OK, maybe not all is well

So as Mom mentioned, we are having problems with the G-tube. One was strangely beneficial, the other is totally difficult.

Although Loki experienced less discomfort during the first 24 hours of feedings on the new tube, after that he had more. Because of this, and the second problem, we tried switching from the pump to bolus feedings, in which we slowly push a large food-filled syringe connected to a tube and his button in order to feed him. Instead of one hour of continuous pumping, we are now giving him three five-minute "bursts," separated by 30 minutes from each other. Not only is he more comfortable, but this is the next step towards better feeding habits. We'll gradually make the first "burst" bigger, and the latter two smaller, until we are just one five minute burst per feeding. The drawback is that, overnight, we currently must slowly push the syringe at 1:00 AM, 1:30, and 2:00. This amounts to 90 minutes with little sleep. We decided to let him sleep through the 4:00 AM feeding!

The second problem has been mentioned: The tube too easily comes out of the button that was installed in Loki's abdomen. Keep in mind that all along this is a temporary plug, in which a tube just slides into a hole. After three months, this plug would come out and he'd get a "Mic-Key," which has a locking mechanism. (That change will require a procedure with general anesthetics, but not an overnight stay in the hospital.) During those three months, though, the fitting would gradually become looser and looser.

But today, the GI (Dr. Rhee) who put in the plug was shocked at just how loose the fitting had become. This problem appears to have been traced to a nurse who, in the hospital, forced in a syringe with a larger fitting directly into the plug. This loosened the fitting. Dr. Rhee is very upset and will file a report. The switch to the Mic-Key will now happen as early as possible, perhaps at just one month. In the meantime, we were given a stretchy elastic band to put around Loki's waist to help hold in the tube during a feeding. It is going to be a long four weeks!

I've been meaning to mention that Loki is now 17 pounds, 2 ounces, or almost 7.8 kilograms.

As mentioned, Richard and Maaike from Nederland were here for the past week, and they provided amazing support. They visited us at the hospital during their only weekend during their first vacation without their own little man. They provided much help around the house. Maaike is trained in both nursing and child development, and thus had great advice on the G-tube and other aspects. And Richard is a designer who did our birth announcement cards, and used that design to redesign this blog. So mucho gracias to them!

Tomorrow, Mom's mom (Oma Heleen) and step father (Opa Frits) arrive. We look forward to it.

Off to the next burst....