Introducing Food

 Lots of fun progress has been happening since my last post.

Introducing foods (DAY 29)

Sunday evening they decided that he was ready for food!!!! This is a big step for him. Because he hasn't had any food yet; they wanted him to take it nice and slow. For the week in advance they had told me it would be administered by a feeding tube. But Sunday Bridger got a new doctor that thought he could handle swallowing and allowed us to feed him by bottle. I know that doesn't seem like a big deal, but to me it was a big deal. Many of the babies here become lazy and dependant on feeding tubes because they get the nutrients they need without putting forth the effort to suck. I was thrilled when they told us he could just start off with the bottle (yes one day we want him to breast feed but for now they must measure it very closely).

It kinda felt wrong like we were teasing him because he wasn't able to start with much. His first feed was 4mL

Sunday 4mL

He gets to eat every 3 hours as he handles food well they increase the amount he can eat.Today, Tuesday morning he is up to 10 mL. He will need to be up to around 60mL (I think thats 1.5-2oz) before he can come home.  It is common for most Gastroschesis babies to do really well with their feeds at the begining but then it becomes too much for the stomach and we have to wait (days or weeks) to continue increasing the amount of food. (He gets breast milk in the bottle and they still deliver additional nutrients via Picc Line.)

Pooping

Unfortunately he is not pooping as much as we would like and as much as he was last week so we are hoping for more poops. (He is receiving glycerin suppositories every 12 hours for that).

His Cold

He has had a cold (RHINO VIRUS) since day 13 so he has been in isolation (away from other babies, and the nurses take extra measures to make sure they don't transfer the cold to other babies). Well yesterday evening they tested him again and it came back Negative! (Day 30) He is over his cold! Yippie Bridger.

New Bed (DAY 30)

He can maintain his own temprature so he has been moved out of an open warmer bed and now his has a crib like a real baby.

 Meds

They are continuing to ween him off his meds and he is handling the lower doses really well.

Oxygen

He spends a couple hours a day with no oxygen support but it is nice to have it close to give him a little extra support when he needs it.

No cords on his face

The Hole

The hole is his belly is healing up well. They have a vacuum and a sponge on his belly that will suck the skin closed and help it heal faster. He will probably need the "Wound Vac" for another month.

The hole- the yellow is a patch that was sown in during surgery.

This is an older picture- but it shows the wound vac.

Overall

This little guy is doing great. We think if he continues to progress we could have him home at the end of September.

We sure appreciate the grandparents watching our 2 yr old, Carter. The meals that have been brought over have been awesome and I've loved my Young women from church doing chores at my house. Thank you for the thouhgtful messages, and most importantly all the prayers that have been said for our family.

The only bad news to report is that my car decided it wanted some attention so it started smoking on the way home from the hospital last night and we had to take it in today. I hope it gets out of the car hospital soon. Luckly the car hospital is cheaper than the NICU 😉. This hasn't tripped us up too much, my parents have an extra car they are letting me use for now. My parents are always taking such good care of me.

Well thanks for caring

Love,

The Taylor's

--------------------------------------

Bridger's Steps of Progression

✔Intestines put in Silo (day 1)

✔Closure Surgery (day 12)

✔Off the ventilators (day 21)

✔Held by mom and dad (day 21)

✔Weened off sedation (day 23)

✔Weening his pain meds

Off paid meds

✔Weening his oxygen support

Off oxygen support

✔Hear bowl sounds (tummy grumbles)

✔Poop

✔Introduce food(day 29$

*Tolerate food (digest food)

Increase foods to full feeds (60mL)

Remove Wound Vac

Nursing

Take our baby home

*We are praying that his digestive system will work properly and that he won't need any further surgeries.

Church in the hospital & Bridger Update

We have felt so many blessings lately. There is no question in our minds that there is a Heavenly Father who loves us, who watches out for us and who answers prayers. We know there are many of you praying and fasting for our family. We know this by the comfort we feel on a daily basis. Thank you for your prayers!!!  Yes there are frustrating moments but they are few compared to the moments of joy, bonding, and growth. We have been lifted and carried through this by the angels working for God.

