William is now 5#13.8 oz. Today I went up to the hospital at about 10:30am and stayed till about 3pm. I enjoyed an afternoon full of snuggling my little guy and giving him lots of loving. He had his 11am feeding today and took about 15 cc. Last night at his bottle he sucked lots and swallowed lots (~20 suck swallow combinations together) he looked like he was doing so much better than the 15 cc volume he ended up taking in the end. Then today he was hardly sucking and was drowning himself with every suck. He coughed and sputtered 2 twice during the feeding once at the very beginning and then about half way through. So his sucks were a lot stronger today during the day, but weren't very well coordinated with his swallows, or he was having such a strong suck he couldn't swallow all the liquid he was getting from the bottle. After his bottle he slept on my chest in a wrap for a while and then woke up about an hour before his 2pm feeding. I was planning on leaving, so about 1:30 I went to pump and leave, but when I came back from pumping it was 2pm and time for another feeding, so I couldn't pass up on holding him while he ate. I held him and dipped his paci in milk while he sucked on it for a little bit while he ate. (So he develops the relationship between having something in his mouth and a full belly.) I did offer him some of the sucrose water, and he hated it, and much preferred what he was familiar with (breastmilk) All in all it was a good day. I stayed too long for Rob, but I really enjoyed my William time
This evening I went up for the feeding and he did great had a very coordinated suck and swallow and before we knew it in ~17 min his bottle was gone he'd taken the complete 20cc.
Mother of a "Special" Child
When I was young, I'd often say,
I'd like to be a mom someday
While playing with my baby doll,
I thought that job's not hard at all
I'd have a baby, maybe two,
a girl in pink...a boy in blue
Well I grew up and sure enough,
I'm now a mom and gosh it's tough
The baby that was sent to me,
was born with disabilities
At first I'm frightened through and through,
there's much to learn to care for you
This wasn't in my plans at all,
when I was young and played with dolls
Your mind and body were so weak,
you might not ever walk or speak
So much special care required,
I'm often scared and often tired
As months and years go slowly by,
I smile a lot but sometimes cry
To watch you grow and not complain,
though you endure your share of pain
Oh, how I'd hold you and I'd pray,
that you'd be healed and whole someday
But I knew that was not to be,
not physically or mentally
And so I taught you best I could,
your progress wasn't very good
But then one day I realized,
as I gazed into your loving eyes
That I had learned so much from you,
determination...courage too
A love so unconditional,
it floods my soul and always will
I'm proud to say I gave you birth,
for you're an angel here on earth.
God Choose a mother for a "Special" child
Most women becaome mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressure and a couple by habit.
This year nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of handicapped children. Did you ever wonder how mothers of handicapped children are chosen?
Somehow I visualize God hovering over earth selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As He observes, He instructs His angels to make notes in a giant ledger.
"Armstrong, Beth; son. Patron saint...give her Gerard. He's used to profanity."
"Forrest, Marjotie; daughter. Patron saint, Cecelia."
"Rutledge, Carrie; twins. Patron saint, Matthew."
Finally He passes a name to an angel and smiles, "Give her a handicapped child."
The angel is curious. "Why this one God? She's so happy."
"Exactly," smiles God, "Could I give a handicapped child to a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel."
"But she has patience?" asked the angel.
"I don't want her to have to much patience or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wears off, she'll handle it."
"I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence that is so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has his own world. She has to make her live in her world and that's not going to be easy."
"But, Lord, I don't think she even believes in you." God smiles, "No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect - she has just enough selfishness." The angel gasps - "selfishness? is that a virtue?"
God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she'll never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take for granted a 'spoken word'. She will never consider a 'step' ordinary. When her child says 'Momma' for the first time, she will be present at a miracle, and will know it!"
"I will permit her to see clearly the things I see...ignorance, cruelty, prejudice....and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life, because she is doing My work as surely as if she is here by My side".
And what about her Patron saint? asked the angel, his pen poised in mid-air.
God smiles, "A mirror will suffice."
2 comments:
Wow- that is awesome!!!!
sounds like 20 sucks forward one suck back. He is doing incredible that little one is as stubborn as his mama. And God bless both of you for that trait.
As to more William time. If you want I will come out there during the week for you, but if you want me to I'd rather me and my kids pack up and stay for a couple days for you gas is just too much for us to do it any other way. Let me know.
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