Here is a little update on how our girl has been doing from April to May. She loves having storytime with her puppy, playtime with her toys, and naptime with her babydoll. She is loving this home life!
At 7 months, Nola has been doing great. She got off all diuretics and blood thinners. She gained weight like a champ and actually started to look a little chunky (for her anyways)! Her favorite things are playing on her floormat, pulling mom’s hair, squawking loudly, and giving big open mouth kisses!
Her heart function continues to be just as the doctors want it. She has weaned off two of her medications that were used for sedation in the hospital, is getting to trial taking a little less magnesium (transplant meds often deplete electrolytes like magnesium), and is starting to take more medicine by mouth to work towards when she no longer needs her feeding tube. The best news for her is she has been cleared to return to fortified breast milk from her medical formula she had to be on for a surgical complication. This girl is full of life and has a spirit that is full grown. She is over 13 pounds now and is loving life!
From May 15 to 24, we saw many faces of our happy girl! A little playtime, eating her feet, and the first reaction to eating bananas. Nola got another good report from the doctor this week and now only has to go every other week. That means for the first time since December, we have a whole week to just relax at home.
Nola’s team had told us their feeling was Nola would be eating all her calories probably by July. However, this past weekend she decided it was time for the feeding tube to go (she only pulled it out 4 times in 3 days to prove that point). Since Saturday she has drank every ounce by mouth and we got permission to pull her tube! As long as she keeps it up, the feeding tube will remain history.
Big girl feeding herself apples and trying out a cheese stick. Couldn’t have too much of the cheese stick as she was able to tear chunks off as her teeth are closer to the surface than last time at speech therapy, but she loved the apples. Even more than the apples, she loved feeding herself! Getting so big and independent before our eyes!
Eight months with this ray of sunshine! The past 8 months have flown by. Nola is 3 months out from her transplant and absolutely thriving. She loves the Frozen movies, playing with her toys, and chewing on her fingers and toes. She is eating like a piggy and growing so much. Her personality has blossomed so much in the last month and she is becoming more independent and opinionated by the day! We thank God everyday that we get to watch this little miracle grow.