Our Warrior's Battle Against CHD

Our Warrior's Battle Against CHD

Sunday, December 16, 2012

First weekend home

Our new life. I feel like we are bringing Lincoln home for the first time, again. Starting over with a new baby. And it has been joyful, exhausting, stressful, and soulful. It has been eye-opening and God-filling. I am thrilled to have him home and watch the big boys worship him in small moments and big ways. We are blessed. And he is readjusting to his new life, new heart, new medications, and a loud house :) The cardiologists call the PICU  "Vegas" because of its fast pace and the lights are always on. Lincoln's nights and days are all discombobulated, but that will work itself soon I'm sure.

This experience has taught me so many lessons. I knew I had amazing family members, friends, and colleagues before, but I now truly understand the powerful, unconditional compassion, concern, and love that exists there. And it has made me a stronger, better person. Thank you to all of you who have shown us the power of prayer. People who don't even know us have written thoughtful posts and prayed for our baby boy- that to me, is true humanity.

Teri Harmon came down to the hospital to teach me a stress-relieving TRE session -that is an altruistic gift that has helped me to deal with all of the stress and trauma. Tuesday after the first surgery, I joked with her that I hadn't lived trauma like most. Little did I know, a few days later I ate my words! Since my first two sessions, I have been using that technique to relieve my stress and pain. I highly recommend it for everyone and everyday stress.  Teri, you are the best!

This upcoming week begins our new marathon of appointments, education, and lab work.  It is a lot to digest, and pretty scary. The INR levels are so important in a little man of eleven pounds, so we will have to monitor him very closely. Every time he grows, takes medicine, starts food, or gets sick, his levels fluctuate. And each extreme is serious. If it is too low, he runs the risk of a stroke. If it is too high, we have to have him admitted into the PICU, reverse his INR levels, and hope there is no internal bleeding. But he will be ok. We trust and have faith that we can get through this, and it is a much better world than our prior situation of heart failure. We just keep thanking God that he is here with us.

And to all of you who have been "walking in our shoes" (thank you Atticus Finch) and have been there for us - thank you! Never did we imagine we would be in the hospital just shy of three weeks! We so appreciate the meals, treats, shopping, errands, decorating, laundry, visits, and offers to help. And we are forever indebted to the staff at Big Steps. The big boys have so much fun there, that it was an amazing diversion from the disconnect at home.  In Jackson's language, " Big Steps. Fun. Friends." We are blessed with a loving circle of friends and family. Thank you so much!


Friday, December 14, 2012

Home

Thank you all for your support, love, generousity, and sweet tokens of kindness. We are blessed by the outpouring of love. And we are thankful to be together tonight, back into the chaos and fun of three boys five and under :) we have a long journey ahead of us, but it is worth every step. Xoxo



Going home :)❤

We get to go home today!!!! Dr. Haw & Dr. Hilman both said that it is only because I am such a meticulous momma and they trust me with his Coumadin over the weekend (the labs are not open until Monday). They were cooing at Lincoln, which just melts me. All of the pediatric doctors have a love for kids, and it is so obvious in their interactions with Lincoln. I will not miss any of this, but I have truly appreciated getting to know the people who saved my baby's life.

Now I have to pack this room up - best packing ever!!!!!


TGIF?

Rounds went well this morning. We went over Lincoln's Coumadin schedule - we will be alternating doses to keep him at an even level. His weight was up slightly, and his levels looked great, so he will get to stay off of the LASIK. He took a bottle again last night, so he had 9 feedings again yesterday. They are taking out his central line this morning, and doing a chest x-ray to ensure everything still looks good. Lincoln has had it - his glass windowed-room has worn out its welcome. He's been fussier the past two days, and I think it just lack of stimulation.

Dr. Haw was not at rounds this morning, but the team is working on possibly discharging us today! If Dr. Haw agrees, we get to come home! We will still have to come in quite frequently, but that would be the most amazing news ever. Please pray that we can be discharged today!

Thursday, December 13, 2012

12/13/12

Lincoln's INR level is back up to 4.0, which is within the range, but a bit high. Dr. Malcom, another cardiologist, said that will be very common throughout the next few months. I should not expect a consistent number, but a range of numbers. They are skipping a dose tonight and seeing how his score is in the morning. The good news is that we now know his dosage was too high, but still in a safe range. I am hoping the 1 mg from Wednesday will be good for his levels to fluctuate in a safer range. We will see tomorrow.

Lincoln did not gain any weight, but lost a few ounces. They took him off his LASIK to hopefully see a change in his weight. I am so disappointed because he had nine feedings yesterday and ate really well. So we'll see how the numbers look tomorrow.

