Samuel Kenneth Finzer Update 58

Thanks to Rachael Ratliff, Jen Pond, and Jen McCracken for taking Leyla out this past Friday. Leyla really needed to get out of the house. Dublin Baptist Church and Broadway United Methodist; wow, thanks for all the cards. Encouragers class thanks for the flowers and the money for the PediaSure.

Samuel is having a lot of problems with his acid reflux. After talking with Jen Pond on Friday, we believe that Samuel either needs a higher dosage or a different acid reflux medicine. Both Jen Pond's girls had really bad acid reflux. Samuel has been given Zantac since being on the feeding tube two months ago. The acid reflux is so bad, Samuel isn't taking the bottle at all. Everything is going in the feeding tube. Leyla is meeting with the doctor on Thursday to talk about the acid reflux and all the stress she is going through. At least now we know why he has so much trouble taking the bottle.

Pray for Samuel's acid reflux and his BPD (bronchopulmonary dysplasia).

On a positive note, my sister had a healthy baby girl last night. They have two boys and were praying for a girl. God is so good.

Samuel Kenneth Finzer Update 57

Leyla took Samuel to the BPD clinic yesterday. Samuel grew but he did not gain any weight. Samuel was supposed to take 600-740ml per day but he was taking around 300ml per day. The feed tube is back in. He is to remain on Pedia Sure until the next appt on May 6th. He will be re-evaluated then. We bought a couple swaddle wraps so that he doesn't try to pull out the feeding tube during his feeding. Please pray that Samuel would do better with his feeding. There will be another appointment soon with a feeding consultant.

They spent more time with Leyla to try and see if she has post partum depression. She wasn't diagnosed with it but Leyla tends to keep things to herself. She acts like she is happy to people outside the immediate family. She is really having a rough time since Samuel has been cranky, not eating, and having a month of giving him 24 hour care with about 4 hours sleep per night. This would affect anyone. We are going to seek professional help for Leyla. Please pray for Leyla that God would give her the peace that passes all understanding.

Samuel Kenneth Finzer Update 56

It has been a busy roller coaster of a couple weeks. Samuel took out his feeding tube and is now totally on the bottle. That is a huge step forward. Leyla met with the Surgeon that performed Samuel's surgery and the surgeon said we will wait until Samuel is one year old until the gortex patch is removed in Samuel's belly. Leyla met with the nutritionist, she said that because Samuel is not gaining any weight he should take PediaSure vanilla flavor. Now that Samuel is drinking that vanilla flavored PediaSure, he smell likes vanilla. The room smells like vanilla too. Leyla also met with two physical therapists. They gave Leyla additional exercises to do with Samuel. Pray for Leyla's patience. Samuel has been very fussy the past few days with his feedings. Pray that Samuel would eat well during the day. He tends to catch up at the midnight feeding.

Thanks for the cards and letters. It means so much.