Oh Poop

Lincoln likes to keep us on our toes. Just when we get lulled into a false sense of security (I was back to secretly wishing for a Christmas Eve release...), something new comes our way!  Today was poop. Lincoln doesn't really poop on his own. He has be 'stimmed' (Lubricated rectal thermometer) or given a suppository, or most often, both. And still we wait. And after a couple of days, the flood gates open and poops rivers. 

Today when it was mentioned at rounds, folks got more serious. A surgical consult was called in. A barium enema was ordered. Potential surgery for Hirschprungs Disease - and a biopsy of his colon to diagnose. Surgeon said no more stimming or suppositories. Barium enema done - injecting contrast liquid so colon can be x-rayed to determine where the problems are.  X-rays looked good, so he'll simply be watched for few days by NICU docs and surgeon. 

We're still waiting on him,to improve with feeds. He's doing well when nippling every other feed, but he does not have the stamina to nipple every feed - he simply gets too tired. Feeds are what are really holding him back from coming home. He'll come home on oxygen - a big tank for the house and a small tank for traveling to doc appointments, etc. His tone sucks as well, he was a 23-weeker and this is to be expected. It's why bottling and pooping is so hard. He already sees a speech therapist and a physical therapist. Both of those will continue when we leave the hospital as part of early intervention.