This morning I took Charlotte to Fairfax Hospital for her third video swallow since she was born. A video swallow is like a live x-ray to make sure she's not aspirating her food. Since the feeding tube was taken out in the NICU Lottie has been on Nectar (a thickener for her formula). Before she left the NICU in March speech therapy did a video swallow to see if she could go home on regular formula. The study showed she was aspirating thin liquids. It's pretty interesting to watch actually, they mix what they call a barrier in her formula which is like a white powder, this allows them to watch the liquid go down into her stomach through the x-ray machine. In Lottie's case, some of the thin liquid she swallowed was going into her airway. Anyway...she had another one done the middle of May and they said the same thing, she was still aspirating thin liquids. I went back again today hoping and praying we'd be done with nectar forever! They tried her formula in a few different bottles with thin and thick liquids and we watched her swallow it down great! The speech therapist noticed just a little penetration in her airway but no aspiration yay!! They said I could feed her regular formula without the nectar but that I should just watch for signs that she might be aspirating again and to call if I had questions. I made my way home very happy! I had to stop on my way back to feed her (her first full bottle with no nectar) she drank it down like a pro, so I put her in her car seat and made my way back to the car, before I could get outside however she started choking really bad and I frantically tried to get her out of her seat. Just as I was lifting her out she projectile vomited all over herself and her seat! So...I'm going to call the speech therapist tomorrow to see what I should do but until I hear back from her I guess we're back to the nectar. I was pretty discouraged earlier, but after a nice talk with my mom, I feel so much better.:) We have so much to be thankful for when it come to our little girl! Having to put nectar in every bottle is just a reminder to me of where we came from and how blessed we are that nectar is the only thing she is on due to her prematurity. We are still so grateful for your prayers! We can't believe she is going to be one year old in just 3 weeks!
Becca, I just read your blog. Your mom is wonderful! So glad I got to meet her! After going through something a bit difficult it is like receiving manna from heaven when someone brings comfort to our souls. Actually, Becca, being in situations in which we are completely dependent on our Savior is really the very best place to be. Our hearts become soft, and we are willing to stretch upward and seek His will. That stretching enlarges our hearts and increases our desire to know HIM! After the trial of our faith He always enfolds us in the arms of His love and whispers peace to our souls! He will never leave us alone!
ReplyDeleteI share a scripture that I love.
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God.....Romans 8: 28.
I love you!
Becca, we continue to pray for Charlotte. She is such a sweet little girl and I know she brings so much joy to yours, Ned's and the boys lives. Hang in there! And happy 1st birthday to Charlotte! Wow!
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