June 11th & 12th - poop party room 1512

First off, sorry this update is a day late! Last night I made the drive home so I could be there for Colton's state inspection at our house this morning.

Yesterday was a really fun and wild day. I would definitely call it an extra green day.

Let's start with Mr. Declan.

Declan has officially been eating for over 24 hours and, most importantly, he has been pooping! This exciting milestone turned into what can only be described as a full-blown Poop Party.

Doctors, nurses, and staff stopped by throughout the day to celebrate. The highlight was having members of his surgery team visit…the team that made it possible for him to eat again and helped put him back together through every step of this journey. There were miniature poop figurines, inspirational poop quotes, candy, and plenty of laughs. Declan was very honored to be the center of attention, although he slept through most of his big celebration.

Toward the end of the day he became a little fussy, and overnight we discovered what we think may be an infection around his tube site. The team started antibiotics, and he seemed to feel better almost immediately. Today he's especially excited because one of his favorite nurses is back with him.

Now for Mr. Colton.

What a child.

This boy is moving and grooving and wants to try all the new things. When I arrived yesterday morning, he was sitting up in a chair, playing and taking in the world around him. Later in the day, I was able to pick him up, sit with him, and then put him back into bed. These may sound like simple moments, but they are huge milestones for us.

Then came one of the biggest surprises of the day.

Around 2 p.m., Colton took a bottle for the very first time. His first attempt was 5 mL, and later in the day he took 10 mL. Unbelievable. Even more amazing, he accepted it right away. Honestly, I think he could have taken more, but we're sticking to the plan of slow and steady.

I also continued learning more about his trach care and how to manage his green bag. We'll share more details about that adventure in a future update.

Overall, yesterday was a phenomenal day. It was busy, active, and full of movement…but for the first time in a while, it was all good activity.

Today we're back home for Colton's state home inspection. After that, Mom and an "Auntie" are heading back to the city for the night. She finally gets to meet the boys, and we get a much-needed girls' nightt. To say it's needed is an understatement.

Thank you all for continuing to follow along, pray, cheer, and celebrate every milestone with us. Yesterday was one of those days that reminded us just how far these boys have come.

Enjoy some photos!!!