Mommy does her happy dance

I talked to the ped early this morning and she was ok w/ us going home if the GI doc said it was ok. Well, the GI doc just left the room and he said if Eli tolerates his home formula regimen then they weren't providing him any care that he can't get at home, so we'll be free to go.

I will be so glad to have my baby boy back home. We are sandwiched between 2 RSV patients and our rooms share a bathroom. The GI doc and I agreed the risks outweigh the benefits of staying in the hospital to get IV fluids. The hospital is just not a good place for our very fragile little guy.
We just switched Eli over to his home formula, 24 cal w/ 3% pectin running at his rate of 24 ml/hr. He was tolerating 20 cal @ 24/hr, but he still isn't pooping normally (for Eli). I can tell that his bm's are very painful. He hard screamed enough to burst a blood vessel along his eye, hopefully the motrin & tylenol will help prevent this from happening again. so hopefully his little gut will tolerate his "thick milkshake". The GI doc said if in 4 hours his belly isn't distended and Eli proves he can tolerate his food, he will write the discharge orders for early evening. Eli and I are hoping 5 pm :)
Eli has been
The GI doc and ped are still very concerned about Eli's failure to of weight gain for 6-months now and recent hydration issues. There was a push to place a central line so he can get IV nutrition again, but I really don't feel this is best for Elijah. Please pray Eli can get home, recover and start to grow!
I just spoke w/ the surgeon and he said Eli likes to ride on thin ice. His x-ray from this morning still showed partial obstructions, but if he is able to get stool passed they won't surgically repair them (for now). I got the sense from all of Eli's practitioners that no one wants to open up his gut again. Every time you have a bowel surgery there is increased risk for even more adhesions (scar tissue that sticks the intestines together), a greater chance they won't be able to get his intestines to function again, decreased absorptive potential of his remaining intestines, and all the other risks associated w/ normal major organ surgery. The surgeon said if Eli has another obstruction they will have to surgically remove it. The risks of surgery are less then the risk Eli will perforate his intestine again given the significant amount & degree of adhesions he has. The Lord has continued to watch over Eli, and I just pray that he will not have to face this hurdle.
I am still waiting for the wind the fueled the storm to return. Eli isn't on his anti-diarrheal medicine, but the GI doc said he doesn't doubt he will need it within 48 hrs. I just pray that we don't go from obstruction to massive diarrhea or worse. Please continue to keep Eli in your prayers. I hope to update when we get home and show off some pictures of our little trooper.