I can't count the number of times I've sat down with my laptop to post an update...and fallen asleep before I finish. So, here's a quick update before I fall asleep...again. :) If something doesn't make sense, it's because I fell asleep again.
Brooke had a good afternoon and evening on Friday. Once they finally found a good balance of morphine and Tylenol, she was much more comfortable and at rest.
Saturday was a big day for her. She had her catheters, pacing wires and the three right atrial lines removed. They were also considering removing her chest tubes. However, she still had enough drainage to warrant keeping them in for now. But, the other three things were a big deal! Just another good step forward in recovery! Because of all of these changes, she was irritable off and on throughout the day, but they were able to keep her calm and comfortable for the most part.
Sunday was a different story. John was with her most of the morning while I spent some time at the apartment cleaning, doing laundry and playing with our big girls. She was very irritable all morning long. She ran a slight fever overnight, had to be suctioned from her nose quite a bit and needed lots of consoling. She also needed more oxygen, and her blood pressure was elevated quite a bit. The doctor was concerned that she could possibly have one of a few different things...a respiratory infection, pneumonia or an infection in the blood stream. They did some blood work, took x-rays of her chest and abdomen and did an echo. The respiratory test came back negative. We will receive results from the other two blood tests (for pneumonia and an infection in the blood stream) in another day or so. The echo showed a well-functioning heart. Woohoo! The x-ray of the abdomen showed nothing of significance. The chest x-ray showed a "hazy" right lung. The doctor said this could indicate either a partially collapsed lung or post-op pneumonia. As I said, they are giving her extra oxygen, and they also started antibiotics in anticipation that one of the tests will come back positive. They stopped feeds (breast milk through her NG tube) for now and reintroduced the medication that helps regulate her blood pressure.
At this point, she is doing well. Still on a higher level of oxygen but coming off of the blood pressure medication. She is also off of morphine completely, thankfully. They have been able to keep her comfortable with Tylenol as well as reintroduce one of the pain meds she was on previously. Those things seem to be helping. However, she gets quite upset when she loses her paci, has her diaper changed or is unwrapped from her swaddle. Can't say I blame her. :) I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to console her while her nurse gave her a wipe-down bath and changed her dressings late Sunday night. Couldn't really hold her close, but I was able to help her keep her paci in and snuggle her with my hands while she was in her bed. I'll take it! For the record, I'm totally in love with her grunts and wimpers. My goodness. They are pitiful and oh so adorable all at the same time. :)
In other news, we've had our big girls with us all weekend! So grateful for this time with them. Balancing time with them and time with Brooke has been a challenge, but we have had a fun weekend overall. More on our family fun at The Arch in another post. Ab has really enjoyed spending time at Brooke's bedside helping her with her paci and rubbing her forehead. So, so sweet as usual. :) And Emily has been so sweet, too. She kept asking to see (and "pet") Brooke this evening. Unfortunately, Brooke really needs low stimulation right now and can't handle her noisy two-year-old sister very well. Sweet girl gets so excited to see her baby sis, she can't help herself. :)
So, praises...
Our family is together again for a couple more days.
Forward progress with getting lines and tubes out one at a time.
Brooke rests calmly and peacefully for the most part at this point.
Brooke's last few nurses have been outstanding. So much easier to leave her bedside occasionally knowing she is in such good care.
Prayer requests...
Doctors determine whether or not Brooke has some sort of infection or collapsed lung and why her temp and blood pressure were elevated.
For John and I to balance time with our big girls and time with Brooke. Right now we're sitting with Brooke in shifts while the other spends time with our big girls
some fun in the hospital garden
and a gorgeous sunset while we were up there...what an amazing Creator we have!
no ventilator...now we can see her face (or at least more of it)!
two smitten sisters :)
