Right now we don't know what the day holds. Around here you never can know but today is especially uncertain.
Audra did not have any improvement in her lung. And now her oxygen sat levels are not where they should be for the amount of oxygen she is getting. We (ok the docs) are not sure what is to blame for this. They do not think it is the lung and think perhaps there is another issue. We will have an echo here shortly but they don't expect to see much on that. Next steps would be going back on the ventilator and possibly doing a catheterization (which is another surgery). And we just don't know.
On another note, today our oldest niece turns 19 :) I remember being at the hospital with my sister like it was yesterday! Yikes, time flies!
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Friday, June 22, 2012
No Progress
Audra did not make any progress today on inflating the bottom portion of her lung (but it did not get any worse either). We are starting two breathing treatments that may help her. We are praying that her lung inflates again so that she does not have to go back on the ventilator, which would mean 24-72 hours on the ventilator and more sedation and staying in intensive care until she recovers. She will get a chest x-ray in the morning to assess her progress. Please keep baby Audra in your prayers.
Things Happen
So things happen for a reason. Yesterday we were cleared to move to general care where there is much less nursing attention. Instead, we stayed put at the bay but with our nurse covering two babies instead of one. Audra took a slide backwards in her breathing yesterday evening into the night.
She is back on a positive flow breathing machine because one of her lungs has decreased capacity and may be partially collapsed. If we were in general care already, it may have even been worse than it is. With that said, we were less than impressed with the care we were receiving yesterday evening. Fortunately, the day nurse who has been with Audra all week is back and ready to get her lungs fully inflated again. We will work today with her to see if we can get her to clear this up on her own before taking any steps tomorrow. We knew the lungs were an issue since she is so young for this surgery and this is why they like to wait until these babies are older. This was obviously not an option for us.
It looks like we will be in intensive care longer and how long depends on our little girl. We are hoping to move to a private room that is much quieter and obviously, private. We will find out about that later this morning.
She is back on a positive flow breathing machine because one of her lungs has decreased capacity and may be partially collapsed. If we were in general care already, it may have even been worse than it is. With that said, we were less than impressed with the care we were receiving yesterday evening. Fortunately, the day nurse who has been with Audra all week is back and ready to get her lungs fully inflated again. We will work today with her to see if we can get her to clear this up on her own before taking any steps tomorrow. We knew the lungs were an issue since she is so young for this surgery and this is why they like to wait until these babies are older. This was obviously not an option for us.
It looks like we will be in intensive care longer and how long depends on our little girl. We are hoping to move to a private room that is much quieter and obviously, private. We will find out about that later this morning.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
No Room to Move
Early this morning we got the green light to move to the general care floor. Not just a private room or moderate care, the general care floor! A huge step! But unfortunately we have to stay put due to room availability and staffing. They will check again at 3 but it looks like we will spend another night here at the bay. We are not moving to a private room because of staffing. But the good news is that Audra is doing well and is ready to move even if we don't get to.
Audra has made so much progress and continues to show us what a strong little girl she is. It is still amazing to us that she has her Hemi behind her already.
She still has a ways to go but she is doing well :)
Audra has made so much progress and continues to show us what a strong little girl she is. It is still amazing to us that she has her Hemi behind her already.
She still has a ways to go but she is doing well :)
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Off the Ventilator
Audra has really made progress today. She was taken off the ventilator and is doing well. They leave the machine for a while just in case and so we snapped this photo.
She is looking forward to filling up her belly here soon. We have to wait in case there is an issue and they need to put the ventilator back in. It is best done without a full stomach. But we are almost to eating time.
Thanks for your support and the comments too. For some reason I cannot comment back from my phone. Not sure what my deal is but I cannot get it to work. But thanks :) We really appreciate all the love and support we continue to receive.
She is looking forward to filling up her belly here soon. We have to wait in case there is an issue and they need to put the ventilator back in. It is best done without a full stomach. But we are almost to eating time.
Thanks for your support and the comments too. For some reason I cannot comment back from my phone. Not sure what my deal is but I cannot get it to work. But thanks :) We really appreciate all the love and support we continue to receive.
Look Around
Here at the hospital, you never have to look far to see someone who is struggling. It really makes you appreciate all that you have.
On Monday, while waiting for updates on Audra's surgery in the waiting room we saw a team on doctors take a family off into the private consultation room. Some of the family members came out in tears and the doctors were there with the parents for a long time. We can only imagine what bad news they received and say some prayers for them and their little one.
In the area next door a newborn who was born at 3:30 am just arrived via ambulance. His mother is still in the hospital that she delivered him at via c-section and he is having a difficult time. They are trying to stabilize him and talk with the dad to explain to him all that is going. Prayers for them as well.
Despite our ups and downs, we are thankful that we have been blessed with all that we have and pray that Audra has a smooth and uneventful road ahead of her.
It looks like Audra may get off the ventilator today. She has done well on the first sprint and is currently in her second sprint. She is getting hungry since she cannot eat in preparation for getting the ventilator out. She is also having some awake time, her leg is looking better and her headache appears to be going away. So things are moving along :)
On Monday, while waiting for updates on Audra's surgery in the waiting room we saw a team on doctors take a family off into the private consultation room. Some of the family members came out in tears and the doctors were there with the parents for a long time. We can only imagine what bad news they received and say some prayers for them and their little one.
In the area next door a newborn who was born at 3:30 am just arrived via ambulance. His mother is still in the hospital that she delivered him at via c-section and he is having a difficult time. They are trying to stabilize him and talk with the dad to explain to him all that is going. Prayers for them as well.
Despite our ups and downs, we are thankful that we have been blessed with all that we have and pray that Audra has a smooth and uneventful road ahead of her.
It looks like Audra may get off the ventilator today. She has done well on the first sprint and is currently in her second sprint. She is getting hungry since she cannot eat in preparation for getting the ventilator out. She is also having some awake time, her leg is looking better and her headache appears to be going away. So things are moving along :)
Lots Planned Today
After a crazy evening yesterday with the clot issue, Audra had a quiet night and has a lot to look forward to today. Her thrombosis seems to be improving. The blood flow is looking better and is expected to be back to normal here this evening or tomorrow. We will continue to monitor her, of course.
Audra is scheduled to get her chest tubes out today. She will also start sprints to ensure she is ready to come off the ventilator today but she might have to stay on it until tomorrow. She is weening off some of her pain medications and has been able to get off a few other post op meds. So things are moving in the right direction.
Her surgeon, Dr. Bove, was just by to check in on her again. He thinks she is doing well for being on the younger side for having her Hemi surgery and thinks her "Hemi headache" (which is caused because of increased blood flow to the head after the surgery) looks good and better than he expected. It is pretty mild, I guess, compared to what it could be. I don't think it looks very mild but she isn't in pain, which is good.
Hopefully Audra continues along here today without issue. Thank you for your continued support!
Audra is scheduled to get her chest tubes out today. She will also start sprints to ensure she is ready to come off the ventilator today but she might have to stay on it until tomorrow. She is weening off some of her pain medications and has been able to get off a few other post op meds. So things are moving in the right direction.
Her surgeon, Dr. Bove, was just by to check in on her again. He thinks she is doing well for being on the younger side for having her Hemi surgery and thinks her "Hemi headache" (which is caused because of increased blood flow to the head after the surgery) looks good and better than he expected. It is pretty mild, I guess, compared to what it could be. I don't think it looks very mild but she isn't in pain, which is good.
Hopefully Audra continues along here today without issue. Thank you for your continued support!
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