I had a hard time convincing myself that today was not Monday. It still feels like Monday and I had to look at the calendar on my computer to believe otherwise, not that days of the week matter much anymore!

The boys both had a good day. Trevor worked on strengthening his sitting and crawling skills. Brendan did super duper well with his tummy and even did a sprint today. We interviewed a nurse that may be our permanent person for weekend nights and she may even cover the 2 day shifts we need. She seems like a great fit, but we will see how she does with Brendan when put to the test.

More changes today too, of course. Back when we were planning our nursery, we ordered two mini cribs. They fit so perfectly in the room against the wall with the dresser in between. They are convertible so that as the boys grow, they become a twin size headboard and footboard and the boys could continue to share the room with regular beds.

Things never work the way you expect them to. Trevor now has the room to himself and Brendan lives full time with his crib in the living room. Trevor is growing so tall and so fast that the mini crib seems way too small for him now. He is a sleep acrobat too and ends up getting himself stuck in the rails too much. So today I ordered him a new full size crib, mattress, sheets, pads, and a mesh bumper. We will keep Trevor’s first crib to convert to his twin bed later. By the time Trevor is ready for a twin bed, Brendan may be ready to move in to the big crib converted to the toddler bed. Either way, babies are EXPENSIVE!! I’ll have to post an updated picture of the boys’ room with the new big crib and stuff on the walls. It looks a lot different now.

Trevor likes his play time.

Getting closer every day!

He still falls over on to the crabs occasionally. Bill says it is a good thing they are soft shell crabs.

Is he a little prince with a crown or a little angel with a halo?

Brendan gets cuter and cuter every day, especially since his steroid-swelling is going down more and more

He knows it and he works it!

We actually took off his tape mustache after these pictures, his little cheeks needed to heal.

Help Help! Getting attacked by crabbiness!

It was a pretty good day today. We are so proud of Brendan, he is tolerating his feeding with the new tube so well. He has gagged much less and needed suctioning less too. Not one spit up all day, and so far there are no signs of reflux. He has been a little fidgety and wanted to be held quite a bit, but with all the feeding tube stuff overshadowing everything, it is important to recognize the withdrawal he might be feeling from the changes still on Friday.
Trevor was significantly better today. Because Bill was in the office and I had to stay with Brendan, Gramma had to take him to see his pediatrician today. He weighed in at 19lbs 12oz! The doctor was happy that the new formula is helping and said we need to give it more time to work fully. Otherwise, Trevor got top marks for health in all areas.

Brendan had play time in his high chair again. A speech therapist visited this morning and gave us a bunch of tips to help Brendan work on his feeding skills before he is ready to start actually eating.

Twinkle bite bite little star

He has to make sure we are still watching

Trevor had to dress up for the doctor visit today. He is wearing his mini-daddy sport shirt.

Trevor likes to read his calamari book

“Oh, the things I endure!” says Trevor

“Just doin’ some pushups with my feet up on a crab. What did you do today?”

Sharing floor time on the new play mat!

Crabbie heads!

Brendan was happiest today as long as someone was holding him. Dad happily obliged tonight

Today was the day that we knew would happen eventually but hoped it wouldn’t be any time soon. Brendan managed to throw up so hard that his feeding tube came up from the back of his throat and out his mouth. The problem with his feeding tube is that it runs down his nose, through his esophagus, through his stomach and past the main stomach in to the duodenum. This way, he is unable to reflux or throw up his formula. Placing the tube this way requires an xray to verify that it is in correctly. The feeding tube coming out on a Sunday when the regular clinic is closed means a trip to the ER for reinsertion and xray.

BUT… if his tube is just up his nose, through his esophagus and in to his main stomach, then we can put that in ourselves at home. We can check placement by pushing a small amount of air in to the tube and listening with a stethoscope to hear the bubbles. It has been over 6 weeks since he has had anything in his tummy at all and the plan has been to try it when Brendan made it necessary.

So we started by putting a new tube in his nose, just in to his tummy. We gave him time to rest and then started him on pedialyte (orange flavor!) at a super slow rate. After each couple of hours, we increased the rate just a little bit. So far all day, he has not shown any signs of reflux, he has not had any vomiting, he has been in a pretty good mood. If he can move to just tummy feedings, this is a HUGE HUGE HUGE step in the right direction for him in terms of his eating. If he has trouble over the next day or two, we will be going back to the hospital for the tube to be put deep again.

Trevor seemed better today. He had a few crabby baby issues, but otherwise he has been a lot more agreeable and happy. His first tooth is so close to popping through so that bugs him too. Hopefully each day he gets better, his screaming wakes up his brother and makes him cry too!

We took so many pictures today, I couldn’t choose which to use. So there are too many! I keep telling Mom each day that we can’t possibly outcute the cuteness of the day before’s blog pictures but every day we still do. I think the loyal minibat followers are spoiled by too much cuteness and maybe I should cut back?
I had to include all of the Brendan pictures, especially when we can see his whole face with no tape or tubes!

Trevor had to come help comfort his brother and see his real face after the tube came out.

Gramma held Brendan while Bill and I prepped everything for the replacement.

First Brendan got a relaxing bubble bath.

“My pincher fingers are confused, there is no tape to pick!”

Eating the washcloth

He even got to play some turtle kicking game, he is getting better at it all the time

Trevor told him you have to make a really sad face when you get out of the tub

Trevor really was a good boy today, he is just too cute chewing on his cold wrenches from the fridge

Brendan’s new tube went down as smoothly as it possibly could go, and the boys had a little nap together.

Three crabs on a new play rug!

Trevor doesn’t usually have tape on his face, but his little expressions are so cute, I can’t leave any of these pictures out either!

Trevor is getting up on his knees better on this rug, he has some traction. He was feeling bold and was going to take on the yellow crabbie.

Yellow crabbie had backup!! Trevor gets taken out with an ambush attack!

The crabbies all make up and spot Trevor for some big boy sitting time.

Brendan wakes up and decides to show off his tiny little tooth

The base tape is on his cheeks to have a tape mustache back on, but so far he has been good and has not needed it. This tube isn’t as critical about being pulled out, so we won’t mustache him if we don’t have to.

Brendan plays Words With Friends against Gramma, but the game said that “hmfgroq” is not an acceptable word.

He has to think harder this time.

Happy Birthday to Grampa Dusty in Illinois, we hope you had a nice birthday dinner!