Kennedy "Peanut" Bonomo: December 2008

Sunday, December 7, 2008

The Bonomo Family Christmas Tree

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Today Brian and I took Kennedy to the Christmas tree farm to pick out her very first Christmas Tree!!! She was awake for the first 10 minutes of walking around trying to pick out "the perfect tree", however, soon feel asleep in her pack. I am so excited to get to celebrate this Christmas with our baby. I think this is going to be the best christmas thus far.

We decorated our tree and listened to Christmas music all afternoon. Kennedy just relaxed (slept) on the couch. I love this time of year!!! I also have dressed Kennedy in Christmas attire since Thanksgiving, hey you don't have long to dress your baby in whatever you want so I am taking full advantage.

On a side note....Kennedy has been doing great since we started the rice cereal and stopped her prevacid and reglan medications (without doctors orders). I am sure I will get an earfull on Monday from her GI doctor, however, what did he want me to do??? I was not about to let her stay in the state she was in. She has not thrown up since Friday night!!!! In addition, she is just so calm and content (like she used to be). I am concluding that it was the medicine and not the G-tube that was bothering Kennedy. The G-tube was placed and medicine began on the same days.

Enjoy the pics!!!!!

(Above: A typical Kennedy face - Mommy loves Christmas attire!!!!)

(Above: "Auntie.....Get this hat off me")

(Above: Chubby cheeks!)

(Above: Slumber party @ Grandpa and Grandmas. Kennedy and I spent Thursday and Friday night at my parents. We had a nice relaxing couple days, it was nice to have so many hands!)

(Above: Picking out Kennedy's first Christmas Tree)

(Above: Santas Little Helper)

(Above: Daddy and Kennedy)

(Above: Reindeer Feet)

(Above: Mommy and Kennedy)

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Thanksgiving

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

The one thing I wanted more then anything was to have Kennedy home for the Holiday's. Kennedy celebrated her first Thanksgiving at Aunt Donna's. It was a day full of food, laughter, and fun. Kennedy was a bundle of joy on Thursday. She was up longer and more alert then she had ever been before. No one could keep their hands off her. She was a social butterfly and the highlight of the day.

The things I am thankful for:

* I am thankful that God gave me Kennedy. Even though life has been so hectic I forget to brush my teeth and wash my hair sometimes I wouldn't want it any other way. Since Kennedy came along I learned that not all people can handle a child with special needs. However, I know I can and I couldn't imagine Kennedy with anybody else.

* I am thankful for my family and friends. For all their help and understanding. I know I have not been the best of friends or the funniest to be around lately but you all understand why and don't judge or resent me for that.

* I am thankful for all the strength and resilience Kennedy has in her

* I am thankful for medicine, doctors, nurses, feeding tubes, bulb syringes, and spit up rags

* But most importantly I am just thankful to have Kennedy home where she belongs!!!

(Above: Kennedy in her 1st Thanksgiving outfit)

(Above: Nana (Great Great Grandma) holding Kennedy for the first time ever)

(Above: Five Generations - and no we do not have scrubs on this time!!!)

(Above: Kennedy with all the girls)

(Above: Kennedy was screaming bloody murder to get away from all those men - she is truly a girly girl)

(Above: an ole fashion stare off between grandpa and Kennedy)

(Above: Kisses!!!!)

(Above: Just the three of us)

Home with a G-Tube

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

So we have been home for about a week and a half and things could not be any worse. Kennedy had a G-tube surgically put in on Tuesday, November 18th. The surgery went differently then expected. Kennedy was supposed to be given an anesthetic through her IV, however, at the last minute everything changed. The doctor was not comfortable operating on Kennedy unless she was put out with a general anesthetic and put on a vent, he did not trust her breathing. I went into her surgery expecting one thing and was thrown for a loop with this news. I really had no choice so I agreed after a lot of reassurance from the head anesthesiologist and Kennedy's GI doctor. I was so scared to see my little baby on a vent again.

I sat in her recovery room for what seemed like two hours but in reality it was only 30 - 35 minutes. When they wheeled her into her room there was NO VENT she only had an oxygen mask on - Just in case!!! Thank goodness. The nurse said Kennedy did great. They were able to get her off the vent right after the procedure was complete.

The next 24 hours was rough for Kennedy. She was in alot of pain from the procedure. Not to mention she was going on over 40 hours with no food. The first night we ended up giving Kennedy one dose of Morphine to ease her pain. She was screaming non stop and her heart rate was out of control. We didn't want to risk any issues with her blood pressure as well.

The first four feedings she had were pedialyte. She did really well on it. From there we progressed to breast milk for four feedings. She also tolerated that really well. Finally she had to be able to tolerate the breast milk with one teaspoon of enfamil 22 cal formula in it. She threw up once with that but overall seemed to tolerate it really well.

The first four or five days of her being home were good. Kennedy seemed to be doing really well. I think she was really happy to have her feeding tube out of her nose. It gave her a sort of freedom that she had never had before. However, after Thanksgiving our luck began to change. Kennedy has been doing horrible. She is crying and throwing up non stop. She can not keep anything down. No matter how much or how little you feed her she still throws up. In addition, she has been screaming all day and all night. She is even waking up from a dead sleep screaming at the top of her lungs. I don't know if she is sick (her temp is fine), if the tube is bothering her, if the milk is not mixing well.....I DON'T KNOW. To make matters worse all of Kennedy's doctors are either out on vacation or are booked until next week.

Last night I had an idea.....after doing a lot of research I was reading that other people who have kids with reflux problems or with G-tubes got some good results by adding rice cereal to their babies formula or breast milk in order to thicken it up. It is supposed to help them from spitting up and keep them feeling fuller and more satisfied. So I started this last night and so far so good.

I will keep you all updated. In the meantime here are some new pictures - Enjoy!