Sunday Update - 8/24/08

We make sure that we spend time with Ryan 3-4 times each day. This morning he was visited by his Aunt Nadia and Uncle Denny (pictured). This afternoon he was visited by his Grandma and Grandpa Norton and by his Aunt Shelley and Aunt Wendy. Jeff and I went alone in the evening.

Ryan is doing very well. He is the baby in the NICU nursery who doesn't fuss or cry - and believe me... there is a lot of fussing and crying going around him (refer to sounds in below video)! We really have to put our situation in positive perspective when looking at what some of the other babies and families are faced with. With each of our visits today he was alert and looking around. (He was mostly sleeping on Friday and Saturday). It was nice to be able to bond with him.

Now that Ryan's stomach is starting empty and he continues to pass gas and have regular bowel movements - he is getting more and more hungry and aggressively sucks on his pacifier with false hopes of easing his hunger. It melts our hearts because there is nothing we can do to soothe him. Ryan will not be given any food until some point after tomorrow's biopsy. So for now, his IV nutrition will have to suffice.

Tomorrow will be a big day for us. Although I know there will most likely not be anything definitive, I hope that there will at least be some additional direction on any next steps and some idea on how much longer he will have to stay in the NICU.

Jeff and I just want to bring our little guy home!!