Real food coming his way! Hooray!

Below is the update from Jamie. Can I just say wow! Wow what an experience this has all been and how amazing it is that we live in a day that Seth could be Seth. I mean the doctors can fix crazy problems and keep little ones alive even though their stomachs are clueless until all works properly! What a blessing! We are SO proud of you Seth and cannot wait to meet you! You are an inspirational little warrior that I am sure will continue to inspire so many through out your long wonderful healthy life that is to come soon!

So, about 20 minutes after we got to the hospital today, the nurse walks in and says that Seth's replogle is coming out, and he's going to get his first bottle! I was in the middle of pumping, so I just stopped because I wanted to see her take the replogle out. The first time I watched him yawn after it was out, I saw him start to wince at the end, expecting it to hurt, and then he looked really surprised because it didn't! I was so happy to see that! He always cried after yawning when he had the replogle down his throat.
Things turned out perfectly, because I had just pumped, and so he got to take fresh milk for his first bottle. It was only 5ml, which is hardly anything, but it's a start! He only switched to a normal size pacifier yesterday, prepping him for bottle nipples, and he's been doing well with that. It took him a while to suck on the bottle nipple--he just has no idea what he's supposed to do with a bottle! His stomach doesn't feel hungry, because it's never really had food in it except the first couple days of life. So even though he barely had anything to drink, it probably took 10 minutes for him to get it all down. He just looked so confused! haha! But he got it all down, and afterwards I burped him and got a few burps out--he didn't spit anything up, so that was good!His second feeding was 3 hours later, and the nurse let me feed him. She had me hold him out in front of me, with my hand under his head, and he was lying down on his side so that when he swallowed, it would go down the side of his throat. That's apparently easier for these little guys. He was really sleepy, so it took a while for him to get it down again, but once he started to suck, he was able to keep at it until it was gone.
We're so excited that we're moving forward, and so proud of him! We don't know yet if his stomach is pushing anything down. We know it CAN go down--we just don't know if his stomach will cooperate right away, or if it will take a while. But either way, this is definitely a step in the right direction!!

Recovery is going well!

This is from Jamie herself. Sounds like Seth is continuing to warrior his way through this miserable beginning of life! Go Seth Go!

So, Seth is now off of his ventilator and is just on oxygen. He's doing really well... he opened his eyes for about 10 minutes today, which was SOOO nice to see! He didn't look uncomfortable or in pain or anything, so that was a relief. He looked right at us every time we said something to him. He is so strong. Not much to update you on, other than that!

He MADE it!!!!

Okay. So he had pyloric atresia, which is super rare. less than 1 in a million babies have it! Crazy, huh? So, the surgeon didn't exactly get RID of it, but he basically created an opening for everything to go around it. Can't really explain the procedure--we made him draw it for us. Pretty amazing, though.
Anyways, he's doing well. He's on a ventilator because the anesthesia causes them to not breathe on their own, so he's on that until he can wake up enough to start breathing. They began weaning him off already.. he started waking up about 15 minutes after we left the hospital. Go figure! But they think they'll be able to keep him out of the isolette and just put him in a regular crib, and he'll be able to start wearing clothes and stuff, so that's exciting!
The most horrible part of the day was in the waiting room. We were sitting right next to the consultation rooms where the surgeons talk to the family or whatever. Well while we were sitting there, one family got the news that the patient didn't make it. He was on the way to the recovery room when his heart stopped and they couldn't revive him. It was HORRIBLE. We could hear them start sobbing, and what sounded like hitting the wall. Oh my gosh... it was horrible. And it was kind of a reality check of the scary situation we were in, you know? Anyways, I'm so glad this day is over!
So, they're going to run some tests next week to make sure things are able to move through his stomach. His stomach may take a while to start digesting again, since it hasn't had to do anything for a while.. so it might need to re-learn, so to speak. But once we know things are moving through, he'll be able to start eating. So for now, it's just letting his tummy heal... and early next week we'll know if the surgery worked or not!

What a warrior! Great job Seth! Way to push through this crazy day!

SURGERY Tomorrow! PRAY PRAY PRAY PLEASE!

I talked to Jamie today. Below is her update.

