set backs

Here are some things you should know about Davy........ 1. she is very inconsistent, 2. expect the unexpected and 3. that we are always doing two steps forward and then two steps back. So when these thing DO happen, I really should not get upset because it's really her M.O.

I also notice(and tell me if this happens to you) that as soon as I really start to brag about a child's accomplishments, they quickly stop doing the accomplishment. SO NO MORE BRAGGING RUTH!!! When am I going to learn?

Alrighty then, we all know how well Davy has been with eating her grub. We have been working on this for the past couple of months. She has surprised pretty much everyone by how much she loves it and her actual ability to eat. I have to say it has been so freeing to not have to hook her up to machine every couple of hours. I swear Davy even seems happier since she has been eating by mouth.

When a baby has eating issues like Davy, you first need to make sure that it is safe to feed her. A test called a modified barium swallow is usually done before feeding therapy starts. We obviously are a little late with this as we just had it done on Tuesday. During the test, they feed Davy 3 consistencies of liquids, a puree and a solid, all while taking an x-ray of her throat.

I have to admit I was WAY confident walking into this. Davy has been doing amazing with purees and showing NO signs of aspirating. Then, during the test they even spoon fed her the liquids, So I knew we had it in the bag. The test lasted all of 5 minutes. I even joked to the doctor on how fast it was.( I am so dumb) The therapist had me go to the waiting room to wait for the results. While in there I struck up a conversation with a NICU mom. She was telling me all about her sweet baby and how he could go home as soon as he learned to eat. I told her all about Davy. And how some things turn out a little differently then you expect, but that it's OK. What seems scary at first becomes completely normal. Like feeding tubes, not so bad, right?

Well then the therapist came back and asked me to step outside...wait, what?!!!! Outside?!!! I know what that means..... baad news. I don't wanna go outside!!!

She told me that the test can be very quick for 2 reasons; the baby is a champion eater or it is too dangerous to continue. And unfortunately it was too dangerous for Davy to go on. She was silently aspirating on everything they had given her. Cue shocked face, followed by Mom tears.

I did NOT expect this. I was SO sure Davy was doing well. She said that we couldn't have known cuz she should no outward signs, hence silent aspiration.

So we are no longer able to feed her anything by mouth. And she will need to have a lot more therapy. I was completely devastated. Especially seeing how miserable Davy is being back to only tube feeds. She really is missing her cheetos. We are trying to distract her when we feed her by taking her on walks. You all know how Miss Davy has a love affair with her stroller. It seems to do the trick.

Now I am just focusing on the positives. Thank heavens we caught this before Davy got pneumonia. We really avoided a catastrophe. It really is a blessing.

Modern medicine is amazing. I am thankful for tubies, without it my daughter would not be here.

Those are some pretty convincing positives.