Latest medical tests

Today, Landon had more tests done to see what exactly is going on with his stomach and eating problems. After all of that, the doctors decided he has reflux. Unfortunately, that was proposed by someone a couple days ago and was dismissed. If only people had listened to that person. (BTW, it wasn't Nick or I. It was someone on staff.) So now, Landon has to take medicine to get it under control. But...that makes him throw up until his body is adjusted to it or until his stomach is adjusted and functioning properly. Also, when they decided to do these tests, he couldn't have anything to eat. So....when we are trying to get him to eat on his own, we tell him he can't. That was frustrating as well. He has eaten since the tests, but has thrown up, so he is way down on his daily intake. We were told that it may be a couple of days before his body is adjusted to the medicine. Poor guy :( So, as of right now, it's looking like we will be ringing in the new year in the hospital.

Megan and Taylor came and got me today and took me home for a little while. Taylor and I took decorations off the tree, Megan cleaned, and then I wrapped Christmas presents. It was great to be home and with the dogs and cat for a while. Patsy was so calm, which is unusual, and acted like she had been bad and that's why we have been gone! She was even nice to Taylor! Normally she stays far away from Taylor!

Today, our friends Jake and Kim Soden visited on their way home from Beaver Dam. They generously brought us food gift cards and two stuffed animals for Landon!

Real clothes!!

Hi everyone! Not much to report today. We did get the doctors convinced that we weren't totally crazy...at least we have convinced someone! Anyway...we were allowed to feed him strictly from the bottle today. He has done okay with it. For some reason he did not wake up as often as he has on other days during the day. Normally he has a lot of awake time during the day and sleeps a lot at night. He woke up around 6:30 tonight and took 1 ounce in 10 minutes!!! That is amazing for him! He normally won't eat that fast. But he did do his usual...eat for 10-20 minutes and then fall asleep. So, what we were hoping would be a very successful feeding, turned into only a successful feeding. As I type, Nick is making one last attempt before they start feeding him through the tube all night. So thus far, he has had 103 mLs from the bottle today. I think we are both happy with that. I was fearful that he wouldn't even come close to the 100 mark with how slow he started today.

Our high note of the day is that he got to put REAL clothes on!! I happened to bring a couple sleepers that snap and we were able to put one on today. His wires can be thread between the snaps! It was nice to see him in something other than the green hospital blanket!

Grandma and Grandpa Bausman came today and Aunt Megan returned with our laundry!

More generosity toward Landon

Today hasn't been much different than yesterday, unfortunately. One change has been made to his feeding and that is that his milk is now fortified with some powder formula to get more calories in him. He hasn't had problems tolerating that so far, but most of his problems seem to occur during the night. We aren't sure if he is still full from the rest of the day and his stomach can't keep up with the digesting, but he tends to throw up most of his feedings during then night. Often we have to wake him to eat, which isn't easy, and then once we get him awake, he has past his 20 minute "limit" that we have to try to feed him. It is frustrating because once we get past that 20 minutes, he will wake up and want to eat from the bottle. But we can't feed him from the bottle when he already is receiving his food through the tube. We are really looking for some solutions and aren't feeling very heard. I know that there are some potential changes for tomorrow, so we will see what tomorrow brings.

On another note, Landon received another gift today! We had people bring him a bag that has a tie blanket, stuffed dog, book, and Memory game. The people who brought the gift were the Team River of Hope. They represent a little girl name Riviera who passed away shortly before she turned 3 years old. She spent some time here at the Children's Hospital and they brought the gifts on her behalf. There was a sticker for their Facebook page, so I immediately went to it to thank them. We still are overwhelmed everyday with all the generosity from people and are trying to figure out how to give back down the road.

No visitors yet today, but Aunt Megan will be here shortly with KFC!!

This is actually a couple days ago before his NG tube was put it.

