We've been waiting to make it official, not wanting to jinx ourselves, but after two weeks of holding our breath, I think we can call it: Ruby is officially off the NG tube!
It's still pretty tentative and any little setback, like her getting sick, could put her back on the feeding tube. I was begging Holly to let me make this post after the first week, but she wanted to make sure we wouldn't regress. Ruby has been eating all her food on her own for 14 days now and she is gaining weight, which is huge. She isn't gaining as fast as when we were stuffing her belly full through her nose, but we had been expecting her to lose weight so even a tiny gain is awesome. She is taking about 90-95% of the volume she needs, usually around 22oz per day from the bottle (24oz is the goal). But she more than makes up the rest of the calories with yummy foods she's discovering. Her current favorite is avocado smoothies, made with homemade yogurt, avocado and whole milk. We usually give her bites of whatever we're eating (if it's safe for a baby to eat) and she seems willing to try anything.
The weather was finally beautiful today, and we ventured out to Central Market for lunch. I strategically picked a table away other families and germy kids. Ruby and I shared the sweet potato fries that came with my burger while Holly had some sort of salad. A band was playing swing/jitterbug music and Ruby boogied in her high chair . Afterward, we strolled around outside a bit and Ruby got to bounce on the limbs of a giant old Live Oak tree:
Wahoo!!!!
Wahoo!!!!
CONGRATULATIONS! This is a
CONGRATULATIONS! This is a huge accomplishment and I'm so happy for you. Life is much better without feeding tubes for sure :)
Fantastic!
Fantastic!
Way to go Ruby (and mom and
Way to go Ruby (and mom and dad too)! We know how much work it's been and are so happy for y'all! Congratulations!
~Megan and Olivia
Good work Ruby! Hooray for
Good work Ruby! Hooray for being your own little person! Much love, Sarah
Awesome! Congrats :)
Awesome! Congrats :)
Congrats Ruby! Look how far
Congrats Ruby!
Look how far you have come! We are so proud of you. Keep on discovering all the great foods out there.
Love,
The Miles Family
YAY!!!! That's so
YAY!!!! That's so exciting!!! I'm so glad to hear that Ruby is doing so well!!! I was a little worried when there hadn't been a post since the cute Valentine's Day photos, and am so glad that it was just that you were waiting to share your exciting news. Ruby is such a beautiful baby. I love all of her smiles. Lots of hugs to you! -trish
How exciting for you all! I
How exciting for you all! I remember that moment with Weston and it was the greatest. So many times you wondered if you would ever be without the NG tube and now yeah you are. What a big girl Ruby is and what an amazing big step she has taken. Praise God. Can't wait to see food all over her face :)
This is WONDERFUL NEWS! YAY,
This is WONDERFUL NEWS! YAY, Ruby! She's so cute and she looks like she's a happy, healthy little girl! :)
She's eating solids way better than Jaime...I'm kind of jealous! ;)
Enjoy being tubeless, it's a HUGE FEAT!
Hugs to all of you!
Sheryl
What fantastic news! We are
What fantastic news! We are so happy to see Ruby's little face without any tubes. Well done little one and well done to mummy and daddy.
Hugs from the UK.
This is awesome!!! Yay
This is awesome!!! Yay Ruby!! So happy for all of you :-D
(((((HUGS))))
Joanna
Heck yeah!!! Go,
Heck yeah!!! Go, Ruby!!!!!!!! :)