25/10/07

Elis had been nice and stable this week. He's been taking it easy (only putting on 30g at Monday night's weigh in!) and as always, doing things in his own time. With the help of the physiotherapists, we tried him in his baby carrier and sling this week and he was a very happy boy in the carrier.

As for when he might be coming home, that is a little bit uncertain again now. Elis has a hernia (Little Ernie) which we always knew would need surgery but were under the impression that it would be some time after he came home. However, his consultant is now thinking that it might be better for him to have it done before he goes home. Because of his poor lungs, he will need a specialist surgeon and anaesthatist so will have to go to a different hospital in Cardiff for the operation and will also need increased steroids again (he only got down to his maintenance dose yesterday). If the operation is carried out before he is discharged, he can be transferred to The Heath's Neonatal Unit whereas if he comes home first, he'll have to go to the paediatric ward along with all the other winter bugs and germs that we are desperately trying to avoid him coming into contact with. Elis' consultant will discuss the situation with the specialists involved in actually doing the surgery and we'll be guided by their advice. We're absolutely dreading having to go through the whole ventilation scenario again but you do what you have to. We're trying not to think about him coming home too much now as once again it seems to have got so close only to disolve again.