Landon's eating progress

Hi everyone! Landon made some progress with eating today. We are trying to keep him on a schedule of eating every three hours so that he can have some consistency with his eating habits. Our nurse helped the doctors understand that their expectations for Landon were just too much for him to handle. So, his end goal for the day is to take in 60 mls per feeding, that is 2 ounces. He began the day with 50 mls and has now increased to 60 with our most recent feeding. Hopefully he keeps it down! He drinks 20-25 mls on his own and then the rest has to be tube fed. Obviously the goal is to take all of it in on his own, but we were asked to only work on his eating for about 20 minutes, so he doesn't tire and have bad feelings about eating. He can't take in that much in 20 minutes, so we are gradually working up to it.

We were told today that it is possible that we will be moved to St. Mary's because of our insurance. He would be moved to the NICU there instead of being in the PICU here. I believe the thinking is that, if he is recovered enough from his surgery then the important thing to focus on is his eating. The NICU will be able to help with that. His eating will be the main focus. So, we are waiting to see what happens with that.

We will continue to update everyone with Landon's progress and if we move or not. Again, thank you to everyone for the prayers and support. Please continue to send those prayers, they mean so much to us.

Yesterday, Landon's Christmas visitors included Grandma and Grandpa Bartels and Uncle Mike and Aunt Kelly. Today, Grandma and Grandpa Bausman, Nick's Aunt Judy and Uncle Terry, Aunt Megan and Taylor, and our good friend Holly paid visits! We did manage to get Landon's mustachifier in and get a photo!! It's a little big, but funny all the same!

Merry Christmas from Landon!

We had a small setback today. Landon has been struggling to meet his quota for food on his own, so he had an NG tube put into his nose that goes down his throat to help him get the food he needs. We really feel like they have high standards for him at this point, but we have to trust that they know what they are doing. Nick was feeding him today and got about 25 mls in him and he threw it all up. That is the first time he has thrown up...EVER! That was a bit discouraging. Hopefully he can adjust to the feeling of the tube in his throat and be able to still take food from the bottle.

Since it is his first Christmas, we couldn't miss a photo opportunity. Aunt Megan brought him a Christmas tree and we have a couple gifts here for him. I took a brief opportunity of when he was awake to get some pictures. He looks so great!

While this is not how we planned on spending our first Christmas together, we are trying to stay positive. It is difficult though, especially for me, because I love Christmas so much. We just keep reminding ourselves that we are lucky that he is here with us. Merry Christmas to all of our family and friends!

Landon, one week old!

Landon had another exciting day of having things removed and improvements. He had the line that went into his left chest removed. This was used to draw blood and to keep an eye on his blood pressure. That was the last line The got a bath today...finally! He hadn't had a bath since the day he was born, so he was in dire need!

As far as eating goes, he has made some improvements. The goal for the day is to get 585 mls, which is just under 20 ounces, into him. That seems to be an impossible feat for him. He struggles to get an ounce in himself in an hour. We were hoping to go home tomorrow, but that won't be possible with the eating expectations. We are okay with being here longer, but that would've been an incredible gift to go home on Christmas. We don't want to rush him and go home too soon.

He was given a different bed today also. Since he is able to maintain his body temperature, he was given a crib to sleep in now.

Probably the most exciting part of the day was when Santa visited!! I was out when he came, but Nick got a picture of Landon's first visit with Santa. He received a teddy bear from Santa.

We had visits from Grandma and Grandpa Bausman, the Fosters, and Aunt Megan, Michael and Taylor. Grandpa spent a lot of time getting him to eat.

Landon's continuing improvement, Day 2

I feel like I am starting these posts the same way every time, but Landon has had a great day! He had many things removed today and is maintaining very well! The first thing to come out was his arterial line. That came out late this morning I believe. After that, his oxygen was reduced to 1/2 liter per minute.

