This will be quick. Matt and I are both either sick or having major allergy issues, and we are both extremely tired. I have felt worse today and yesterday than I have since Jonah was born... including last week's sore throat virus - whatever it is, it's worse than that.
Jonah seems to be feeling a little better since this afternoon. Hopefully the antibiotic is working. He still isn't really eating though. Thankfully he has taken enough Pedialyte to keep him from getting dehydrated. This morning was really scary though as his wet diaper this morning was dark in color and had a funny odor. That's another sign of dehydration. Yesterday he wasn't peeing every six hours. Today he did. Thank you, God. He took 9 1/2 ounces of formula today and 15 oz of Pedialyte. We're thankful that he has taken enough to stay hydrated. (Although the back of the Pedialyte jug says they need 32-64 oz to stay adequately hydrated... um... yeah, right.)
I guess my biggest fear (besides him staying hydrated) is that this last bout of feeding struggles/refusal to eat will lead to continued refusal and a g-tube. I'm afraid he'll be like, "Okay. That's it for me. Eating sucks. Case closed." I'm praying and praying that he'll start eating again, but unfortunately with him there's no guarantee that he'll necessarily go back to "normal." Hoping that's just paranoia. I don't know... maybe the g-tube is the way to go. Are we going to have to go through this crazy food refusal / dehydration EVERY time he gets a little cold or virus? You might as well check me into the loony bin now.
Okay, just wanted to give you all an update. Please pray that he will continue to feel better and that he'll start eating SOON.
Thanks for all your prayers. We appreciate you lifting us up!
23 comments:
Hope Jonah gets to feeling better soon! On the g-tube thing, we had one put in for Jay and it actually helped his eating in the long run.
Will keep praying. Very happy to hear about no dehydration!
I hope you all get to feeling better soon. Everything seems way worse when the "mom" is sick because it's complete break down in the system. All 4 of my kids always eat less when they are feeling under the weather. I know that's not good for Jonah but it sounds like his appetite picked up a bit today so maybe he's already on the upswing. Get some rest.
Glad to hear Jonah is feeling better. I been wondering have you ever thought about taking him to a feeding clinic? They would help with any current feeding problem you were having...
I know it's a hard decision but the G tube can bring a lot of peace to you and Jonah. It can allow him to enjoy food because he doesn't have to eat if it hurts. He can experience pleasure when he eats. It does not have to be a last resort or a bad thing. Think of all the less worry you would have and the pressure taken off Jonah to eat if he had a secondary way to get nutrition. Remember - if he wants to eat - you don't have to use the G tube - it's there for times like now - when Jonah does not feel like eating. You need to make the decision that is right for you but I encourage you to let go of some of the fears of a G tube. I try to remember that God does not use fear to move us to a decision. Getting a G tube does not have to be a decision based on your failure to get Jonah to eat. Maybe a g-tube is a gift that could really be a good thing for Jonah. AJ has gone to a GJ tube where his food goes straight to his intestines - no more reflux, no gushers, no damage to his esophogus - just a healthy weight maintained and a little boy that likes to eat when it feels good. He still enjoys lots of foods and sits at the table with us for every meal. In the meantime - have you thought about Popsicles - AJ loves them and it would help hydrate Jonah - warning - they really mess up bandages!
Barbara and AJ (RDEB age 2)
Praying for the Jonut and missing you guys like crazy. Left you a message today just telling you that I love you and I'm hoping that this turns around quickly. Love to all!
Still prayin' in PA for Jonah!!
Here's a recipe for homemade Pedialyte that saves so much money that I got from one of my baby books. Plus, its handy to whip up if I can't get out to the store to buy Pedialyte.
4 cups water
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp instant jello powder (any flavor)
Praying you and Matt feel better quickly and for Jonah to be able to eat and remain hydrated!!!!
Praying that he starts eating a LOT tomorrow!!!! And that you guys feel better, too!
Praying for all three of you. Glad he's made some progress today - will pray that this continues, and that you and Matt will feel better and rested very soon. If there's ANYTHING else we can do, please let us know!
Love from TX!
