Another good day all around! Brendan’s rounds this morning consisted of a huge discussion about nutrition. The doctors had a pretty long debate about the balance of carbohydrates, proteins and fats in his IV nutrition and the effects of changing them. They decided that his condition warrants that they give him more protein and carbs and less fat. So they will be mixing up his TPN a little differently now. They are adding fortifier to his milk to increase the calories to help him gain some weight.
They turned down the pressure on his cannula because it was set pretty high. They also agreed that the atrial line could be removed. When we see him tomorrow, he should have one less IV attached!
They turned off another pain med, so he is no longer on anything in an IV drip. He gets methadone regularly and other meds only as needed.
He is enjoying the little pacifier with the sucrose drops on it. It really does help soothe him.

Dad needed to give Brendan a kiss too!

Brendan is participating in a very cool program for kids called Beads of Courage. He gets a different colored/shaped bead for each medical treatment or experience for his stay. There is a chart to keep track of it all each day with the legend of what each bead means.
All I can say is that Brendan has about 3lbs of beads in his bag already. When he is out of the hospital, he will have enough to make a beaded curtain for his room.
More info on the program here: http://www.beadsofcourage.org/

This is the start of Brendan’s collection. They are out of stock of a few of the colors, and he is about a week behind. The program is a fantastic idea, but some of the nurses care about it more than others. I can string them once we get caught up.

Trevor had another eventful diaper day. When he woke up this morning for a change, I opened up his footie pajamas and discovered that he had somehow wiggled out of his diaper and that it was hanging on just under his little cheeks.
I heard that I might have to fight with the boys about pulling up their pants, but I certainly didn’t expect it to start this early!!
The diaper was still securely fastened, no idea how he managed it!

I bought both boys a new toy today. Their cousin has one and I thought it was so cute, I had to get it too! It is a Captain Calamari! Trevor thinks it is pretty cool too.

Aaaaah! Calamari attack!

Trevor attacks back

Position of the mirror aside, Trevor is still fascinated by his own reflection!