Food Glorious Food!

Samuel had his weekly outpatients appointment at Starship yesterday. He will be 6 months old on Sunday and all his 'numbers' are doing really well. His biliruben is again in the 80's and his other liver indicators are dropping and kidney function is normal, so that is great. The Dr and dietician decided to up Sam's milk (which goes directly into his jejunum) to 10 ml/hour for 2 days, then we are to try him on 1 teaspoon of baby rice! Can you believe it??? Real food,...... oh it's so exciting! So tomorrow is his big day and another experiment but we're up for it! He now is taking 200 mls of pepti-junior (milk) per day and if he was a normal child he would be on around 700 - so it's actually really amazing. So it's 2 days with baby rice, then we are to try him for 2 days with 1teaspoon of pumpkin. Being bright orange they're hoping it's easier to follow it's path to see if it just stays in his stomach or makes the journey through his gut to his iliestomy bag. But we're hoping most of it will be absorbed on the way.

The last few days we had noticed that there was more air in his ilieostomy bag - not just the faecal matter, but was also blowing up like a balloon. He has had very little air asperated from his stomach (via NG) so when he pulled it out we just left it out to see what would happen. He seemed to cope fine without it and is burping himself a whole lot more - big loud rumbling wet ones... but we're thrilled! But the NG has gone back in so we can monitor what is happening to the solids.

The girls have been so great with Sam and really embracing him and his needs - it's lovely to see. So we're very thankful to have been home a full 2 weeks and for the progress Sam is making. We wake each day and thank God, Sam's maker for sustaining him and us and asking God to be with us in whatever the day holds. It's been a lovely relaxing and fun time - the Christmas tree is up, mince pies in the oven and girls excited about the season, as are we.

Best wishes