At 2:30, his chest tube was removed. That has really improved his pain. Despite the chest tube being removed, he had some pain earlier in the day and had to have 2 doses of morphine. That was kind of a step back, but we are okay with it. If it means he is more comfortable, we will take it.

A respiratory therapist came in this afternoon to do a little therapy for him because there was a little something that showed up on his chest x-ray. After she left I attempted some eating and had him sitting up to burp and he coughed at me a little, so her therapy did its job.

At 5:00, his oxygen came out completely! Since then he has been able to maintain his pulse ox at anywhere around 96-98. That is great!

He has attempted some eating today and has taken in only an ounce. We are hoping that he will make a lot of improvements with that now that he doesn't have the oxygen or chest tube in. One more little side note, his cord came off today! We weren't expecting that this early at all! He still has a little bit on his belly button, but the majority of it came off.

He had more visitors today! Aunt Megan, Michael and Taylor came and brought him a Christmas tree. Grandma and Grandpa Bartels and brought his sister Lexi, and Matt and Hayley Jordan visited also. We are expecting a pretty quiet night tonight to relax and try to get him to eat a lot! We really appreciate all the visitors and support we are receiving.

I have to send out some thank yous that are well deserved. Our neighbors, Kurt and Eli Schaefer and Lacey Stoerp cleaned our driveway. My cousin Elizabeth has helped my dad with the dogs and cat. My coworkers banned together and got us several gift cards to eateries nearby as well as cash that will help us pay for the fuel needed to make it here and home. Nick's brother Mike is planning to spend his time off this week working at the shop to make sure things get caught up. My sister Megan has made sure we have everything we need, which seems to be very random items like a razor and nail clipper, as well as bringing us Toppers today! And our parents and family have done a great job making sure that people are informed of Landon's situation and progress and getting us all the prayers we need. And, most importantly, we have had the best staff working with us while we are here. Landon's nurses have paid such close attention to him and have made sure he has everything he needs and is comfortable. Our doctor, Dr. A has been amazing! We participate in rounds when they get to our room so we know what is going on. Yesterday, they were discussing how long Landon's surgery lasted and one person said the surgery lasted about 20 minutes. Dr. A interrupted and said, "Actually, it was 16 minutes. My record is 15 minutes, so I was close." We got a good laugh out of that! I'm sure I have forgotten someone, so please forgive me. Again, thank you to everyone for all the love, support, and prayers!

Landon with Grandma and Grandpa Bartels and Daddy.

After the oxygen tube came out of his nose!

Landon's night

Landon had such a great night that I couldn't wait to update everyone until this afternoon! He woke up a few times and wanted to eat. His total intake was 55mls, which is almost 2 ounces!!! And he was able to burp as well. Right now his tummy is pretty bloated, but that is one of the side affects of the anesthesia. The anesthesia slows down the function of his stomach, so we are waiting for him to start passing gas and pooping. He has been peeing really well. Because of his progress with eating, he will be able to have the IV with nutrients turned off today. He did not need any morphine overnight, just some Tylenol! He is very much more alert without the morphine and isn't really fussing like he is in pain.

Our expectations for the day are pretty high. He should be able to have his chest tube removed, his arterial line removed, as well as his oxygen removed. He has kept his pulse ox at 99 or 100 consistently, which is amazing! After he has the chest tube removed, he will have to be monitored to make sure that his pulse ox doesn't change and then he will be able to have the oxygen removed.

I just asked about his weight. When he was born, he was 7 lbs. 9 oz. Yesterday he weighed in at 8 lbs. 9 oz.  I know that sounds crazy, but he has a lot of extra fluid in him and the tubes and wires will account for some of that weight. This morning he weighed in at 8 lbs 8 oz., which is fine. He has bee releasing a lot of the fluid in him and as he gets lines removed, his weight will continue to lower. They expect him to get back to his "dry" weight and then go from there.

We are expecting some visitors today so it is time for me to eat and take a nap!

This was a couple nights ago, but he really likes to hold on to things.