Hospital Day 3

Ava hasn't had much change through the night. She is continuing to throw up after each feeding, whether it is breastmilk or pedialyte. So today she is allowed to have 5-10ml of breastmilk via syringe. The thought is...she may get more nutrients out of the breastmilk than she will the pedialyte, since either way she is going to puke it up. She has had some high blood pressures since her admission which we are unsure why. We are going to be doing 3 sets of arm and leg blood pressures today to see if they remain constant and may do an echocardiogram tomorrow if they are still high throughout the day. Tomorrow she will be having an abdominal ultrasound and upper GI and small bowel series. Hopefully those will give us some answers as to why she is throwing up. Please keep praying for her!!

Me giving Ava her 5ml of breastmilk. It's almost like clock work, an hour later and I am wearing it.





This balloon came from one of the patients on med-surg. He kept hearing Ava cry and wanted to give her the balloon, so that is how we ended up with it. I think I enjoyed it more than she did, and it brightened my days a lot. So, thank you stranger next door!

She is now fed, burped...

and off to sleep...for an hour or so.

Hospital Day 2

Ava threw up 3 times prior to the start of the 6am shift, even though she hadn't eaten in many hours. The doctor came in to visit her and we started her on Zantac to see if that would reduce the vomiting. The Zantac takes a full 24 hours to take effect so we won't see any results until tomorrow. The plan was to have her start breastfeeding once she was awake and ready for it. Before noon, she woke up to eat and both times threw up everything she had eaten on me. Then around 2pm, she again woke up to eat. We decided to try one last time to feed her for a few minutes then take a break to allow for some digestion, and then go a few more minutes. It was a nice idea but she was starving during the break and screamed because she was still hungry. Needless to say I ended up wearing all of it, after the trial. The doctor was informed and we were instructed to stop feeding her and begin Pedialyte by syringe for 4 hours, and if she did well, then advance to breastmilk in a syringe for 4 hours, and if she did well, then advance her to breastfeeding again. If these steps don't work, then we will start looking at other causes for her vomiting, besides a respiratory issue. Ava's IV fell out, so she got another one in her foot. Hopefully this will be the last IV poke she gets! She was all bundled up tight with her binky and barely made a peep during the IV start. She got 10ml of Pedialyte at 7:35p. She kept it down for about 20 minutes then it came back up, so at 8:35p she got 5ml, which she has kept down with the exception of a tiny spit-up. At 9:35p she got 5ml of Pedialyte and has been asleep since. At 10:35p we tried to up her to 10ml, but she was asleep and not interested at all. So that is where we are right now. At 12:20a, Ava threw up her Pedialyte. Hopefully answers or something good will happen tomorrow. Keep her in your prayers, that they figure out what is making her sick and she heals quickly.

Ava early in the day, checking out all the stuff around her.

Grandma Denise came to visit, so I could shower. This was Ava's little nest that she slept really well in.

Ava in her little bundle, after the IV was started.

IV close up.

A little decoration for the beautiful sleeping girl!

A little decoration for the beautiful awake girl. This was right after she had her first bit of Pedialyte, before she puked it back up.

Noah and Andy having some tickle time in the hospital room.

Noah playing doctor.

Another day gone by without much progress and no answers, frustrating, but we will make it through.

Ava's admission

On Monday this week Ava started having 2 episodes where she would throw up all food she had eaten. I didn't really think much of it at the time. I figured she had eaten too much, no big deal. On Tuesday a couple more times she threw up all the food she ate. Again I didn't think much of it. On Wednesday, it happened 3 times and I started to wonder about it, especially when she started screaming after each feeding. On Thursday I took her to the doctors office. They were not sure why she had been throwing up. I was instructed to feed her every 1-3 hours for about 3 minutes each time, thinking a small amount of food more often would help decrease the vomiting. And to return to the office tomorrow for a checkup. During the night she started vomiting after each time she ate, despite the smaller amounts, and usually eating every 3 hours. By the time the morning came around, Ava had not gotten any better, in fact, was more lethargic and her nice pink color had become, pale, and splotchy (mottled). I had made the appointment for Friday afternoon, but called to the office to reschedule for the morning because I felt she was worse, and couldn't wait until the afternoon. We got to the office and after being checked over by the doctor, it was decided she needed to be admitted to the hospital for IV hydration. At the doctors office they poked her a number of time for labs and a urine culture. We got to the hospital around 1:30pm. She got her IV started in her arm and the fun began.

