Long Overdue Update

Sorry for the delay, there has been a lot going on.

Sarah's recovery from surgery has gone well. Each day I see watch the nurses and doctors check her belly and redress the wound. The two holes that used to be where the stomas protruded were sown up on the inside, allowing the wound to "Fill In" from the outside. It looked kind of strange, but not too unsettling.

Each day the wound fills in more and more. Sarah doesn't like the redressing, and screams when it is done. I remember Will having the same attitude about it. But, other than the redressing, she seems to be in good spirits. She is playful and even cracks a smile from time to time.

The feedings, on the other hand, have been more of an issue. The first couple of Pregestimil feedings ended up in my lap. I had to carry my original shirt home in a bag Monday and Tuesday. Sarah eats very quickly and gives it back even quicker. When she is more regulated, she can hold the food down.

When she threw up yesterday, I was a little frustrated. When Will throws up, it means he has a blockage. I know there are many reasons why she might be puking, but I could not get it out of my mind that it might be more severe.

This morning, however, I got "The News". Every CF Parent gets "The News" at some, or many, points. It is news that makes you smile because it indicates that your fears have been calmed. You wait for "The News" for weeks and eagerly anticipate the day when you can get "The News". CF Parents giggle when they tell their story of "The News".

Mine came this morning. I called the nurse watching Sarah and she said, "Sarah took her last feeding well and then had a huge stool. It was really stinky." Stooling is the sign that says Sarah is processing her food and pushing it all the way through the system. She may not be getting any nutritional value from the food, but at least it knows the way from the front door to the back door.

As many of you know, there are signs that say "Your kid is going to be alright". It feels like someone just took a pallet of bricks off my chest.