Day +16: Back In the NG Business

"What could you do better for your children and your children's children than to record the story of your life, your triumphs over adversity, your recovery after a fall, your progress when all seemed black, your rejoicing when you had finally achieved?"
-President Spencer W. Kimball

Last night was great. Either Kal slept amazing, or I was beyond exhausted, because I don't remember hearing a peep out of him. This morning he was pretty awake and alert. He even decided to flirt with one of his lady doctors today. It was so cute- that lady is pretty straight forward with adults, but when she gets around Kal and talks to him, she just melts right away and talks in her little "baby voice" to them. Some people are just meant to work with kids, and she's one of them.

Well then, the conclusion of the doctors, since Kal wasn't wanting to swallow his medicine yesterday, and since I was concerned to try giving the bottle to Kal due to all of his vomiting yesterday, is that he needed an NG tube (a type of feeding tube) put in. Poo. We've been down that road before, and it's not the funnest, but it's not the worst, either. The only difference this time is that he will not have it anchored in his nose with what they call a bridle. This time around, he will have it taped to his face like most people have seen others with a feeding tube. It's no big difference, only that this time around if Kal gets a good hold on it, he can pull it out of position and I would be stuck shoving it back down in place. Yikers. I was there watching today when they put it in, and it didn't seem that difficult, other than Kal was shaking his head to try and escape it. Last time he had it placed, he was sedated because they did it right after he had a colonoscopy and endoscopy. Watching the nurses put it in today, I felt a little woozy at first, but I got over it. Poor Kal looked so sad after he had the feeding tube in as though he was defeated. After a while of good Mama cuddles, though, he temporarily got over it.

I'm just... sad. Not this darn thing again!

Maybe gazing off in the distance will make me feel better. At least I have Mama to cuddle and comfort me.

Ahhh, I'm still sad, but Mama's arms are just so comfy. I think I will just... close my eyes a little... zzzzzzzz

The good thing about Kal having the NG tube is that we won't have to worry so much about rushing to get Kal to swallow his oral meds all at once with a sore, raw throat. Also, we can start to give him a little bit of formula through it, to allow his stomach to start working again. Some people say getting an NG actually makes it easier and faster to be discharged, as it kind of bypasses some of the requirements to go home.

Also, the doctors decided to not lower his morphine again today, as planned. They wanted to lessen the dose amount each day to get him weaned off of it, but from all the puking yesterday and today, they kept it at the same level as it was changed to yesterday.

Furthermore, Kal has been having high blood pressure lately, especially since yesterday. The doctors said that could be caused by many things- inflammation/water retention, pain, or from one of his medicines. To be safe, they lowered the dose of one of his medicines. Also, since his high blood pressure is becoming a trend, he has been prescribed a medication to help with that.

Kal was sleeping a lot today, but then perked up in the late afternoon. Grandpa came to visit and Kal had a sponge bath. Lemme tell ya, that child sure loves to be naked and have his head rubbed with the sponge! That's when he just stays still, as if to say, "Ahhh, that's the spot!" It makes me giggle every time. Sometimes there are days that kick you down, but apparently, according to Kal, a sponge bath spa treatment makes the world feel a little brighter. (;

This is when I turned my phone's camera and screen towards him so he could see himself. Yeah, he was charming up his own reflection. Haha! "Well heyyy there, who's this good lookin' baby, and where have you been all my life?!"