New Pics...Sorry it's been awhile:-)

Caleb Food

Caleb tried tofu yesterday and LOVED it! We mixed it with avocadoes (which he also loves) and bananas. He's going to be a healthy little boy!!!

New Pics

Caleb is doing great...getting over pneumonia and flu...still doesn't want to crawl, but loves standing like a "big boy" (with help of course). Here's the latest pics.

Caleb is doing great!!!

OK...sorry I haven't posted for awhile. We have been relaxing a little now that things have calmed down. Here are updates a plenty:

- G-button has been removed (for awhile now). He had the button in for the minimum amount of time. The surgeon came in to show me how to maintain it and I told him it was time to take it out. He didn't believe me, but I said that we hadn't used it in weeks. Great news! And...he is still eating everything!!!

- He is now eating solid foods. He has had squash, carrots, green beans, peas, apples, pears, sweet potatoes, avocados (YES, and he LOVES them!!), peaches and bananas. I am making his food myself. It is a lot of fun!!! I actually use it as a stress reliever;-)

- He is working on sitting by himself. He isn't quite there yet, but can hold himself up for a little while before toppling over.

- Caleb is talking A LOT!!! Friday nights it is just me and Caleb (Bill works). He didn't say much last Friday. I came home from work on Saturday and he was non-stop!!! Da, da, da, da, da, da, da, ba, ba, da. Quite cute!!!

- He started swim lessons on Fridays. We had his first lesson last Friday and he LOVED it! The first 15 minutes we were in the baby pool. He didn't do much there. The class is for 6 month - 4 years, but he is the youngest in the class by 2 months. They tried blowing bubbles and stuff, but he isn't quite there yet, so he just watched mommy make a fool of herself...first time for everything;-) But...when we got in the big pool in the second half, he went crazy! He had so much fun. He was waving his arms in excitement. Grandma C. was there and got some pics. I will post soon. I just want him to get used to the water, which it doesn't appear that it will be an issue.

- And, here is what everyone is waiting for....pictures!!!! Enjoy!

Still Eating...

Caleb tolerated all feeds yesterday (with the increase to 4 oz. for 2 feeds). It took him a little longer than usual, but he is still eating his bottle within about 30-35 minutes. The first 3 - 3 1/2 oz. goes down in about 15-20 minutes. It's that last ounce that takes awhile.

Still Eating...

Caleb has continued to eat his bottles during the day. We are increasing 2 feeds today to 4 oz. and taking an ounce off the nighttime feed to see how he tolerates it. So far, so good. He ate the first bottle that was increased to 4 oz. this morning. He did spit up a little bit, but we were probably bouncing him a little too much right after a feed (...but he likes it;-) We haven't used the pump to feed him during the day since 12/28. He has taken everything by mouth, except for a tiny bit that we either just squirt in his mouth or feed through a syringe into his belly. We have also been able to start administering his medicine again by mouth.

Here's a pic that was taken before the tube came out, but it was too adorable not to include.

Making Progress...

Since having his G-tube placed on 12/21, Caleb has been making tremendous progress with eating!!! He ate his first bottle (all 3 1/2 oz.) on Christmas night. He ate the whole thing!!! That was the first bottle he has eaten in a loooong time, definitely since before heart surgery. On 12/26, he ate all 4 bottles during the day. This is the most he has eaten since August!!! Since then, he has eaten more bottles than we have had to pump him. We think that the tube down his nose was causing so much discomfort, that he just got turned off to eating. Hopefully, he continues with this progress and we can have this G-tube pulled. The surgeon said that the G-tube definitely needs to be in at least 5-6 weeks. (They can't pull the tube before the body heals from the surgery.)

On 12/27, I talked to Caleb's pediatrician about the feeding schedule and trying to get him off a nighttime feed. At that time, he got 4 bottles during the day, 3 1-2 oz. each. Then at night he was on a continuous feed for 10 hours (10 1/2 oz. total). Caleb is still sleeping in our room, because of the continuous feed and his past reflux problems. We are ready (at least Bill is;-) to try to start putting him in his crib at night, but I don't want to do that until he is off his nighttime feed. We are slowly trying to take ounces away from his nighttime feed and add them to the day.

Soooo....we are now feeding him 5 times a day. And then 8 oz. at night. For the most part, he is taking everything, although yesterday, he didn't seem to take as much as he had the past few days. We are focusing on the accomplishments and hoping that Caleb will continue to progress. Our plan is to add 1/2 oz to his feeds every few days and hope that he will tolerate it. Dr. Graham said that the goal is to get him to 30 oz. total.

Since having the G-button, Caleb has not really wanted to be on his belly. Can you blame him? But, the past couple of days, he has started to roll over again. I came downstairs from a nap the other day and he was sleeping on his stomach (with Dad sleeping right next to him) on the floor. I asked Bill if he (Caleb) put himself there. Bill said that he did and that when he first rolled over, Bill ran over to see if he was going to scream, but he just cried a few seconds and then was comfortable and fell asleep. Yesterday, he also was on his belly and lifted his head up again (his preferred position).

The Physical Therapist was excited about his progress. She said that the next thing we should be working on is when he is seated and turning his head. He LOVES to sit like a big boy. He can turn his head fine, but it is kind of shaky. She doesn't seem to be worried about the lack of tummy time that he has had recently.

Pics are coming soon...