Talan at 5 months

It is so good for Talan to be back out of ICU. Of course, b/c that means he is much better, but also b/c now the kids can go with me to see him. It makes things so much easier. We had the nicest nurse today. She put a movie on for the kids, and even got them a snack!

Talan is doing a lot better. I can't remember what all I have talked about on this blog, but he was admitted originally b/c he had stopped eating. They have ran all kinds of tests on him, and even now that his infection is clear, he still won't suck on a bottle. They are thinking it is neurological...his brain just isn't telling him how to eat. I hate that...but he has been doing so well with his feedings through the tube in his nose...everyone agrees that the best step for him now is to surgically place a stomach feeding tube...that they call a button. They have told me it is very simple...actually easier than feeding him the traditional way, and that I can just give him his medicine through that button too. Which is good...b/c I was stressing before when we put his medicine in the bottle, and he wouldn't finish it. He will be coming home on more medicine than he left with....and some of that will be longterm medicine. He has been diagnosed with sickle cell anemia. I am not sure what all that will mean for him. Bless his heart...he has a lot against him in this life.

I have been very excited at how well he has responded to me in the hospital. I have worried so much about not being there with him all the time, but every day when I am there holding him, he always responds well. I have gotten a lot of good feedback from the nurses too...and that has been encouraging. They can tell a difference in how he responds to us...and that is great. He fusses everytime a nurse tries to hold him, but he is always calm...and usually pretty alert for me.

He turned 5 months old while in the hospital. I have also been very encouraged to see his alertness has he has gotten better. He is back to cooing, and is smiling quite a bit, something he didn't do before. It is so cute! He is also discovering his hands, and moving them around a lot...much more than before. And, he has gained 2 1/2 pounds....so that puts this 5 month old baby at 18 1/2 pounds!! That is only 1 1/2 less than Zachariah!

With him getting the button placed in his belly on Tuesday, he may get to be home by the end of next week. I am ready for him to come home, but am also pretty nervous about all his new health concerns. More medicines, a feeding tube, and he will probably be sent home with me doing breathing treatments on him. I have watched the respiratory therapist, and what they are doing right now, is about a 30 min process every 6 hours. I am praying that the Lord will give me the strength and ability to care for him. I have had many nurses, and other people ask me if I have ever cared for special needs children before, or if I was open to doing that. That sounds very scary to me, but I love him, and plan on doing the very best I can. It does make me worried though, just b/c I have a 1 yr old in the house that I have to keep track of while I am caring for him.

This is he machine I may be bringing home with me...it looks like a big vaccum with a face mask, that blows air in, and then sucks it back out to make him cough.

Those pretty eyes and lips....I just love them.

He was talking up a storm to me here!

Snuggle time