Day 23

Today was better day for Landry (and us too!).  Last night, his night nurse felt that his block from the surgery had worn off and he was in a lot more pain that could not be controlled by the pain ball alone so she gave him morphine.  She said that the day nurse did not give him the morphine because his respiration was still a bit low from surgery and she didn't want to have to put him back on the ventilator.  By evening, it had gone up so he could tolerate the morphine.  She also said that tylenol alone was not enough to control the pain from an abdominal surgery.  I was glad she was able to give it to him because he seemed much more relaxed today.  I am not sure how many more days he will be getting the morphine but I don't think it will be many.  Tyler and I were able to hold him today.  He seemed pretty out of it from the drugs as well as just being tired from the surgery but he wasn't crying out in pain anymore which was great.  He was pretty puffy in the face due to surgery but that too will go down in a few days.  When we changed his diaper, he had some mucus in it which means that his intestines are "waking up" and passing through what is left over in it.  As soon as the surgeon gives the ok, he will be able to start feedings.  They will be small at first but hopefully increase quickly.  The doctor said this would probably happen on Monday.  I can't wait to start nursing him again - I hope he continues to do as well as he did the first few times.

UGH!!!  Can't I go home yet?!