FATHER'S DAY GIFT FROM JONATHAN

Jonathan wanted to give daddy a gift.  Since we couldn't go out to buy one, I asked if he wanted to give daddy an ang pow (red money packet).  In this case, the envelope is gold. hee hee.

I held his hand to write on the envelope.

I asked him how much he wanted to give.

Me:  Do you want to give daddy $10?
Jon:  Yes
Me:  Is it too little?
Jon:  Yes
Me:  $20?
Jon:  Yes
Me:  Is it too little?
Jon:  Yes
Me:  How about $30?
Jon:  Yes
Me:  Is it too little?

This went on until we reached $50.  He said $50 is ok.  Not too little.  When i asked if he wanted to give $60, he said no.

My next question:

Me:  Do you want to use your money or mommy's money?Jon:  Mommy's money

Harith said he's a smart boy ;)))))  haahaha

Both of us said a prayer for daddy.

Thanks Harith for being here with me all these years to watch over Jonathan.  Happy Blessed Father's Day Dear :)))

BTW, I got a rose from Jonathan on Mother's day.  I didn't blog about it then cos I was busy.  But it was really a beautiful gesture.  I didn't even know he had a discussion with his daddy about buying a carnation.

This morning at 2am, I finished up a couple t-shirt for my niece-in-law's sister who is getting married this year.  At the same time, printed 4 rompers for my grandniece.  Simple words on a white mothercare's romper.

These are for Natasha, a cute little chubby cheeks princess who looks exactly like my nephew :)
Uniquely her name means CHILD OF CHRISTMAS.

3RD DAY - SO FAR SO GOOD

Whenever Jonathan has retching or vomiting sessions, i always switch to porridge water without milk.

3 days ago, I decided to put this into his daily diet.  Only for 4 feeds out of the 5.  His first milk feed is usually at 10am so I give him the usual water and milk.  Then for the rest of the day, it's porridge water and milk powder together.

So far, it's been the 3rd day.  I don't see him gag that much.

Perhaps it's the insufficient food intake that's making Jonathan have gastric problems.  I'm still not sure.  But this porridge water, cooked really thick, does help.  A friend suggested alternating with organic brown rice water.  Will try this at a later stage.

I just got a call from KK Neuro Dept this morning informing me about the appointment with the gastro doctor on July 20th.  Thanks to Dr JW for giving us the referral.  At least it will give us an idea how his tummy is functioning and hopefully there will not be any acid reflux at all.

He tells me now whenever he's hungry so that's good.  He's growing and I guess he will need more than what he's taking now.  Will call the nutritionist to see if there's a free slot on 20th as well.


Thank you Lord!

Jeremiah 30:17  "I have given you back your health and heal your wounds", says the Lord.

NUTRITION ... IS HE GETTING ENOUGH?

I'm not sure if Jonathan is taking in enough nourishment although I've met up with the nutritionist.  I may have to see her again.

The current feed given was 6 scoops of Isomil EyePlus but increase to 7.  But whenever I increase the milk feed, he has diarrhoea too.

Tried to switch back to goat's milk but had diarrhoea.

I think he needs more.

I need wisdom to do this.

ACID REFLUX

I have been busy.  And I have been stressed over Jonathan's health again. 

Lately, he's been drooling a lot.  He's nose, since a while back has been stuffy.  He's also be gagging quite a bit and sometimes out of the blues, he starts retching.

A few days ago, he arched his back twice during feeding time.

My friend's daughter just had a reflux test done 2 days ago.  She's going for surgery to get a feeding button fitted.  She called me to update about the test and she mentioned "heartburn".

After our conversation, I began to wonder if Jonathan is actually having acid reflux or Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).  Read more HERE.

I googled for acid reflux symptoms and found these:

Older infants and children are more likely to have more subtle or 'silent reflux' symptoms, including:

• irritability
• trouble sleeping
• anorexia
• weight loss
• failure to thrive
• arching the back while feeding
• apnea
• painful or difficulty swallowing
• recurrent abdominal pain
• chest pain
• a chronic cough, recurrent pneumonia, or persistent asthma symptoms
• a hoarse voice
• Sandifer syndrome - posturing episodes that are often mistaken for seizures 
• nausea

Jonathan didn't show most of the symptoms up there.  But he has also been waking up in the middle of the night, runny nose, nausea and the arching of his back while feeding.

I'm not certain whether he is having GERD.  But since he had his button done, he also had fundoplication too.  So I'm not sure what's happening at the moment.

So this evening, he suddenly started showing signs of being unwell.  I decided that we should just take him to the doctor's.  Told the GP about my suspicion and he prescribed gastric pills and Domper for stomach pain, to be taken once a day.

I'm going to see how this is going to take effect.  I read that giving too much antacid is not good as well so I asked for the smallest dose first.

Will write to his neuro.  Told Harith that we should get his reflux checked.

All these while, since early this year, the vomitting was more frequent and yet I kept thinking it's because of his blocked nose and drainage that was causing him to retch.

I'm hoping that it will not be reflux problem.  I don't want him to go through surgery again.  But for now, I have to give him his feed, then prop him up for at least 2 hours before I let him lie down again.

I feel for him.  I feel sad that he has to go through the retching episodes again and it's taken me this while to realise that.  I was too absorb in thinking that so long as the milk doesn't come out of his mouth like what they describe about patients with severe reflux, that means he's ok.

This evening, when he heard me call the clinic, he started tearing.  He hates to go there because of the smell of medicine each time he enters the place.

I need to be more sensitive to his needs.  I need to pay more attention to him.  Sometimes to compensate to prevent coughing, he suddenly jerks his body and I will ask him to control himself.  I shouldn't have done this.  I should have helped me in whichever way I can.  I MUST REMEMBER THIS!!!

Lord...continue to give me wisdom to help Jonathan and be more aware of his immediate needs.