May 30, 2011

Slumber Party

Well, Clara has made it clear to all of us that she is a boob girl.  We've tried lots of different bottles and lots of different nurses, but this girl really just wants to breastfeed.  I have been breastfeeding her during the day while I'm at the hospital before each of her tube feedings (11:00, 2:00, 5:00).  Since they can't be sure exactly how much she's getting from me, we were still giving her the full 82ccs through her feeding tube afterwards.  The past couple days she's been spitting up/throwing up quite a lot and the nurses and I really thought it was just because she was getting too much food.  When we asked Dr. Yang today if we could just skip the tube feedings during the day while I'm at the hospital, she surprised us by saying, "Why don't you just "room in" for the next two nights, breastfeed exclusively and see how she does?"

So, that's exactly what we're doing.  Clara got her last tube feeding at 11:00 this morning and since then we've been just breastfeeding every two to three hours.  There are these great family rooms at the hospital that are typically used for parents to stay with their baby in the room the last night or two before discharge just as a trial run.  We're not that close to discharge yet, but we're using the room to give breastfeeding a shot.  Clara hasn't thrown up since that 11:00 tube feeding and I think is taking around two ounces for each feeding.  Robert and I are delighted to be joining her for a slumber party tonight!  It's the first time all three of us have spent the night together and we're pretty excited.  I'm also a little anxious.  This is a big test to see whether they'll let us go home without mastering bottle feeding yet.  We covet your prayers tonight.   Please pray especially that Clara will eat heartily and gain weight over the next couple of days to prove that this is sustainable.  Pray that she will have plenty of wet and poopy diapers to demonstrate that she's hydrated and getting nutrition.  Pray that Robert and I are able to catch a few winks between feedings ourselves and that our first night together as a family of three, although away from home, will be a success!  This is truly our last hurdle on this journey.  You have faithfully prayed us through each and every step, so we ask now for your fervent prayers one more time.  Eat, Clara, eat!

I'll post some pictures of our newest home tomorrow, but it's dark and quiet in here now and since there's a sweet sleeping baby that I don't want to disturb, I'm going to leave it that way.

Join us in handing over this final step to God.  He has cared for us so well and provided for us so thoroughly throughout this journey.  We are trusting that He will again.  Part of the Lord's prayer is "Give us this day our daily bread."  We're asking now that God provide enough nourishment to Clara to sustain her and allow her to grow!  I don't think He'll mind if I change the words of the Lord's Prayer tonight to say, "Give us this night our nightly breastmilk."

Matthew 4:4 - Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’  Nor shall we live on breastmilk alone, but on the grace and hope of our Lord and Savior.  Amen.

12 comments:

  1. Praying, praying, praying for you tonight... I love you lots!

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  2. What great news! Breast feeding and bottle feeding are so different. To me it would be better that she would breast feed and eat what she wants/needs. I will pray mightly that she will do what she needs to do and the tube feeding sessions will be gone! Realistically babies at home do not eat 82 cc's every 3 hours! They may eat every 2 hrs several times and then sleep for 4 hrs. Clara knows you by your smell which is a baby's best sense and I just bet she is going to show the doctors what she needs and wants! God Bless!
    Joanne

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  3. That is awesome news!! I hope everything goes well... praying for your first slumber party and excellent feedings!

    Our little one hated bottles too. The only ones I could get her to take were the Avent ones, and only if someone else was giving it to her (I could not even be around at all). Now, at almost 2, I'm struggling to get her off them even though we stopped breastfeeding at just past 1. She'll only drink milk from a bottle.

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  4. Rachel StinehelferMay 30, 2011 at 10:12 PM

    super news - how wonderful that the three of you get to be together - this must feel like a dream!

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  5. Aww... I'm so happy for your little sleepover experiment tonight! I know the doctors are taking wonderful care of Clara, but you are her Mommy too... keep on following your instincts and we are praying for you all to have a very successful night. You can do it! (Try to get some rest too... especially tomorrow during the day if you can)

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  6. What a precious, long awaited event. Uninterrupted famiy time. What a sweet start to the coming events. Going home!!

    Love and prayers to you all! God will light your path as always!

    Nicole Jones

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  7. Yay!!! Praying!!!

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  8. Yay Clara! Enjoy your stay at Baptist... we roomed in with Eph when he was there last summer and it wasn't really bad at all! Praying for the three of you!

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  9. Chrissy you are amazing woman! Prayers to Clara, you, and Robert!! Love you all.

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  10. Yea for the Hardy family! Praying that she gets really hungry, eats like crazy and puts on a lot of weight!!! Little does she know how often we use this excuse!! Love to you all. Hope today is a great day.

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  11. Go Clara go! Becky Ball

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  12. Hi Robert and Chrissy,
    I have been away visiting my grandchildren and am so happy to hear the update. We continue to pray. God is Good all the time and all the time GOD is good. Good night.
    Love,
    Annette and Randy

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