 Today being Sunday we were able to attend our church at the hospital. It is awesome. Jordan decided this will be his "home ward." It lasts only 30 minutes! You can wear whatever you want! And the spiritual moments are strong.
Plus

-Today sweet 3 yr old was dancing next to the podium during the musical number.
- The life flight team quietly snuck out while they were passing the sacrament to go pick up another kid.
- You can wear your Pajamas.
-People of other faiths join to worship- the Mennonites have been there the last couple weeks.
-The sweet spirit of the kids who come in with IV poles, wheelchairs and all sorts of disabilities.
-Getting to partake of the sacrament and remember that Christ understands all of it.
-Musical numbers are the best.

Now for a Bridger Update
He is doing awesome!!!! We are thrilled about his progress even if it is in a diaper. Yippie for the many poopy diapers he has started having. His bowels are waking ups and making sounds. Today he cracked a smile when he tooted in his sleep. Jordan smile was even bigger.
This week  I got to hold him skin to skin. I was supposed to try Non-nutritious Breast Feeding (pump all the milk out but then let him try the act of nursing to help him learn to do it for later). I may have accidentally snuck him some milk and of course he loved it. His doctor no longer wants us to try Non-nutritious Breast Feeding. They are still waiting to really introduce any food to him but it should be soon!!! He needs very little oxygen support, in fact, he spent 6 hours the other day with absolutely no oxygen support. He is also doing very well as they wean him off his pain meds.

Bridger's Steps of Progression

✔Intestines put in Silo (day 1)

✔Closure Surgery (day 12)

✔Off the ventilators (day 21)

✔Held by mom and dad (day 21)

✔Weened off sedation (day 23)

✔Weening his pain meds
Off paid meds

✔Weening his oxygen support
Off oxygen support

✔Hear bowl sounds (tummy grumbles)

✔Poop

Introduce food

*Tolerate food (digest food)

Nursing

Take our baby home

*We are praying that his digestive system will work properly and that he won't need any further surgeries.

Day 21- Holding Our Baby

Getting to hold your own baby is a gift. A gift that I cherish, you don't realize what an incredible thing it is until you can't do it.

In order for us to hold our little guy he had to be off the ventilator (he was put on the ventilator during surgery, day 12; 12 Days Old Blog Entry).  The ventilator would breath for him and keep his lungs expanded against the extra pressure from the closure surgery.

He was on the ossiliating ventilator for a week, they have to keep him really sedated while on this ventilator so his body wont fight against it, there was some debate on whether he was ready for the next step, being put on a conventional ventilator. They went ahead and did it (he had some awesome nurses who were fighting for him). That was on thursday(day 19), almost one week after his closure surgery.

Two days later (Saturday) as we were driving to the hospital I was on the phone with my sister Heather (the one who wrote the BIRTH STORY, Birth Story Blog Entry - that made all of us cry and laugh). I told her we would probably have to wait another week till we could hold him (till he was off the ventilator). I was a little discouraged but willing to be patient.

The moment we walked in our nurse excitedly said, "TODAY IS THE DAY! We are getting him off this ventilator and you are going to hold your baby!!!". I was completely shocked.

As the motherly tears of excitement started welling up and pouring down my face, my first thought  was..... "Today is the first day for me to put on mascara, what a bad day for mascara."

3 hours later it happened, I was holding my precious baby

He was wide awake, happy, and alert. He looked straight into my eyes. We were having some serious bonding time. (for the past week he was so swollen he couldn't really open his eyes, plus all the drugs kept him pretty out of it). But as we held him he was so aware and so connected. He didn't close his eyes for the next 4 hours. Jordan and I spent the time with him in our arms just soaking it in.

He was still awake and still calm and content when we hesitantly left. He fell right to sleep 10 minutes later. 4 hours is a long time for a newborn to stay awake especially for a newborn on morphine and sedatives. But he knew this was important and he didn't want to miss it.

Holding Bridger was an anniversary gift. Sunday August 17th was our 7 yr anniversary. With all the commotion of life we hadn't really given much thought to our anniversary. But God made sure we got an anniversary gift.

 After leaving the hospital we got Carter (our 2 yr old) and went out on a date. We rode our bikes to the Hawaiian Ice Stand around the corner from our house. We were celebrating our awesome family and the great adventures we have had over the last 7 yrs. This little adventure we are having with Bridger is strengthening our marriage and our love for each other.

