Two steps forward, one step back...

For those of you who know me, you know that I am not a crier.  So when it happens it typically freaks people out.

The scenarios that tend to make me cry are typically anger or being so proud of someone or something that I want to burst.  Yesterday was one of those days. 

After much hoopla and excitement about our 3pm feeding, we only did about 20 something mls, which was a bit of a bummer, but still not as low as it had been in the past.   However, when we got to 6pm, Dad and Axel rocked it.   I felt like I was in a bar in college staring at someone and yelling, "CHUG! CHUG! CHUG!!!"  Only the subject of this chant was only 8 days old.   That being said, he kicked it into gear and CHABLAM!  He inhaled not 40 mls, but 45mls at the 6pm feeding.  Even more exciting is that he did it in only 20 minutes, which was record timing.   I was so excited by this turn of events that tears poured out of my eyes as I yelled "YAY!!!"  We then proceeded to tell any medical personnel that made eye contact with us about this huge accomplishment.

 

The evidence.

 

The victor.

Clearly, that was the best high possible to leave the NICU with yesterday.  It's amazing how much pride you can have in watching a little person chug a bottle and finish it.  

This morning we got to the NICU and it turns out that he didn't quite continue with this chugging skill.  He did one bottle that was 43mls, but another was only in the 20's.  For those of you who like detail:

7.11: 

6pm: 45ml

9pm: gavage (all through tube)

12am: 43ml

3am: 25ml

6am: gavage

9am: 35ml

12pm: 31ml

3pm: gavage

The doctors aren't thrilled about this progress so unfortunately they are taking a step back to help him.  I think the doctor put it in a really good way:  Imagine just starting Cross Fit and being forced to do it every three hours.  This is what this is like for him.   

So, we are moving to a new feeding model... alternating bottle feed with the gavage.   Every 12 and 6, he'll get a bottle.  Every 3 and 9, he'll have the gavage.  Once he is consistently taking 40ml through this schedule on the bottle, they will move him back to his current schedule of bottle, bottle, gavage.   Once he has that down, they will then move to all bottles.  He has to be consistent with just the bottle for at least 48 hours before they will take the tube out and move on to his other exit criteria.  

SO - a bummer, but it's all to benefit him and help him to grow stronger and better at this.

Cute pic to help you continue paying attention...

 

On a fun note... we have been playing fun music from the Rock - A - Bye Baby series - essentially they are lullabies based off of popular music.  Anything from Lady Gaga and Madonna to Pearl Jam, Bob Marley, the Beatles, Depeche Mode.. the list is massive.  But it occurred to us that the music is SUPER relaxing and probably isn't helping the cause to keep him awake during his feedings.  So we've compiled a Feeding Playlist filled with POWER SONGS to motivate him, just as you would in spin class or during a run. 

The list currently includes:

Eye of the Tiger - Survivor 

Uprising - Muse

Bawitdaba - Kid Rock

Not Afraid - Eminem

Axel F

Go Go Gadget Flow - Lupe Fiasco

Iron Man - Black Sabbath

Whatcha Whatcha Want - Beastie Boys

Can't Stop - Red Hot Chili Peppers

Mama Said Knock You Out - LL Cool J

Enter Sandman - Metallica

Welcome to the Jungle - Guns N' Roses

Wanted Dead or Alive - Bon Jovi

Don't Stop Believing - Journey

Baba O'Riley - The Who

Slam - Onyx

Whip It - Devo

So my question to you, Axel's devoted readers... what is your power song?  Help us build this list so we can give him the energy he needs to get this consistency down!!!