So, Seth is going in to surgery tomorrow. He's tentatively scheduled for 11ish, but there's 2 babies ahead of him, so he could go earlier if one of the babies got canceled, or the surgeries went faster than anticipated, or he could go in later if the surgeries took longer than anticipated. SO. He'll go in, they'll put him to sleep, then they're going to do another endoscopy to try and see what's going on one more time, then the surgeon will open him up and get him fixed.
His blood platelet count was a TEENY bit high, so he's getting a plasma transfusion since he's getting operated on. Otherwise they would have just left it alone. Um, getting antibiotics in the morning, just to be safe... and I think that's about it.

Jamie is doing well considering all of this. I just can't imagine. It makes me so sad that my best friend has to experience all of this and that her brand new little baby has to struggle so much. As if being born at full term wasn't traumitizing enough for babies! He has bruises from getting blood drawn. He's swollen from all the fluids they try to keep in him. He's alone in an incubator a good portion of the time when all he really wants is to be in mommy's arms all day every day. Oh dearest Seth! Soon you can come home and be with mommy! Be strong tomorrow! Have faith! The doctors will fix you all up tomorrow! The Lord will help them help you! And soon you can go home and be with your awesome family! Please everyone pray lots for little Seth and the doctors tomorrow! And throw in a few for his parents too!

Updates Updates pros and cons

Okay, so he's had another x-ray, upper gi, and ultrasound, all of which again showed nothing. He can get surgery at 2000 grams, and he currently weighs 1955 grams (4 pounds, 5 ounces), so we're really close. He's still having tiny poops, and they're not pulling out as much from his stomach, which seems to indicate something is getting through, but his upper gi showed nothing... I hate this! I'm guessing he might get surgery early this next week, but that's just a guess.. haven't talked to the surgeon or anything. Or maybe he'll get another endoscopy... who knows. So, that's all... just more of nothing! Seth is anemic, so he got a blood transfusion today (Andrew's blood that he donated a couple days ago). He had 10 apnea spells last night, and they're hoping it has to do with his low red blood cell count, which the blood transfusion will take care of. He got another picc line put in today, and is pretty much prepped to get surgery on Tuesday. *sigh*

Lets all keep praying and praying for our little warrior and his mommy and daddy! I just feel guilty sometimes when I go about my simple peaceful life and then realize that they are all going through so much everyday. I so wish I could do something more to ease it all for them. They are all such amazing warriors! Millers you guys are awesome! Soon this will all be behind you and Seth will be home healthy and thriving!

The Waiting game for now..

There isn't much to report... doctors want Seth to be around 5 pounds before they operate, and they'll do another upper gi before operating to make sure it hasn't fixed itself while we are waiting.
He's been moved to the nicu south (until he gets operated on, at which time he'll go back to the north until he recovers), so he has his own room, with a couch! It also has a pump in there, which has been SUPER nice for me. Jamie hated having to leave to go pump. So they're able to take the kids, and the whole family can be in there together. It's a lot less stressful, with less beeping machines and crying babies. He's started having apnea problems since he's been moved... having about 2-3 episodes per shift (which is 12 hours). Hopefully he gets passed that before coming home, because no one wants to have to bring their baby home on a monitor. But he's doing good--last night he weighed in at 3 pounds 11.9 ounces! His cheeks are getting rounder--it's so cute! Anyways, really not much to report. We should know what's going on in about 2 weeks probably... until then, we're just hanging out... *sigh*

still questions

Well no official news on surgery yet. They did another GI test on him and things have gotten worse. Instead of things moving slowly through they were unable to move altogether. He is definitely getting surger the doctor is jut not sure when. He is not an emergency case so there is no real bug rush but it would be nice to have it over with and to know that little Seth will be able to digest his own food soon! So much uncertainty! Can you even imagine going throug this?! Jamie and Drew you guys are for sure still in all of our prayers! You guys are the first thing Libby says when she says her prayers, "please bless Jamie and her baby"... And Seth?! Way to learn patience at such an early age! It takes us all a lifetime to learn it and you are learning it now! Keep up the patience. Everything is going to work out we just know it! We love you!!!