This morning was all about a trip to the GI doctor. With no need to pack the ventilator and breaks from the feeding pump, it made transporting Brendan a LOT easier!

He even wore his PMV for the trip!

Brendan is not the only one that likes to chew on toes.

Without all the extra equipment, The Whale stroller can actually carry two boys properly!

Trevor did a great job waiting during the appointment!

Brendan always has his apps for comfort when he is scared.

Everything was quick and easy. Brendan lost a tiny bit of weight which is what they wanted. He was 24lbs 12oz. They won’t be changing his calories. We are going to keep moving bit by bit toward giving him his formula faster over a shorter period of time so he is connected less. Eventually, he will have scheduled meal times and will get several ounces quickly just like a regular bottle feeding.
The more time off he has, the more likely he is to feel hunger and be willing to take food by mouth. It must help that he had a two hour break, because he ate almost half of a carton of Sweet Potato/Corn blend!!

Doctor’s appointments wear everyone out.

Bill had to work late and be on the phone so Brendan decided to be an epic crab tonight. He would scream loudly unless I picked him up. I was trying to make dinner and feed Trevor so he did a lot of crying. It is his turn to learn that crying does not get what he wants, it is just a shame it has to be so loud! It is a good thing that all that yelling is good for his breathing muscles!

Besides all the screaming, Brendan is doing more and more experimenting with making sounds and moving his mouth. The first half of this video is just talking with the PMV. In the second half, we are experimenting with ‘capping’ or completely blocking the trach tube so that Brendan has to breathe in and out through his mouth and nose instead. We are encouraged at how well he did and I love the sounds!