Wednesday Morning

We arrived at Ethan's room about 10:15 am to find him wiggling about, keeping two nurses busy. Gone were the chest tubes and his arterial line in his left arm. He's got a central line in his neck and another IV line on his foot but they are just pushing enough clear IV fluild through to keep the lines from getting clogged. We were expecting to see a NG tube for feeding him. Instead, we received report that he had already taken 2 ounces of formula via bottle. Awesome!

He is very aware and we even got some smiles from him! Julie gave him 4 more ounces from a bottle - that is a regular feeding for him. Can you believe that? He is off of morphine and started a much more mild, extended release type pain killer. It was great to see him so lucid today. He is progressing faster than expected. One of his Drs said he should move up to the CICC today. The CICC or Cardiac Intermediate Care Center is the step-down unit from the PICU or Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (where he is now).

We are so grateful for how well Ethan is doing. It is wonderful to have so much support from friends and family. Your prayers have been a priceless gift that have made all the difference in the world. Many have asked how they can help us financially. We have set up a Medical Trust Fund through the Mitchiner Law Firm to provide a vehicle to ensure Ethan's long-term heart-related health care needs are met. If you would like to give to the Ethan Miles Medical Trust, please make your checks out to Ethan Miles Medical Trust and mail to Monte & Barbara Miles, 4905 Latimer Rd., Raleigh, NC 27609. The trust is set up so that any funds received must be spent only on Ethan's medical heart-related expenses. To date, Ethan has received just over $2000 dollars to help with his bills. Thanks so much!!!

And now for some fresh pictures!

First bottle that mom got to feed me after surgery!

Another view of me being fed by mommy!

Mommy fed me at 11am and Daddy fed me again at 2pm. I'm only on 24 cal/oz, still thickened feeds, instead of 26 cal/oz like at home but I've got a healthy appetite. My 11am bottle, I took my normal 4 oz. and at 2pm I took 5 oz.!

We just got word that we've got a bed upstairs in the CICC so we should be up there within the next couple of hours! Praise the Lord for such fast recovery this time around!