Ellie there's a puppy waiting for you at home...

Ellie there's a puppy waiting for you at home... That's what Ellen, our nurse practitioner, was telling Ellie when we got here this morning. :) Although we had to break it to her that pets were not allowed at Jardine :) Anyways, Ellen was happy to see Ellie and us this morning to help us "take a deep breath" and talk about little Ellie and her needing us to wait a little while to go home. She's getting there Ellen said - the new goal is maybe by the end of this week. So...also, Ellen told Ellie that it could be a stuffed puppy waiting for her when we go home. So here's the update on Ellie's feedings: midnight - took 10 mL, gavaged the rest; she was pretty tired 0300 - finished her whole bottle (57 mL) and she was wide awake the nurse said 0600 - took 30 mL, gavaged 27 0900 - took it all in 20 minutes and was wide awake when Ellen was in assessing her. She even was smiley for Ellen :) noon - well, we have a small poop - this is progress! But, she didn't finish her bottle. She ate 43; gavaged the rest. We even got to mix her prilosec with the beginning of her bottle feeding (separate bottles) like we will when we're at home New Orders: no pulse ox; it's our job to watch color, etc. Her feedings got changed to ad lib every 3 hours - where she gets a range now to eat. She has to eat at least 50 mL to be considered a full feeding and can get more if she's still hungry after she's done. We might get the home monitor on her soon (since they make sure it's good to go in the hospital before we go home) Other Topics: *We asked Ellen about breastfeeding once a day and if she thought it was keeping her here. She really thinks its not playing a vital part. Once a day is not enough to affect her 24 hour feedings, so Ellen said I should keep with it. She said it would be more of a concern if Ellie was only taking 5 mL, etc. but since she's taking almost half her feedings, she says go for it. So I'm going to keep at it and we're going to try again at 3 p.m. *Ellen also cleared up the misinformation on what we like to call"rush day" -Friday; Ellen didn't think she would go home on the weekend and she was really just clarifying that she would equip us better for when we'd go home, most likely on a day shift, when she could be here! *Her pooping issues. She asked the doctors in rounds this morning and Dr. Sidlinger said let her go a week - no concern, it might just be her. This also might be something we discuss with Dr.Duff when we get to Manhattan. *We asked about feedings after home - when to increase and the general rule is increase 5 mLs a week. *staying in the family room (transition room equipped with bed, microwave, TV, bathroom, fridge) sometime this week - we'll be able to tell better after she's taken 8 consecutive bottles (24 hours)...which she's still waiting to do! *talked to Ellen about a bouncer seat and swing, and she said that would be too much stimulation for Ellie so to hold off on that for about a "month-ish" Please continue to pray for Ellie and her feedings. We're sure getting anxious to take our little princess home! Oh, and also pray for Ellie's little friend, Brayden. I've really gotten close with his mom, Mary and they just found out that little Brayden might be blind (she's talking with the pediatric neurologist more in depth today about the MRI results). Oh, this kind mossouse lady offered free massages for us staying at Ronnies, so Mary and I are going to take advantage of that tomorrow! :) Praise for our stay at Ronnies. The place really has been a huge blessing to us. They actually asked us to come speak at their annual "Cinderella Ball" fundraising event in August...we felt pretty honored. This is a dress up event, so it should be fun! Weird to think Ellie would be almost one by then! We'd love to share our story about our little princess to RMDH supporters. Ok, well, it's lunch time and before we know it, it'll be time for Ellie to eat again!