Last night Eric decided to go back to his NICU tricks and pull out his NG-tube. He has lost hand privileges again. It then took the RN two tries to get the tube back in him correctly. It would have been easier if Eric had been just a wee bit more cooperative. He kept poor Cris up until 2:30 am waiting for the x-rays to make sure it was in its proper place. Eric himself snuggled and slept with me on the bed until the x-ray technician came. Eric was absolutely miserable from getting another tube stuck down him, through his nose and down to his intestines. I can't imagine why! Unfortunately, his diabolical plan to remove it, did not work. They just put it back in.

The nurses will be giving Eric half of his feeds during the night and he will get oral feeds in the day. They are trying to get him up to his 30 oz a day that he is supposed to be taking. Still no word on the results of the biopsy.

We finally found a supplement to add calories without using formula. Eric hates formula and will not drink it. We think it was adding to the reflux and once he realized it hurt him, he refused it. He is a pretty smart baby and learns very quickly what hurts and what doesn't. The supplement is called Polycose and it just adds 8 more calories per 2 oz of breast milk. Unlike the other supplements, Eric does not mind this one.

Eric is still not eating well. He is getting back to the point where he was before the stomach bug. The doctors have reduced his intake from his IV so that he is not over-hydrated anymore. Nothing like changing a diaper and having your baby pee on himself, TWICE, while changing his diaper. This morning the poor baby was soaked.

We are able to use cloth diapers in the hospital which is good since Eric has a sensitivity to the disposables. He was getting contact rashes. He has very sensitive skin and we have to be careful what touches him.

While in NICU, the doctors did not want us to get the Amby bed and told us repeatedly that it would not work. After buying several things to get Eric to sleep (most of which are now very expensive cat beds), out of desperation we decided to get the Amby bed anyway. It is set up for reflux and he will sleep the entire night in it. The staff in the pediatrics wing completely love it. They love how it bounces when Eric moves in it and gets himself back to sleep.

When I have time (and a working computer), I will post pictures of this current hospital visit. I have some cute photos of Eric with his new blanket from his Aunt Sunny's girls, Josie and Helen, and a new stuffed toy from Heidi. The monkey blanket was a perfect complement to the Valentine's outfit that Eric is wearing in the photos. He is all over the elephant toy. He is currently mad at me for taking it away to wash it after he peed on it. Note to self, keep everything at a minimum of 2 feet while changing diapers. It was also wonderful seeing Abigail again. Such a sweet baby!

I also found a someone who will take all of the stored breast milk off my hands. I had a couple of questions for the lactation consultant and she directed me to an adoptive mother who can only feed her baby breast milk. Like Eric, her baby's stomach is very delicate. The adoptive mother also knows other parents and is willing to take as much as I can give her.

Eric will probably be in the hospital for at least one more week. The doctors are attempting to control his reflux with medicines. Since Eric cannot go home on the NG-tube, he will have to have the G-tube put in. We are hoping he won't need it, but are resigned to it. It would be the same as having the NG-tube, Oral feeds during the day and tubal feedings during the night.

Eric will not always be attached to a tube, but will be given what is called a mickey. Basically, it is a little button that covers the opening during the day and you just open it for the tube at night. We hope it is just temporary, but and RN was telling us about a 17 year old girl who has one. She just keeps it covered and nobody notices. Eric's current neighbor also has one, but she has severe medical difficulties that thankfully Eric does not have.