Things are looking more hopeful for discharge. They keep talking about Saturday as a possibility, but I am trying to not get my hopes up and be disappointed. We are all missing each other so much. I can tell this has been hard on each one of us. We are more than ready to be reunited and start our new life as a family of five. Lincoln looks so much better already - he will really be a happy boy when we bring him home.

The staff asked me if I would be a parent future families can contact. I am so honored and would love to answer their questions from a mom perspective. I went to some of our friends and family for advice who unfortunately have undergone surgical experiences with their little ones. They were a comfort to me and gave me great advice. We are also going to join a new online support group starting in Grand Rapids. Hopefully we can learn from others and share our experiences as well.

This song has been an inspiration to me. It has resonated with our situation and how I have had to trust in God and the medical team to care for my baby boy. We may not always be comfortable with change, but there is peace in letting go of our fears. I will be working on that one for awhile :)

Phillip Phillips "Home"

"Hold on, to me as we go
As we roll down this unfamiliar road
And although this wave is stringing us along
Just know you’re not alone
Cause I’m gonna make this place your home

Settle down, it'll all be clear
Don't pay no mind to the demons
They fill you with fear
The trouble it might drag you down
If you get lost, you can always be found

Just know you’re not alone
Cause I’m going to make this place your home. "





Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Update

Lincoln had a great day- his INR level is 3.5 tonight and he had 8 great feedings today. He was kicking, cooing, and smiling all day, and it was his first day without any tylenol. I am hoping for his central line to come out tomorrow and maybe a discharge date this week?!

Day 16... 12/12/12

This morning, a neonatal baby died on our floor. He was not even old enough to see his due date. I  heard the mom screaming, and I can't get it out of my heart and mind. It really puts everything into perspective. I am so incredibly thankful that Lincoln is breathing, functioning, kicking, smiling, cooing, crying, and eating. While our road is difficult, it is possible. He is alive. Life is so fragile, yet completely taken for granted in so many ways. I hope I never lose the perspective that my kids' lives are a precious gift, and to truly enjoy every moment with them, no matter how hard that can be sometimes.

On a positive note, Lincoln took a bottle last night. They finally listened to me about not waking him up, but allowing him to demand food. And it worked! I hope that means the speech therapists will leave us alone. A mom can dream right?! He still has not gained any weight, so please pray he starts gaining soon. He is eating better every day, but we need for him to start showing signs of that.

His INR level jumped with the dosage increase two days ago. I have been nervous about it because it is such a gamble. If they increase it too much, they have to reverse its effects, and we start over. I love the pharmacist here - she speaks her mind and is willing to educate me by answering my questions. Today his INR is at 4.1, which is a little high,  but should even out by tomorrow. The goal has been between 3.5 & 4. I keep hoping that means we get to go home faster, but we shall see. Patience.....

I have had a lot of people ask about his valve. There are not as many options for infants and much depends on the attraction the body has to foreign hardware. His valve's surface is much less likely to attract blood clots, and it was easier to oversize, so hopefully Lincoln does not need surgery as soon. But most importantly, it was an emergency surgery where Lincoln almost died. There was not time for a discussion of valves, or time to wait for a different type of valve. My favorite nurse was on that day, and she continues to remind me how that day could have easily been a much more devastating day than it was. So we are thankful this valve works great, and he is a healthy baby. And we will be excited to see how technology changes for the next valve. I have complete trust and faith in our team,      and I know they saved my baby's life with God's Hands on our sweet boy.

I finally took a picture of his scar. It has already started to heal and peel, but it will be with him forever. It is a constant reminder of God's work in our lives, and how we can overcome even the most   devastating circumstances with love, faith, hope, and gratitude. It is also a reminder of how tragedy can truly show us who loves us and lifts us up. Thank you so much to all of you who have supported us and loved us. We are blessed, humbled, and lifted. Xoxo


Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Smiley boy

Much happier boy today :)


My rock star :)

Last night I came home sad again that I came home without Lincoln. It is a terrible feeling that I never understood until I experienced it. I walked in and saw a gift on the counter. It was the perfect reminder of how amazing Lincoln really is and what he has endured. My rock star! Thank you Rose- it is the perfect reminder to appreciate how far we have already come.


Happy Momma-

I feel like prayers are finally being answered in so many ways. The night nurse and today's nurse agree with me that the feeding tube and scheduled night feedings are ridiculous. As a mom, I feel like if he is hungry, he will eat whatever the source. He needs to gain weight though, so it is a fine line. They decided to take out the feeding tube and watch his weight gain the next few days.