I am so grateful to have Jordan as mine. He is amazing and such a great support. As I watch him take on his role as father to both of these boys I fall deeper in love with him. I can't believe I am lucky enough to have someone as strong, devoted, loving, and fun. I have been blessed.

We are so excited for the progress Bridger is making. But, there are still quite a few steps before we get to take him home. And there is no time table, it is all dependant on him and he seems to take his time.

Bridger's Steps of Progression

✔Intestines put in Silo (day 1)

✔Closure Surgery (day 12)

✔Off the ventilators (day 21)

✔Held by mom and dad (day 21)

✔Weened off sedation (day 23)

Weening him down/off paid meds

Weening him down/off oxygen support

Hear bowl sounds (tummy grumbles)

Poop

Introduce food

*Tolerate food (digest food)

Nursing

Take our baby home

*We are praying that his digestive system will work properly and that he won't need any further surgeries.

Bridger's Birth Story

The birth of a soul

This post was written by my fantastic, beautiful sister:

The night before my sister, Jennie, got married I went into her room to say goodnight to her.  She was having trouble falling asleep and asked me to "put make up on" her. The tradition of "putting make up on" each other started in elementary school when we would spend the entire time at church entertaining ourselves by pretending to apply make up to each others face. Who doesn't love the feeling of your face being gently caressed (sounds so much more dramatic when I say caressed. caressed>rubbed). I remember staring at her face in the dark tearing up that my "baby sister" was getting married and was so grown up (she is all of two years younger than me, but I think every oldest child thinks of the rest of their siblings as babies.)  Eight years later I found myself "putting make up on" her again and it was such a special moment. I was invited (ok the truth is I really invited myself...but who's counting) to be there when she delivered their second baby boy.  With her first baby she was in a birth center and with her friend April as her doula.  She wrote this beautiful birth story for her.  April couldn't be there this time and I wanted to record this for Jennie.  I really love reading birth stories, so I thought I would post this.

A little background on this story.  Back in March I got an excited text that Baby Taylor #2 would also be a boy.  The next morning I called Jennie.  She listened to me vent about my screaming kids, tantrums, lack of sleep, how I thought she was having a girl and she was just so sweet listening to me go on and on.  When I finally stopped talking about myself I asked how the ultrasound was and then her voice cracked a little when she said, "uhh not good."  She explained that their baby had gastroschisis. I knew she was heartbroken that Bridger would have to have surgery and be in the NICU.  I also knew how much Jennie enjoyed her unmedicated birth center experience with Carter and I worried about how she would handle an induced hospital birth.  Jennie kept a stellar attitude about everything.  She didn't tell anybody except close family until right before delivery because she wanted everyone to be just as excited about Bridger as Carter.  She decided to look at the hospital as a chance to experience something different for L&D.  

She was scheduled for an induction and was to report to the hospital on Saturday, July 26 at 7pm and we were under the impression that the pitocin wouldn't be started until 7 am on Sunday.  Jennie called me at 10 pm to inform me that they were starting pitocin at midnight.  I got to the hospital at about 1:30 am and Jennie and Jordan were both lying awake in a dark room.  I jumped in bed with Jennie and we all were pretending to go to sleep, but it was sort of like one of those junior high slumber parties where everyone keeps saying it is time to go to sleep and then somebody makes a joke or toots (because let's face it that is as good as any joke out there) and then everyone erupts into laughter. I am telling you this was no boring L&D room, it was a good ole slumber party. I guess one of us was having contractions with an IV in her arm, but you would not have known it.  Finally, we all fell asleep for a few minutes(like 15).  

The nurse came and turned up the pitocin and Jennie said it was time to walk.  We walked the halls of the ward for two hours and I think it took that long for her to tell me about the adventures of her Saturday, because we were talking ourselves into a maze and interviewing each nurse about her life history.  We were just chatting away and Jennie had a smile on her face almost the whole time....sometimes the smile looked a little more like a grimace, but she was still attempting a smile. I was just so proud of her and so happy to call her my sister.

