her eat, no working with her until she takes the entire bottle...and believe me, we work really hard every time (except today for some reason) to get her to take as much as possible.  It makes me feel nervous.  I don't want there to be any reason for them to say it didn't work.  I want her to win, and get home!  I am praying that the 24 hour trial turns into, taking the NG tube out of her nose, and coming home in a few days.  I've learned to be patient, but I do believe Marlo is capable of this.  If only they would just give her a chance. 

Today she sucked the bottles down without effort.  70cc's in 15 minutes!  That is unheard of for Marlo.  We have turned a corner.  It's a miracle! 

Last night she weighed in at 7lbs 2.85oz.  She looks really good! 

Here she is after downing that 70cc bottle in 15 minutes.  She wore her cute little self out!  Ah, there is light at the end of the tunnel!!! 

After 17 weeks, I should hope so!