So today was pretty darn cool.
When I came in around noon, Mikey was off the vent from surgery. Then we managed to get him back in his own crib, instead of the surgical table he had been on - a good sign that he was progressing well. The tube on his neck is just humidifier air - not a vent, just warm, wet air to keep the new trach moist and healing well. Note the heartbreaking IV coming off the top of his head.... a vein is a vein, according to all nurses. (I guess we can wait another day or so for full feeds to not have anything sticking out of his head or face.)
If this wasn't good enough, Mikey did some more amazing stuff. If you look closely in the next picture, you can see he's actually grabbed onto and brought to his face one of our baby toys!
And then, drum roll, please.........
I was suctioning Mikey's mouth, when all of a sudden, I felt this tugging back on it. It felt like something was sucking the suction tube into Mikey's mouth. Then I realized he was! He was sucking on the suction tubing! I could feel this gentle tugging and the lips moving around it. So I pulled it out and grabbed the binky in his crib and stuck it in. Would you believe the little boy that I've been told might never, ever do even this, sucked on his binky for about an hour?
I just about started yelling right then and there. Turns out some of the smallest things in life can be some of the most rewarding. I think this is one of the many lessons my son is going to teach the world in his small way. If you're not tuned in, you lose. If you are, what a thrill to be with him!
