Our Little G.E.M. & M&M : Day 28

It feels really crazy saying that we've been here for 28days. At times it feels as if it's flown and at times it feels like we've been here for much longer. I think we'll be here for a little while longer.

Tuesday Dr. Buchmiller came up to do the dressing change and I was able to kind of get a sense of this weeks plan. She said that she'd be coming up to wrap it everyday and that she wanted to give it until next Tuesday where we would reassess. If we don't make the progress she wants to see by doing compressions she was talking about possibly sending her back down to the ICU to put her back out and suture in that mesh material around the omphalocele and hang it like we did last time gradually forcing things back in. She said that would probably take three to four weeks to do. She said if it did make progress this week then we would continue what we're doing until the omphalocele reaches skin level. Fortunately she has made such good progress this week. It's not skin level but it definitely looks so much better than it did. The fellow that works under Dr. Buchmiller has been doing her dressing changes this weekend and said that Dr. Buchmiller will be so impressed with the progress it has made. We'll see!

Right after these pictures were taken she threw up...a little too much pressure on the old belly. They had to loosen things up a bit. It's definitely trial and error!

You might notice her lovely feeding tube is back in. She wasn't eating enough or able to keep her food down taking it by the bottle so they put the NG tube in. She is now up to full volume via feeding tube and is now off her alternative nutrition via IV. Nice not having all those extra wires hanging off of her. Definitely makes it easier to hold her! She still throws up occasionally, but we think it's primarily due to too much pressure or withdrawal from her Ativan. Last night they had to give her a rescue dose of Ativan because she was withdrawing. She got really sweaty and then had the dry heaves. Poor lil muff muff.

So lets back track a little bit. We had a great week with lots of visitors! Last Sat. Grandma, Grampa, Great Grandma and Great Grampa came in for a visit! We had lots of fun visiting! Gianna looooved the attention! She's definitely a little show off with that coy little smile of hers! Thank you Grandma for the yummy zucchini bread! We have been enjoying it! :)

Monday Auntie Chrissy and Great Uncle Fred came in for a visit and Auntie Chrissy took mommy and Uncle Fred to lunch....thank you so much! It was great to get out and enjoy that beautiful sunny day! It was like old times with Fred...all that was missing was Jess and Pam!

Tuesday Auntie Lindsay came and we had a great visit out in the Prouty Garden. Gianna slept for the most part, but that gave Auntie Lindsay and mommy some time to chat! Auntie Lindsay also taught mommy how to crochet! I'm ready to start whipping up blankets, sweaters, and scarves...HA riiiiight. It's a knotted mess! Thursday Nana and Bumpa came for a visit...Bumpa surprised us! We had lots of fun playing with Nana and Bumpa and mommy enjoyed her time out with Nana and Bumpa at Souper Salad :)! Gianna says thank you for the cute pink outfit and mommy and daddy thank you for the yummy meals! You can see Gianna giving Nana "feel yoops!"

Friday Uncle Joe and Aunt Sara came to visit and brought Gianna some really nice flowers and yummy chocolates. She liked showing off for her Godfather Joe...standing, smiling, and talking. Thank you to Joe and Sara for taking us out for dinner! We had SO much fun!! They took us over by the Prudential to an awesome restaurant "Atlantic Fish" where we had lots of laughs and great seafood! Thank you guys...it was great for us to go out like that with another couple!

Sat. Aunt Pam and Uncle Fred came back in to visit and we had a great time laughing and visiting! We really miss coming down to visit you on the Cape and can't wait until we can bring Gianna down there for a visit! We always have such a good time with you! Thank you for lunch at Boloco's!

So we've had a great and busy week! Here are some extra pics taken throughout the week. I will make sure to update you all on Tuesday when we find out what's happening. Everyone have a great Labor Day! Yay for long weekends! :)

We love to read books together!