After what has been, without doubt, the hardest week so far, Emily's stitches came out without incident. Why should that surprise me? Emily is, after all, amazing!
 |
| Happy, smileys! |
We had to be at the hospital at 6am! But I learnt a new trick - Electrolyte replacement sachets! Beanie had a runny tummy on Tuesday, so I bought some Cera Lyte 50 sachets at the recommendation of the pharmacist. I made 200ml of mixture, and used this to make her formula. It is berry flavoured, so she looovvved it! In the wee hours of Thursday morning, when giving her the last feed she was allowed before anaesthetic, I gave her a feed mixed like this, and she lasted a lot better on her enforced 'hunger strike'. Let me add, at this point, that I usually mix Emily's formula with Rooibos tea, instead of water. So I just brew up some Rooibos, and then mix her formula with that. She loves it! And it made such a difference, when we were struggling with her stomach when we put her on formula (and before anyone judges, we had to, because she was lactose intolerant!).
My mom has also asked me to please add that the medicine dummy feeder does need two people to feed. One to hold the dummy in place, and the other to fill the syringe and feed the milk in - in case anyone was trying this alone, and feeling less capable than us. Please, remember, that at any given time, Beanie has two carers from Team Bean looking after her - she is a very lucky little Beanie (and, I am a very lucky Mommy, to be so well supported!).
Back to Thursday's procedure. Emily was only sedated with anaesthetic so that she could lie completely still when they removed her stitches. It was so quick, that I left the theatre after holding her so that they could administer the gas, got to the waiting room, switched my laptop on to post on her blog, and the plastic surgeon came out and said he was done! Amazing! Just about sprinted back to the recovery area so that I could see the results, and I could hear her coming because she was, um, 'asking' quite loudly for her food... She drank from her medicine dummy, and then gave us the breath taking smile that I posted above.
Her ENT came and checked on her grommits, and her right ear is a bit infected still, so we have to keep on with the antibiotic drops until it clears. Not the most pleasant thing I have ever done, because the sticky icky slime that is coming out of her ear makes my spit go thick (my mom's version of 'I threw up in my mouth'). But it is already a lot better, so, hopefully, it will be all clear soon.
Feeding, post surgery last week was entertaining. If there has been any one thing that allows Emily to express herself, it has been her feeding! She has now decided that she no longer wants to drink from her Pigeon cleft feeder, mind you. Her way of telling us this, is to gag when we try to feed her with it (smiling and shaking my head as I type this!). So, in a frantic, dazed state, I shot out of the house on Thursday to hunt down a dummy style teat - a lot easier said than done! I found Mam teats, that are fitting her Nuby silicone bottle so that I can still 'assist' the feed by sqeezing the soft bottle. But, this also, only works when she is in the mood... We mostly start a feed with one device and end it on another - my child likes to keep us guessing.
Never a dull moment - and why would I want it any other way?!
Here is a montage of pics to date of my darling Angel, Emily Bean Fairbanks (even Rocky had a montage...)
I, truly, have nothing but love, pride and admiration for my darling, strong, wonderful daughter, who brings us endless smiles and love.
No comments:
Post a Comment