We had a much much much better day today. Keeping Brendan dialed in on his antihistamine is going to take a little trial and error but it seems to be the key to making him feel better. Drying up secretions to prevent suctioning prevents gagging, but too dry and he could get a hard mucous plug in his trach tube and require an emergency trach change. You could just tell in his little face that he was feeling a lot better today.

He was even so adventurous as to have a little meltaway apple puff

This is how you do it, right? We are proud of him for doing this much!

Trevor continues to be intensely cute

We had to wrap him up for extra support, but Brendan got to do his first safari adventure in the jungle today.

Camera face

Trevor got jungle time too, he just stands around all casual

The boys want Aunt Schnah and Uncle Jon to listen to this

Brendan got to soak in a nice warm bath and relax tonight. Then the free entertainment jumped in to the tub too.

It was a very special day, Grandpa Jack turned 81 today! Trevor had big plans to go to his birthday party and had to whip up a delicious carrot cake. It is a good thing he is such a good baker. (There was no crab in the cake)

Because Brendan has two little teeth, he had to get a toothbrush. He brushes them himself!

Trevor doesn’t have teeth yet, but since he was going to a birthday party, he had to freshen up too

Trevor got dressed in a cute outfit and went to visit Grandpa

Trevor holds on to Grandpa’s hand

Trevor handled the new place and the crowds of excited people very well! He was only scared in the very beginning and then he had a good time. He got to meet Uncle Ken and Aunt Barb, Cousin Bob and Marian. He saw Aunt Heather again and then said hello to all of the staff and residents who fawned over his cute little toes. I think he liked being the center of attention.

He got to eat a little tiny frosting off of the cake too, he wasn’t sure what to make of it.

Brendan is feeling a lot better today. He is still on a reduced food rate and getting half pedialyte instead of all formula but he has been keeping it down as we slowly creep back up to full feeding.

Trevor gives him a stern talk about having to go to the hospital.

Today is also the birthday of the boys’ Great Uncle Rich. We all wish we were lounging with you at the lake on your birthday, hope it was a great one!

Brendan has resorted to using dirty tactics to get Gramma to stay longer. He has been having some bad days and today was one of his worst. He just could not keep anything down in his little tummy and he was having a hard time breathing without constant coughing and need for suctioning.

We tried everything we knew, but in the end, we drove Brendan to the hospital. Better to go to the clinic where everyone knows him and he can see his real doctor than to try to get through the night and end up in the ER on a Saturday. Brendan is sleeping soundly now and getting nothing but pedialyte at a slow drip tonight. We have to get fluids in him and get him to keep his meds down. The vomiting is most likely caused by his coughing triggering his gag reflex so if we can dry up his cough, it will help. Change in drug strategy, change in formula, hope for a good weekend.
We changed his trach tube tonight and that went smoothly. I get a bit nervous every time we have to do that. (weekly!)

This morning seemed to be starting well

Brendan really likes to sit up and play

Peek!

Gimmee a little kiss!

Brendan did a good job at the hospital, we promised him that we would not be leaving him there overnight.