What a Week! 5-2-08

Ok, sorry for the lack of updates.

What a week...it has been crazy, emotionally for me. I think reality is setting in, or at least exhaustion. LOL Imagine that.

Maddie is doing great today. After our rollercoaster week of holes in the heart, reflux, a partially collapsed right lung, and ABD's we are resting peacefully.

I spoke with the cardiologist and he was very reassuring that as long as there are no problems as a result of the holes we do not need to worry. They will be reassessing the situation regularily. As long as she shows no symptoms we will not need to do anything (surgery) for a while.

The albuterol appears to be working to re-inflate that lung. She is sounding clear. She, however, does not appreciate her breathing treatments. She fights them and acts up the whole time. LOL I never thought I'd be so proud when my child acted up. Fighting means she's strong. She has been brought down to 4liters on the vapotherm (higher flow nasal cannula) from 5 and appears to be tolerating that well. If that continues they will continue to wean her down.

Her ABD's episodes are alright. She has not had 6 in a 4 hour period, but rather anywhere from 4-6/day. Which is better. She had several this morning so they decided to do another blood transfusion. When they are so little their bodies just don't produce enough red blood cells to carry the oxygen, so they need a little help. I was concerned that it has been less than a week since her last transfusion, but the NP assured me that it was ok and that it's amazing she hasn't had more.

She is up to full feeds! 5.3ml/hour. She appears to be tolerating that amount and if she continues they will remove her PICC line and that means she will only be receiving milk! Woohoo!

My brother in law is a plumber and he was at a ladies house earlier in the week. They got to talking and come to find out the nurse works at the hospital I delivered at and helped to deliver Maddie. She was telling him that they call her "The Miracle Baby" over there. The doctor that delivered her still comes by to check on her every once in a while and tells us that those nurses are asking about her progress. I cannot thank them all enough. I don't even want to think about where we'd be right now without their quick thinking and actions.

Thank you all for your prayers and support.