Laura
PS - this is going to sound nutty, but have you/Matt tried local honey and/or bee pollen for your allergies? I just started doing this with our family (especially Garrison, my 8-yr old) and it's really seemed to help, even with all the crazy wind that's been blowing here lately! Just a thought!
Hey, we are praying for all of you and I want you to know that you are doing a wonderful thing making a great effort to continue to get fluids in Jonah. Seth's appetite was pretty much shot whenever he had an ear infection/virus. He would eat jello though because it sat on his stomach well and he thought it was FUN to eat. I hope this will pass soon and I hope that you and Matt get to feeling better...it's a wonder we aren't all sneezing and coughing from this yellow storm we are having. Love you!
Thank you for the adorable pictures, and more prayers coming your way.
I hope you all feel better soon.
The perk of a g-tube is that giving medication is easy and when a child has a cold or doesn't feel good enough to eat, you can just give pedialyte through the g-tube and keep them hydrated without difficulty.
I understand wanting to avoid a g-tube. I understand that for Jonah, it would not necessarily be an easy procedure. That said, I do want to encourage you that if he winds up with a tube, it really might ease your mind in a lot of ways (while probably stressing you out in other ways).
(((Hugs))) Get well soon!
Holding you all up in prayer. Hope there is a turnaround soon.
I don't pop by here nearly as much as I'd like to - but I landed here today and I want you to know that I will be in prayer for you, Matt and Jonah. I'm sorry for the illness that you've been dealing with. Brighter days are ahead! Do you have sun shining? Maybe sitting out in the sun will refresh and rejuvenate you.
We had an illness go through here and the symptoms were fever and aches and pains for a few days - then they felt better for a day - then they CRASHED HARD for a day - horrible fatigue... that only lasted one day. Maybe it's the same thing.
Hang in there.
Lynnette
PS Praying right now.
I read your blog all the time, but have never commented. My son Jonas, who is now 5, has refused to eat most of his life. We go through those ups and downs every day. will he or won't he eat today? Many hospitalizations for dehydration. it is no fun at all. The good news is he is now 5, and we have managed to avoid, barely, the G-tube. But I often wonder how much easier it would have been. He is still only 28 pounds at 5+ years old, and we still battle everyday to get him to eat. Good Luck, and hang in there.
Praying for you all, sweetie!
Cxx
HI - i follow your blog and have been praying for you... and just had to comment on this one - we just went through a HORRIBLE bout of stomach flu and not eating and lots of those lovely things... to stave of dehydration we used freeze pops and other frozen delicacies to tempt the little tummy... they also make pedialyte popsicles that seem to do the trick for us,... now of course, when my son hears the freezer opening - he DEMANDS "pop-see-coo" - small price to pay... no one ever told me how much motherhood was have me focused on pee and poop and how many of our dinner discussions would revolve around this subject!!
Praying that boy will eat and drink a ton. Also praying you & Matt feel better because it's so much easier to take care of our little ones when we feel good. I'm sorry you guys are having such a rough time : (
Praying for all of you and especially for sweet Jonah! I will cover him in prayers for hydration and that he will eat enough to keep him healthy and away from a g-tube for now.
Take care of yourself - I know it's hard when you have a little one to care for, but try and rest some!
fyi - pedialyte diapera always smell funny :-) It worried me at first too!
So relieved to hear they did not have to do ivs..praying,praying without ceasing that he will drink like he never has before. Also praying for God to give you & Matt the strength & encouragement...
Love
I feel your frustration! We recently had to take our little boy to the ER. Our regular doctors said that he needed a couple of things to be done right away, and the ER doctors didn't do anything. We saw three or four different doctors who all seemed to be dragging their feet and didn't want to do anything. In fact, they didn't do anything. We went home several hours later, tireder, poorer, and our little boy was still suffering.
I hate that even little things like a cold can make your lives so miserable and difficult. Hang in there, and I'm sure that Jonah will start feeling better soon. Who knows, maybe he'll be so excited that he feels better that he'll realize how great eating can be, and eat and eat and eat!
Praying for you all! :)
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