Sunday, January 31, 2010

No place like HOME


 We are so glad to be back home

Austin is too!

 
Hanging out with big brother Edward and Cookie Monster


Edward wants stickers on his face like Austin

We were released from the hospital yesterday and took our second trip home from the hosptial with Austin(the first being his birth).  I had everything packed by 8 o'clock yesterday morning.  The nurse practitioner came around and wasn't totally thrilled with the way Austin sounded so we had to wait for the attending doctor to come see him and give the OK to go home.  I was holding my breath and praying she would say we were good to go.  She reluctantly said they wouldn't be doing anything there that we couldn't do at home so here we are with our oxygen tanks and 14 feet of tubing.  Edward was so happy to see Austin and completely fascinated with the oxygen.  Our first night was a little rough, Andy and I were awake most of the night making sure Austin had his oxygen on and was still breathing.  Not that we needed to look at him, he sounds like a freight train rolling through he rattles so loud.  So now we are just monitoring his breathing and waiting for his congestion to decrease. We go to our regular pediatrician later this week and will hopefully be able to wean the oxygen off soon.  Thank you again for all the prayers, messages, and well wishes.  We are still not completely out of the woods but so thankful that Austin is recovering well. 
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Friday, January 29, 2010

Ready for his close up


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Austin was in a photo shoot yesterday for the Foundation that raises money for the hospital.  It was close to his nap time so he was a little over it but hopefully they got some good shots.  He is continuing to improve, his oxygen needs are lower and he is maintaining his sats.  We haven't had to suction him for about 12 hours and he has handled his secretions.  I definitely think we are on our way home- I just have to get the doctors to agree with me!

Thursday, January 28, 2010



We both look really tired in these pictures because the first two days he was extubated Austin did not want to sleep (it took two doses of Ativan and finally some morphine to get him down on Tuesday night). He still had his central line in and I know it was making him uncomfortable along with a sore throat from the tube and I imagine a sore chest from the infection. Yesterday they took out his line and we were able to give him a bath and he was a much happier baby. Last night was a dream compared to the previoustwo- he settled to sleep easily slept for about 4 hours, woke up and ate then went back to sleep for another 4 hrs. Hopefully we are on the road to home soon. His oxygen needs have to be lower and the amount of junk they suction out of his nose needs to decrease before the doctors feel comfortable sending us home.
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Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Praise! The doctors were able to pull Austin's breathing tube yesterday afternoon.  It was very tense yesterday as he is still struggling to breathe but hopefully they will not have to put the tube back in.  Andy and I stayed with him last night at the hospital and took turns staying up with him because he was really agitated and not wanting to sleep which was making it even harder on him to breathe.  The doctors ordered a medicine called Ativan to help him relax and sleep and it helped him to settle down.  I really want to nurse him but right now he is on too much oxygen and breathing too fast.  It is so hard to not be able to comfort your child when you see him in distress.  Please pray that his oxygen needs will decrease and that he will rest today.  I am charging the camera battery and will post new pictures (sans tube) as soon as I can. 

Sunday, January 24, 2010


Our room at The Children's Hospital

Awake and alert this afternoon

Bath Time


More bath time


Snuggled up with Granna
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Slow and Steady



The past 24 hours have been mostly uneventful. The good news is that Austin is continuing to do well overall. They removed his A-line, his peripheral IV and his foley catheter. He still has a central line and of course the ventilator tube. It is much easier to hold him now that he is not connected to quite so much. His sedation has been turned down so he is more awake which is good and bad. It is so amazing to see his eyes open and looking around, I even read him a book while holding him this morning. The bad part is that he is also more aware of the breathing tube and he hates it. He is coughing more so we are just suctioning as often as we can to keep him as comfortable as possible. The next step is to start weaning the ventilator so please pray that as they turn down the amount of oxygen he is receiving that is O2 sats will remain in the mid 90's. We are going to give him a little bath later and will be sure to take pictures.



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Saturday, January 23, 2010


Wednesday morning before he had to be intubated



Holding him Friday night

Austin had a better night last night.  After receiving a blood transfusion they were able to wean him off the blood pressure medicine and turn some of the ventilator settings down.  What an answer to our prayers. The latest labs look good and show he is maintaining his oxygen levels.  Now he just needs to rest and continue to get stronger. We will probably be here another week and hopefully the breathing tube will be out in a day or two.  I got to hold him last night which was quite a production as you can imagine with all the tubes and lines but it felt so good to have him in my arms again.  He seemed to like it too because we saw an improvement in his breathing and blood pressure even before the blood was finished infusing.  We are hoping for a good, quiet day.





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Friday, January 22, 2010

Austin

So we moved to The Children's Hospital today around noon.  Austin was getting sicker this morning so we decided that we would feel more comfortable in a hospital the specializes in pediatrics.  Plus, Andy's sister Kelly works here so that is a huge bonus. He has RSV and h.influenzae pnuemonia and the combination is doing a number on his lungs.  I just spoke with his doctors and he is definitely improving his oxygen requirements on the ventilator are going down which is a good sign.  His blood pressure is staying a little low so he is on a medicine called dopamine to keep it up.  He will get some blood tonight and hopefully that will allow them to wean off the dopamine.  So please pray that his respiratory status will continue to improve and that his blood pressure will return to normal.   I will try to update once day and more often if anything significant changes.  Thanks again for all the support we can definitely feel the love and your prayers.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Two Months











Here are his stats: Ht. 25 in (98% ), Wt. 14 lbs 4 oz (96%) , Head 16 in (93%)
So far he is keeping up with Edward, barely outgrowing him and just as sweet.
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