She wasn't allowed to eat for 6 hours, then we would gradually reintroduce breastmilk to her body, first by syringe and if she tolerated that well, then on to breastfeeding. She did well with the syringe, only throwing up when she got really worked up like when her new IV was placed. Her IV in her arm went bad and then a new IV was placed in her foot right before midnight.



At this time the plan is to rehydrate the little sweet pea and, reintroduce foods, and probably go home on Saturday sometime.

Enjoying the outdoors

The sun was shining. Early in the day Noah, Ava and I took a walk to downtown Moscow in our awesome stroller. Later that evening Andy BBQed char sui pork. These pictures were Ava and I outside enjoying the nice day. Ava is growing into 3 month clothes, I can't believe how fast she is growing and changing.

Pretty in purple

Sweet Sleeper

Long break from blogging

I am taking a week long hiatus from taking pictures due to us moving and Ava's eye infection. She had lime green eye goobers, which she received eye drops for. And I do not think Ava would appreciate pictures when she gets older.

Easter Day

We went to church today. By some miracle I made it to church on time with both kids. Andy had to go to church for the early service to play bells. After church we went home, had our naps, then went to Tom and Denise's house for Easter Dinner.

Here is Ava in her Easter dress and flower. She was mad that I uncovered her and made her cold.



Noah playing with the dump truck at Grandma and Papas. And yes, he doesn't have pants on due to a leaky diaper. Good ol' mom didn't bring an extra pair of pants.



Ava's umbilical cord came off this morning, so Noah and Ava had their first bath together. Ava liked the warm water initially, until Noah got water on her face, then she started crying and pooped in the water and Noah didn't like that and wanted to get out of the tub. What an adventure we have ahead of us bathing two kids together.







Ava dry and warm ready for bed.

Noah's 3rd Birthday

On Noah's birthday, we had a very busy day. We had a blast doing all things fun! We left the house early for Noah's first ever easter egg hunt at East City Park, went to Andy's parents for a little break before heading to the 2nd easter egg hunt at Eastside Mall. Then to the fire station for Noah to play in the fire trucks. Home for lunch and a nap, then to Gladish Auditorium in Pullman for the Idaho Washington Symphony Family Concert. Then to end the day, we had a small party at Andy's parents enjoying good company, cake, ice cream, and presents.

Noah and his 2 eggs from the East City Park. The easter egg hunt was some serious competition, mostly between the parents. Needless to say, we won't be going to East City Park for another easter egg hunt.

Noah enjoying the slide at East City Park, before heading to Tom and Denise's house.



We didn't get any pictures at the Eastside Mall easter egg hunt because we walked in and half the mall was filled with people. We were about to leave because we didn't think there was any way Noah could get any eggs with so many people. Fortunately we stayed and had a great time. There are people that walk around and drop eggs, so everyone gets eggs. Noah did really great and by the end figured it out and was picking up eggs without encouragement.

Noah enjoying the fire trucks!!



Ava and I at the the fire station.



Gladish Auditorium for the Family Concert.

This is how Ava enjoyed the concert. Sleeping the entire time.

Noah got to sit right in front of his Papa, and watch him play his bassoon. He really enjoyed it!





Noah's birthday party!

Noah sitting in the toybox with his cousin Sohpia.

Opening presents. He had a lot of help from his cousins Eric and Sophia.















Since Noah's b-day was on Easter weekend, I decided he needed an Easter themed cake.

Noah blowing out his cake, with a little help from Dad.

Noah is such a fun 3 year old! We can't wait for the many years ahead of us! We LOVE you Noah!