More updates

Here are the updates of what's been happening here lately:

• The occupational therapist assessed Clara's sucking ability yesterday and said she is having a hard time bringing her tongue forward enough and also cupping her tongue enough.  She showed me an exercise to do with Clara before each feeding to help train her tongue and stretch out those muscles.  She also talked about the possibility of starting some bottle feeding in a few days if nursing still isn't progressing.  This would enable us to possibly get Clara home sooner and then we can take her to the pediatrician to get her frenulum clipped.
• The doctor agreed today to let us try Clara on cue-based feeding rather than automatically feeding her every three hours.  For the past few days she's been on the feeding schedule which has meant we've often had to wake her up to eat, which she doesn't like too much and she never eats as well.  Since 1:00 PM today she has been on the cue-based schedule which means we feed her whenever she wakes up and acts hungry.  She seems to be doing a little better this way, although we quickly realized that it's going to be more tiring for Jeremy and I than the scheduled feedings.  As much as it's been frustrating being at the hospital for so long, I think we've gotten a little bit spoiled by having the nurses here to help take care of Clara.  Now we're finding out what it's like to really be full-time parents.  :)
• They also told us today that the surgeon that did Clara's esophagus surgery said earlier this week that he is willing to clip her frenulum if it comes to that.  Even though it's a very minor procedure, it's still a procedure and they would be making an incision on her body which could open her up to infection so that's why they are hesitant to do it yet.
• They are also going to have speech pathology look at her tongue to see what they think.  I'm not sure if that happened today or if they will be coming tomorrow instead.
• The lactation consultant told us today that we could probably move into the west wing whenever we want.  Staying in the west wing means that Clara would room in with us 24/7.  We figured we'd see how today and tonight goes with the cue-based feedings and then tomorrow decide whether we're ready to make the move or not.

When Clara ate at 6 PM today she took 34 ml which is a record!  That's barely more than an ounce, but it's progress.

I'm expecting a phone call any minute to say that Clara wants to eat again, so I'll just wrap this up.  We realize we also haven't posted cute pictures in awhile so we'll see if we can remedy that soon too.  I think she's getting cuter and cuter each day!