Suzy the Brave

Suzy is now a pro at refusing bottles. We saw a Pediatric GI doctor on Wednesday, and the doc was very concerned with the small amount that Suzy will eat each day. Suzy averages 19 ounces per day. According to the GI doctor, a baby Suzy's weight needs a minimum of 20 ounces per day to stay hydrated. She needs about 30 ounces per day for good nutrition. That number made me feel so sad. She has dropped to the 40th percentile for weight (from somewhere in the 80th percentile at birth), and we are trying to figure out why her stomach hurts so much. The doctor just happened to have an opening for an endoscopy the next day, Thursday, so we took it. The appointment was at Children's Hospital, and of course I was worried sick. Luckily, every single person who works at Children's was absolutely terrific. So warm and patient with us.

Suzy wore her red turban and got tons of compliments, naturally. She was really good for almost the whole thing. She wasn't allowed to eat after midnight except for 2 ounces of formula, so she should have been really hungry by the time we got to the hospital at ten. She tolerated getting weighed, getting a little toe monitor and getting her temp and BP taken with a smile, but when I tried to lay her down on the hospital bed she flipped out.

 PICK ME UP!!!

The scope took about twenty minutes, and they saw some inflammation in her esophagus.  Biopsies were taken and results will be back in a few weeks. In the meantime we are giving her a new prescription to help coat the sore spots in her gut, and we are thickening her bottles even more with 2 teaspoons of rice cereal per ounce of formula. This is 'nectar consistency,' and so far she seems to like it.

I was so sad and scared to see her wheeled off away from us!

Colin came straight from arguing at the Supreme Court. He is the best daddy, and I think Suzy knows it!

After she woke up from the anesthesia, she was pretty upset and gassy. We had to stay for two hours until we could convince her to take some of her bottle and keep it down. When she finally did, we were free to go. She slept for a good while after we got home, but then woke up, drank a big bottle, and played happily til bedtime. It was so nice to see her smile!! Thanks to everyone for the continued thoughts and prayers. We are going to get this girl growing again!