Perspective

Since there really is not a lot to update on at this point, I thought I would share a picture to show a little perspective on Ella's eating.

The VSD causes Ella to have extra fluid to build up. To help her better handle the extra fluid, she has been given Lasix as well is on fluid restriction. I would like to put in a side bar here....I am no where NEAR as good as explaining fluid build up, how lasix work and the ins and outs of the heart defect like all the staff at both Stormont and Children's. I just now that she is on fluid restriction. The only other access to fluids that Ella has is through her feeds. Her body seems to do the rest. That means we are restricting the fluid in her feeds. How does she gain weight? We increase her calories. She gets additional formula powder mixed in with either breast milk or a formula bottle.

Lets break this down. Babies eat roughly every three hours. Ella eats at 2, 5, 8, and 11 o'clock.

A typical baby at Ella's age would take an estimated 4 ounces at each feed.

Ella takes 58 mLs at each feed. This is very close to 2 ounces, half of what a baby that is close to 2 months eat. Please do not forget that she is getting additional calories with each feed to help her get enough to grow!

Ella has been working on eating a bottle instead of through her tube. She has not had many bottles due to the fast and hard breathing. It is just way to much for her and she gets very tired and worn out. In fact, she sometimes will just fall asleep. AND another factor is, it burns calories. She needs to have those calories to grow! This is a scrawny little thing!!! She has only gained a pound and a half since birth. She is almost 2 months old. Where I am going with this is, on a good day she gets 24 mLs on her own. This is SO EXCITING to me!!! She stops mainly because she is to tired and this will most likely be corrected with surgery. Otherwise, she is still learning where to put her tongue and learning to suck, swallow, and breath all at the same time. She gets to try a bottle only 2 times a day until she has surgery then we will really go to town to get her to eat.

I have included a picture since I am visual person. The first bottle is a typical bottle, the second is what she is allowed to eat (through her tube) and the third is what she is able to eat all by herself with the bottle. It won't take long until she is eating a normal bottle on her own!!!

Ella takes a break from her socializing to take a picture for me.

Please pray that Ella will be able to get a room in the PICU so that she has a place to recover following her surgery. Thank you all for the prayers!!!