Free Range

July 28, 2011 was the last time Payton had anything NOT attached to her.  Today, for the 1st time since then, Payton is free of any and all attachements including, but not limited to: wires, monitors, tubes, suctions, IV's, needles and MIC KEY's.

She loves it!! (which translates into "I love it").

Contrary to what we were told in the tube maintenance class, it could take up to 2 weeks for her tummy to heal/close (worst case scenerio it could require surgery to close) but because Payton's hole is so new (8 weeks compared to some people who have them for years) they are hopeful that she will seal the hole quickly (some as quickly as 6 hrs).

So for now she has a gauze pad over the hole to prevent leakage onto her clothes and she is officially Free Range.

On another note, Payton shined in her appointment yesterday.  Not only is she a CDH survivour (only 50% survive) but she is a CDH thriver.  The surgeons don't want her back till she's a year (unless there's reason for it, ie reherniation symptoms).

She also continues to gain weight.  2 weeks ago at our appointment with the Pedi Payton was in the 25-30th percentile for weight.  Today she weighed in at a whooping 5.61 kg. (12.lbs 5 oz).  That ramped her up into the 50th pecentile for weight.

There were no other issues surrounding Payton and she was suitably fawned over regarding how amazing she was with her breathing and now, after such a rough feeding start, how amazing she is with her oral feeds. 

We have been gently cautioned, that albiet her amazing prognosis, Payton still has small lungs and we need to be cautious and keep in mind that she is NOT a fully developed baby.  So while she surprises us and never gives any other signs that she's anything but 'normal' we do still need to take precautions with her exposure to virus', flus and colds this season.

We have heard back from the Pedi in that Payton will be recieving her RSV shots this winter to protect her from the worst of it (RSV is a mild virus to us healthy individuals but a potentially deadly virus to infants, especially those with comprimised lungs).  She'll get a series of shots throughout the winter so while she's past the stage of being hooked up to something, she still has to put up with needles for a little while longer.

I'll include a few photos of Payton's before and after shots of her tube site when I get a chance to take a picture without the gauze covering it.  Its a team effort to do that so I'll have to wait till I have some help but I do want to share so that anyone who's facing the tough decision to place a G-tube in their child can see the before and after shots and know what to expect.