 One hilarious moment came when a first year resident told her that it was time for her to be checked again and Jennie replied (with the smile on her face), "oh good, I can't wait for you to shove your short little fingers in me."  The resident totally had a startled look on her face. I was told that the first time she checked her Jennie asked her if she could feel her tonsils yet.  Jennie cracked jokes the ENTIRE time.  She was hilarious. The resident checked her and said, "you are still at two centimeters...no change since I checked you last (8 hours earlier...before pitocin)."   Talk about a blow to your confidence...all that work and contracting and walking and pitocin and NO change.  I could tell Jennie was disappointed.  After the resident left her nurse, Carly, who was the sweetest person,  said, "She seemed a little unsure, maybe it is better than you think" (very diplomatic Carly).  Jennie asked Carly to check her again and it was a good thing, because Jennie was actually 5 cm.  At this point Carly suggested a nice bath and filled it up.  Did I mention that Carly was amazing? We kind of wanted to wrap her up and take her home in our bags.

 Fact: this little off-the-shoulder sexy photo is on purpose because if you are in labor and look this good, you kind of deserve a sexy off-the-shoulder photo.


Jennie was starting to feel the contractions and she just calmly swayed and did her breathing.  There is nothing quite as incredible as seeing the strength of a woman in labor.  I knew what she was feeling and experiencing,  but she was so calm and strong.

 One of my other favorite parts was watching Jordan take such good care of Jennie.  It was really special.  I don't know if I can put it into words better than that. I sure am glad these two have each other.

Jennie LOVED the bath.  It was helping her through the contractions and Jordan and I were taking turns "putting make up on" her and "telling jokes". When the water got cold we decided to be really helpful and fill it up with more warm water.  Somehow we managed to drain all the water and break the drain pull, so Jennie sat in the empty tub shivering and contracting while Jordan figured out how to fix the tub and I sat there eating Nutter Butters...because I am helpful like that.  (I never said I would be a good doula).

After a while Jennie said she wanted to try the epidural.  Jordan and I were both sort of hesitant because she was doing so great and we knew she could do it all on her own, but she explained (you know, between contractions) that she loves trying new restaurants and an epidural would be like trying a new restaurant. Thankfully, none of the new restaurants I have tried recently attempted to stick a super long needle in my spine. They broke her water and then we had to switch rooms to be closer to the NICU.  Jennie said that walk down the hall was really hard because the contractions were coming on so strong and fast.  Finally, the anesthesiologist came and got the epidural in.  As soon as it kicked in, Jennie turned around and proclaimed her love for the anesthesiologist who flatly replied, "tell all your friends."

Jennie was almost giddy for the next hour as she kept asking, "am I having a contraction?!?! I can't even tell."  Suffice it to say, if Epidural were a restaurant Jennie would give it 5 stars on yelp. Little Bridger's heart rate was starting to slow during contractions and the delivery team came  in and said it was go time.  Jennie pushed once and he was here.  The doctor and resident were trying to get little buddy untangled and Jennie was talking to him.  She started to talk to him before he was even here.  The sound of a mother talking to her baby for the first time is magical.  There is a tie and a connection that can't be described completely.   Bridger had to make a very quick exit and we barely had time to snap on picture before they took him through the window into the NICU.  We all were relieved when he started to cry as they passed him through the window.  Bridger and Jennie both got cleaned up and were given some medicine and they got Bridger ready for transport to Primary Children's Hospital.  My mom came right after delivery to be there with Jennie.  Something that I thought was so cool about this day was how our families were all involved in this kiddo's arrival.  My sister, Lauren, held Elliott all night so I could be there.  My dad, Garrett and Lauren all got the kids ready and took them to church.  Jordan's parents were watching Carter. My mom and I were both at the hospital.  I went with Jordan to Primary Children's and my mom stayed with Jennie.  It was really neat to feel like we all had our roles to help out.  He already has a pretty stellar fan club.  

 The transport team brought Bridger in to say hi to mom before he left.  I stood back and got some distant pictures.  I know Jennie and Jordan would have loved to have been able to hold their precious baby right then, but even though they couldn't cuddle him with their arms they did with their words and their love.  I could feel that love from the door of the room.  It brought me tears. I stood their and cried while I watched them discover their new little baby boy and they gave him such a welcome spot in their hearts.  I was so grateful to have been able to witness it.