Week 2, Day 5 & Weekend 2

Gavin and I have had an eventful three days!  Friday went pretty well.  By then end of the day it was clear that he was done with therapy for the week, but he was a trooper.  I fed Gavin the entire third and fourth sessions, and they went pretty well!  Monster Gavin did give me one somewhat intimidating look during the last few minutes of the last meal, but with Anna’s help we quickly distracted him and my sweet little boy returned.  I would say we had a very successful week!  Whether it was Gavin’s increased appetite due to the antihistamine, eliminating the night feeding, or the effectiveness of the therapy, I am just happy to see him eating so much!!!  We have not tubed him any PediaSure since Tuesday night!  Gavin now successfully eats broccoli, carrots, apricots, peaches, pears, sweat potatoes, pureed shredded wheat soaked in applesauce, potato soup, chicken noodle soup, and of course yogurt!  This therapy is working J

The clinic sent me home with tons of pureed foods for the weekend.  Between the meals here at the house and this food from the clinic, I am pretty spoiled now!  Not sure how I will transition back to real life after eight weeks of this!! 

The best part about Friday was picking Eric up at the airport!!!  Gavin had been telling everyone since Wednesday that his daddy was coming.  About an hour before we left for the airport, he like a recording on repeat saying “My daddy’s coming and I’m going to hug him and tackle him and we are going to giggle lots!”  I wish I had a video of Gavin running up to Eric at the airport!  The Evansville airport is tiny, and security is right next to the gate, so you can just about see people coming off the plane.  There was a crowd there waiting to greet people as they came off.  When Gavin saw Eric he started yelling “that’s my daddy! That’s my daddy!”  Once Eric got past the security Gavin took off running through the crowd into his arms.  It was very sweet J

We had a great time with Eric here, and it was SO nice for me to have a little break and help!  I think I only changed two diapers the whole weekend, and Gavin is known to pee a lotJ.  I was also able to sleep through the night for the first time in two weeks as Eric woke up for the 2AM diaper change each night.  It was great!  Saturday was a beautiful day here in Evansville, so we were able to spend some time outside at a park down by the river and the transportation museum.  Eric took us out to a really nice Italian restaurant to celebrate my birthday.  It was so nice to be out again and feel like a normal person.  The best part was that we got to celebrate with some amazing red wine!!!

Eric brought a little bit of mail Gavin had received from home.  Gavin was very excited to receive Valentine’s Day cards from his Great Grandma (my mom’s mom), Great Grandma’s friend Marybell, and Aunt Grace (Eric’s Aunt).  Thank you guys, Gavin loved the cards!!  Aunt Grace sent him two dollars, and Gavin decided that he was going to pay for dinner with it.  It was so sweet, Gavin tried to hand the waiter his two dollars when we got to the table saying he was going to pay!  The waiter said we could split a coke if that was all we hadJ  Gavin quickly decided that he’d rather save the money to buy a toy later!

Eric was also happy to see Gavin’s progress and how much happier meal time is!  I successfully fed Gavin four meals each day with no tubing!!!!  I am especially proud that Gavin ate the highest volume in one sitting that he’s ever done, 8.5oz, and it was with ME feeding him here at the house!  Last weekend I was a little frustrated because we did well on Saturday but really seemed to regress on Sunday.  Thankfully that did not happen this weekend.  Eric’s parents were able to watch Gavin eat while we talked to them on Skype, and they too were impressed with how far we have come in just two weeks.  Other than a few moments here and there that reminded us that our struggles are not over, Gavin accepted all of the different foods that we had tried in clinic almost like he liked them!  We can do thisJ

Saturday morning was a little sad as we had to say goodbye to our new friends Noah and Jennifer.  It is amazing what a connection you can make with a stranger in a matter of minutes.  Jennifer is such an amazing, strong woman and mother, and I am so lucky to have met her and know that I will always have a friend who “gets it.”  Noah has come so far in his struggle, and I look forward to seeing how he grows into a healthy little boy and a good eater!  Gavin will miss his new “cousin”!  Noah and Jennifer gave Gavin a little dog “Tee-tee” to remember them and take throughout his journey. 

Jennifer and I have also become good friends with a mom, Lacey, who has a little boy in the NICU.  Lacey has joined us for playtime/mom time with the boys each day, and she is such a sweet girl.  Jennifer and Lacey got me one of the Willow Tree figurines “Surrounded by Love” to remind me that they are always there for me.  I am so touched by their friendship and am so lucky to have their support as well through this journey.  Thank you girls!!!!  

Tonight we said goodbye to Eric again.  Gavin decided he wanted to go with him and tried climbing into Eric's suitcase!  Poor kid fell asleep about a mile from the airport and did not get to say goodbye to Eric.  We took him into the airport and tried to wake him, but he was out!!  Thankfully Gavin seems to have accepted our new living arrangement, and while he did call for Daddy a little when he woke up, he quickly calmed down.  It helped that my sister-in-law Jill had just sent a video of her boys have a dance party!  These cousins love their dance partiesJ.  Gavin was very easily distracted by that…thanks Jill!!!

Also thank you again to all of you who are following along.  Your messages and emails have meant so much to me.  We are lucky to have all of your love, support and prayers!!  Thank you!!