Superstar Eater

Lucy is doing a great job with her feedings!  She started at 2 mls every 8 hours just 4 days ago, and now she's up to 12 mls every 3 hours.  She loooooooooves feeding time and slurps down her milk in seconds.  We feed her with a bottle nipple that we gradually pour milk into from a syringe.  I can't breastfeed yet because they need to measure out how much she is eating, but I am pumping and storing my milk for her to eat now and later.  She hasn't pooped yet, but the doctors said that will probably take a couple more days because she's not getting enough food to make a poop.  She is, however, farting up a storm, which is a great sign that the intestine is starting to function.  She has also gained weight since we started the feedings!  So far she's gained about half a pound and now weighs 5 lbs, 11 oz.  She looks so healthy and the doctors are really happy about the way the feedings are progressing.  We're trying not to get our hopes up too much, but things seem to be going really, really well!

The news on the closure is also looking better.  The surgeon checks the dressing every day to see if it is staying put.  Ideally they like to keep it on for 4-5 days before changing it because keeping it undisturbed allows the skin underneath to grow faster.  At the beginning they were having to change it every day because it was getting moist and wasn't staying in place.  That's why the surgeon wasn't totally happy with the way things were progressing.  But for the past 5 days or so it has looked great.  It's been dry, flush with the skin around the edges, and staying in place.  They are going to change the dressing tomorrow so hopefully we will know more about how the closure is looking after that. 

Lucy has seemed much more comfortable since we started feedings.  Who can blame her?  She's turning out to be such a sweet baby.  She doesn't cry very much and when she does it's usually not for long.  She smiles now and makes cute little noises.  I'm not sure if she realizes what she's doing but it's pretty adorable.  She is such a good sport considering everything that is being done to her.  Here are some recent pictures, including pics of her first cuddle with Grandpa Charlie.

Lucy and Grandpa Charlie.

   

Holding Grandpa Charlie's hand.

Rockin' the baby beanie.

Arms over head, a classic Lucy pose.

Lucy's best Yoda.