My bags are packed, the children are prepared, and we are almost ready. I’ve put credit on all my devices, packed Evelyn’s favourite books and socks, and spare clothes for me.
Sadly, we’re not going on holiday, or anywhere fun. Instead, Evelyn is being admitted to RHH tomorrow for a week to teach her how to eat. A team of nurses and a speech therapist will be at hand to watch Evelyn feeding, offer suggestions and take over where necessary. We’ll be working on cutting down her breastfeeds to almost nothing, while upping her intake of real food and milk from a cup or bottle.
Today, the plan is that we’ll be getting gate leave each night to come home and sleep in our own bed, before heading back to the hospital every morning. I’m hoping this is the plan we get to keep. There’s really nothing worse than sleeping on a hospital recliner.
I’m not looking forward to it, frankly. But it’s a good plan – the best plan under the circumstances, and my dread is a selfish thing. Dread of having to keep an energetic opinionated toddler entertained for long hours with no one to give me a break.
I looked at Nathan the other day and said “but what if she eats really well in the hospital?”
That’s my biggest fear. That we’ll get in there and she will be amazing, taking all her nutrition easily.
Nathan reminded me that she won’t be good for an entire week. No matter how much novelty is to be found in a new highchair (she detests hers) and new people, she won’t keep it up for the whole time.
He has a good point.
She’ll also be having more bloods taken, one lot to do a genetic screen, just in case there is something there we’re overlooking, and standard iron/vitamin D/liver function tests again. Hopefully her anaemia has resolved with the last few months of iron supplements.
So, that’s where I’ll be for the next week. In and out of the hospital with Evelyn. Again.
Hopefully at the end of it all Evelyn will be eating enough real food to avoid an NG tube. We’re not even interested in getting her to eat textures yet, just to eat enough purees to survive without breastmilk.
Wish us luck.
