Sunday 2-03-08

Here are a bunch of pictures from the past few days...

Calvin's been to the gastrointestinal doctor, and he's recommended Calvin for surgery to insert a Gastric Feeding Tube, but after much thought and research, we're going to decline it, at least for now. For us, the risk greatly outweighs the benefit. The benefit would be insured proper nutrition. You can measure how much of what goes directly into his stomach daily. If he's having a gagging day, you can just use the tube. The risk is infection... Our neighbor, Angel, is a Physical Therapist (who's been doing wonderful work with Calvin) also agrees.

An infection could seize up his throat muscles making him dependent on the feeding tube, rather than having it as a supplement. Plus, when he was in the ICU that month after he was born, it was infection that almost killed him. He had to go on the final strength of antibiotics before the infection broke.

So, he's been eating well this week... we're taking it a week at a time, as always.

This post's pictures are of:

Calvin with one of the kittens we rescued.

Eli and Rhiannon eating zhongzu, a triangle of sticky rice and peanuts, steamed together wrapped in banana leaves.

Rhiannon helping me on Tomato Day which occurs weekly on either Saturday or Sunday -- dicing a dozen tomatoes + onions & garlic to be soaked in vinegar & oil & spices. We use it during the week over pasta or vegetables or with beans.

And, of course, Rhiannon with Ethyl Merman and Scrap... recently, Ethyl Merman had fleas. How very dignified of her...