CV Acute and Feeding Issues

As of Saturday, our little guy was moved to CV Acute. This is the step-down unit. We were moved to a shared room which was a bit of a culture shock.  The first night was a train wreck in that the little boy we shared the room with was really upset and screamed all night long. Elijah wasn't a happy camper either and no one slept.

They were able to remove Elijah's oxygen and his breathing actually improved. He wasn't breathing quite as fast and his sats stayed where they were supposed to be. The nurses where perplexed by the fact that he improved without oxygen. They started feeding through the NG tube to get his stomach used to having food in it again.  He hadn't had any food by mouth or NG tube for over two weeks. Yesterday, the doctor allowed us to feed him with a bottle. I was positive that he would quickly down his bottle and we would be on our way out the door. I was wrong. Elijah wanted nothing to do with the bottle. He played with the nipple in his mouth and spit out any of the formula that was released in his mouth. He cried while I tried to get him to eat. I have no idea why this is happening. He was a great eater before surgery. He will take his pacifier with no problem but wants nothing to do with a bottle.

The nurse tried a paci-trainer, which is a pacifier with a hole punched in it and hooked up to a tube and syringe full of milk. Elijah was suppose to suck on the pacifier and have small amounts of milk go into his mouth to get the hang of sucking and swallowing again. He wanted nothing to do with that paci and yet he would take his own paci without a problem. I have no idea how to make him eat. As of last night, the doctors said we can't try to feed him by mouth anymore until the occupational therapist comes today to look at him. I did not expect any of this. Our nurse yesterday thinks that he is anxious to have something blocking his airway after having to be intubated twice. I just wish I knew how to help him. Hopefully the therapist will have some advice today. Wish us luck!