Mar
15
     
Brown sugar(Day 236)
Posted (Tina) in All Posts on March-15-2008

Today was a big day for the Bun. She ended up having a bath twice, if that gives any indication.

The night included lots of interrupted zzzzs, so the day started at 7:30am when Ella decided that she had been in her crib long enough. By the time we made coffee, ate breakfast, gave Ella meds, tried to feed her with the bottle, and then fed her via g-tube, it was almost 10am.

Then, we all needed bathing. Time was ticking along quickly today and we needed to pick up a prescription for Ella by 12:30pm. The specialized pharmacy is across town and we needed to go to Sam’s Club too. So, we decided to take Ella with us.

We’re always nervous taking her out anywhere since there is a higher risk of her getting sick. But we had cabin fever so badly, we decided to go for it.

Overall, Ella was great. I took her in the stroller and Josh pushed around the cart separately and did the shopping. At first, she was engaged by the different surroundings and sounds. Then she just wanted to suck her binky and take a nap. She kept fussing for the binky and since it was busy, I was having a tough time accommodating her while trying to weave through the people. Finally, Josh needed a restroom break and we stopped in a corner. My creativity kicked into high gear as I crafted a solution for the Bun, as you can see below.

We were gone for about 2 hours on that errand, but it felt like a long time. Probably just because it was so much work taking her along.

Once we came back to our apartment, we had lunch and I left Dad and the Bun to head out again to the regular grocery store for the other half of the shopping list. When I came back and put it all away, it was already 5:30pm and time to prepare feeding Ella again.

I had purchased rice cereal at the store, upon recommendation from Dr. Sarantos. I grabbed other fruits and veggies that she suggested and will store them for future feeding sessions. When the time for 6pm feed came, I thought we should try the rice cereal first to gauge her response.

Unfortunately, Ella did not like eating the rice cereal…and we are not talking a small amount of dissatisfaction. It got her fired up. She really did not like the experience. We thought it was maybe that she hadn’t napped in a while or was too hungry and figured we could try later. We are talking the increased oxygen to 1 liter and she is purple/bluish and crying so hard. Fortunately, we were able to calm her down after about 10 minutes to take a decent picture.

Did I mention that by this time of the day, I had changed Ella’s poopy diaper three times? Seemed a bit looser than usual, but nothing really came to mind or caused concern. Finally after the fourth dirty diaper of the day, I remembered.

Dr. Sarantos stated that we could add a very small amount of sugar to Ella’s bottle feeds. So all day yesterday and this morning, we were adding sugar. But we did not have regular sugar. The only sugar in our cabinet was brown sugar. I googled infants and brown sugar to make sure that it was not a problem. When I saw that it is usually used in remedies to relieve infant constipation, I knew it was safe for her. However without realizing it, we had given her a laxative without meaning to! No wonder she went sooo many times today. Hmmm….maybe that is also why she had a blow out with Dad yesterday morning? It’s certainly possible.

After trying to feed Ella again with rice cereal this evening and having her completely melt down, we opted for bath time again. She had gotten so diaphoretic (sweaty) all over her body and this was the second time today that she bathed in sweat. I just had to put her in the bath again.

Fortunately, she liked the warm bath and shortly after I fed her via g-tube with her full belly, she went down for the night at 9:30pm. That is a bit later for Ella, so we are hoping this means that she will stay in bed longer tonight.

We praise Him for our baby girl. We ask for His strength and perseverance to make it through each day and give Ella just what she needs. We plead for endurance to make it through the feeding issues. We know it is important for Ella to learn, but it is so tough to be disciplined when you feel like you are torturing your baby.

We know He has a reason for everything and although we do not know His plan, we want to be obedient.

2 Corinthians 2:9
The reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything.


Kristen in Michigan on March 15th, 2008 at 8:07 pm #

I just have to say that your little Ella makes me smile as much as mine does!! My Husband was sitting here tonite looking at these pictures with me and he said she was hamming it up!! I know you don’t know us but your family is in our prayers!

Jim and Char Jordan on March 15th, 2008 at 9:15 pm #

She is such a cutie. LOL Jim and Char

Kristen on March 15th, 2008 at 10:36 pm #

Love how you shared the details of your day. Sounds like a long one. Good for you guys to get out! Creative solutions in tough spots. You are great at this already! Love from Colorado!

Gloria & Red Jacobsen on March 16th, 2008 at 1:28 am #

Well, they say,” necessity is the motherhood of invention!” So good going!! Ella will love these pictures and blog,when ahe grows up! We really appreciate the writing of the blog,you both are amazing to be able to do the blog each day. We do feel the Lord will be using your writen efforts for Ella in special way. Continued prayers for Ella and her wonderful parents!all the best,Gloria & Red PS Love the pictures I always look at them first!

Joel Snyder on March 16th, 2008 at 5:15 am #

Ella, You are so special and so loved I hope that your Mom and Dad can get a breather every once in a while. Your pictures are great and you sure are a cutie. I am praying that you will soon start to get the hang of the oral feeding. Sleep tight and I will check on you later. Love,Grandpa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Williamsburg on March 16th, 2008 at 7:48 am #

Tina, I want you to know how much we appreciate you sharing all the details of your day – it helps us visualize being with you. It is so incredibly hard when you have to do things to, with or for them that they don’t like and don’t understand and with Ella’s understandably low tolerance levels it means an even more difficult process. We know, as we always have however, that God chose exactly the right parents for this amazing baby, and He is exactly the right Parent for you two, too! Win-win all around =) Praying without ceasing – love and blessings. XOXOXO

Barbara Mullins on March 16th, 2008 at 12:55 pm #

Today’s pictures of Ella are so funny! I think you have a real ham on your hands! She does seem to enjoy being in front of the camera! I’m keeping the three of you in prayers and am rejoicing to hear about Ella’s progress. Hope you’ll bring Ella to Georgia some day to visit us so we can meet you all. Can’t go through the day without my Ella-fix! Blessings! Barbara Mullins

Becky on March 16th, 2008 at 5:45 pm #

i wonder if brown sugar works on adults….might be interesting to find out…we always learn from the children don’t we…even the BIBLE tells us that…Ella is certainly a ball of fire and obviously very intelligent…she does have a mind of her own..Becky

Chambers Family on March 16th, 2008 at 7:28 pm #

I haven’t met a baby yet that liked rice cereal or the feeling of food in their mouth. I would even mix it with breast milk and thin it out – but it still took Emery a couple of weeks to get the hang of it. I can still visualize the tongue pushing the food out of his mouth with a look on his face… “what is this?” Ella has her tongue out just smiling let alone eating! Hang in there – she’ll get it!

Post a comment

Name:  (required)
Email:  (required)
URL: 
Comments: