June 16th
When I pulled into the parking lot this afternoon, Uncle Jeff was just pulling out (I got his rock star parking place). He told me that Orion was going to get to eat today!
Hooray!!! Real food! Inside the hospital, Uncle JP, who was only able to stay a short time, told me that Orion had ordered macaroni and cheese, pudding, and some gatorade. How much more real can you get?????
After taking and passing some more physical therapy tests today, Orion was given the green light for solid foods. Boy was he ever ready to eat! By the time they brought his mac and cheese, he was tired from being up so much during the day and the two therapy sessions, so he only ate about 5 or 6 bites of the mac and cheese that his dad fed him and a few sips of the gatorade but over a period of an hour or so, he ate one and a half cups of the vanilla pudding.
About 5:30 or so, the nurse came in to check on his very sore back and she told us that he could order whatever he'd like from the kitchen to eat throughout the evening but that he needed to order soon as the kitchen closed at 6:30. I told him I would read the menu to him and to squeeze my hand when I read something he wanted.
Any breakfast foods? Waffles or pancakes for the pancake king? No squeeze.
Oatmeal or cream of wheat? No squeeze.
OK. Let's get to the lunch and dinner items. I don't think corn would be so good right now. How about steamed carrots like your dad always has for you? No squeeze.
Small milkshake? SQUEEZE
Rice? SQUEEZE
Buttered noodles? SQUEEZE
Broccoli? SQUEEZE
Green beans? SQUEEZE
Roasted turkey? SQUEEZE SQUEEZE SQUEEZE
"Ri, I've got to stop there. I know you're hungry, but I think that's more than enough for tonight. You only have until midnight and then you can't eat again until after you MRI at 1pm tomorrow. Bummer of a deal, isn't it? But, woo hoo for now. You get food!"
By the time the food came, Ri sipped a bit of the chocolate shake, ate some of the noodles, slowly counting the 30 chews for each bite, then he was exhausted. Before he fell asleep, I asked him if he wanted me to send back the food. Two very wide eyes opened and stared at me as if I were crazy while his head slowly moved from side to side, an emphatic "NO".
Although I only got to spend just a couple of hours with the babe today, they were a very good 2 hours.
Please continue to pray for Orion and his folks. Prayers got him this far and will take him all the way!
Love to all, Orion's Nana
When I pulled into the parking lot this afternoon, Uncle Jeff was just pulling out (I got his rock star parking place). He told me that Orion was going to get to eat today!
Hooray!!! Real food! Inside the hospital, Uncle JP, who was only able to stay a short time, told me that Orion had ordered macaroni and cheese, pudding, and some gatorade. How much more real can you get?????
After taking and passing some more physical therapy tests today, Orion was given the green light for solid foods. Boy was he ever ready to eat! By the time they brought his mac and cheese, he was tired from being up so much during the day and the two therapy sessions, so he only ate about 5 or 6 bites of the mac and cheese that his dad fed him and a few sips of the gatorade but over a period of an hour or so, he ate one and a half cups of the vanilla pudding.
About 5:30 or so, the nurse came in to check on his very sore back and she told us that he could order whatever he'd like from the kitchen to eat throughout the evening but that he needed to order soon as the kitchen closed at 6:30. I told him I would read the menu to him and to squeeze my hand when I read something he wanted.
Any breakfast foods? Waffles or pancakes for the pancake king? No squeeze.
Oatmeal or cream of wheat? No squeeze.
OK. Let's get to the lunch and dinner items. I don't think corn would be so good right now. How about steamed carrots like your dad always has for you? No squeeze.
Small milkshake? SQUEEZE
Rice? SQUEEZE
Buttered noodles? SQUEEZE
Broccoli? SQUEEZE
Green beans? SQUEEZE
Roasted turkey? SQUEEZE SQUEEZE SQUEEZE
"Ri, I've got to stop there. I know you're hungry, but I think that's more than enough for tonight. You only have until midnight and then you can't eat again until after you MRI at 1pm tomorrow. Bummer of a deal, isn't it? But, woo hoo for now. You get food!"
By the time the food came, Ri sipped a bit of the chocolate shake, ate some of the noodles, slowly counting the 30 chews for each bite, then he was exhausted. Before he fell asleep, I asked him if he wanted me to send back the food. Two very wide eyes opened and stared at me as if I were crazy while his head slowly moved from side to side, an emphatic "NO".
Although I only got to spend just a couple of hours with the babe today, they were a very good 2 hours.
Please continue to pray for Orion and his folks. Prayers got him this far and will take him all the way!
Love to all, Orion's Nana