This morning I walked in to find out his INR score has jumped to 2.4. Alleluia! That means, he gets the Heparin IV turned off and that line removed from his shoulder. The interesting part is they upped his Coumadin yesterday so we shouldn't see that result until tomorrow. They were perplexed by it and I really think it was our prayers being answered.

So today we need to focus on getting this little man to keep eating well and start gaining weight. He is cooing and smiling a lot, and has even started showing signs of a sleeping schedule. His eyes have changed to brown, his Mohawk has grown longer, and he started rubbing his eyes when he is tired. He is still feisty when he isn't happy, and still loves to snuggle. He is our sweet baby boy, and we feel so blessed to have him in our family.

My dad bought the staff here fine chocolates and made a sign thanking them for taking such good care of Lincoln. The staff has appreciated it so much and it is cute to see how a small gesture makes such a difference in someone's day. They truly care about their patients like I care about my students. When we invest our heart and energy into someone else's life, we remember them forever. So they keep stopping in to thank us and see how much better our little man is looking. Even Dr. Haw grabbed one before "the theatre" aka the OR :)

Great start to our day!! Xoxox

Monday, December 10, 2012

Seriously Mom?!

Lincoln is not a fan of the wires, tubes, dinging, and prodding. But he still has smiles for his momma despite the ridiculous feeding tube.

Monday morning

Zero change from yesterday. We are still waiting for Lincoln's INR levels to go up. They said they want to see it at a 2.5 before discharge is even an option, and he currently sits at a 1.6. They upped his Coumadin today, so we shall see how the next few days look. The doctors keep warning me about the effects if they overestimate, so I prefer the slow and steady approach to the fast and furious (even if it is depressing). I am really excited because I found a Coumadin app for my phone that charts his dosage, INR score, doctor appointments, medication reminders, and will even email a weekly or monthly chart to the doctors. It is pretty amazing. I also found another app that lists all of the risky medications, food, supplements, herbs, and explains why. Anyone that knows me is probably laughing because I love to organize. The doctors were laughing that Dr. Lacina is in trouble having to deal with me every day!

I am really nervous about the Coumadin INR levels because it fluctuates with everything. Teething, growing, eating, sleeping, illness, and antibiotics all affect the INR levels. The doctors keep warning me it will be a rough rest of the winter, trying to keep him healthy and adjusting his dosage. As anyone could imagine, that terrifies me. I have never dealt with a medication that is so inconsistent and risky. We have been told we should be able to get the co-ag machine, but probably not until the end of January. We will need training on it as well as ensuring its numbers match Devos' lab results.

So, I sit and wait. Patiently and impatiently, snuggling my littlest very tightly. I am thankful to have him here with us, grateful there are solutions, and hopeful that my family of five can be together soon. And we want to raise him as one of the boys. He may need extra care, attention, and precautions, but he will be a healthy boy. And we are so thankful for that this Christmas season. I no longer have to watch him in heart failure, and feel helpless. That is the best gift of all.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Sunday rounds

My spirits are down today. My prayers were not answered once again, and Lincoln's INR level went down, so instead of coming off of the Hepriln like I had hoped, they upped it. And the night nurse couldn't get him to take his bottle, so she put in a feeding tube, but never called me to let me know. Anyone that knows me can guess my reaction to that :) So I feel like we have taken two giant steps backward and I am beyond frustrated. The speech therapists keep coming by to watch him nurse and help with bottle feedings. I don't understand why he ate better with bottle feedings in heart failure than now, but I am trying to be patient with them and let them do their job.

Today has been rough emotionally. I am sad that my boys are getting the Christmas tree without me today. I am tired of living in a hospital room, never seeing daylight except through the hospital room window. I am angry that we have to go through this. I miss my boys more than I ever imagined. Mommy guilt is making me crazy- I feel like a bad mom no matter where I am. It sucks.

Two weeks ago, I was so fearful of the unknown. Two weeks later, I am snuggling with my sweet boy and his healthy heart. And he smiles, coos, and wants to be in my arms again. We have made progress, just much slower and more difficult than I ever imagined. I just want to bring Lincoln home.

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Saturday rounds

Our sweet night nurse (former student Kelly Gormley FYI) worked really hard last night to get Lincoln to take a bottle, and as the night went on, he became better and better at it. I must say it was very strange having a former student caring for my baby, but he was in great hands and he even gave her a smile. Lincoln is known for his Mohawk around here, so she instantly smiled when she saw him, excited to care for the Mohawk baby. We really have been blessed with amazing nurses. Yesterday's nurse was our first terrible nurse, (which after twelve days and nights is pretty amazing) and I keep joking they do that so we will want to leave sooner than later.

Murph and I went out to dinner last night after leaving Lincoln snuggled in his bed with his night nurse, taking advantage of what could be the last date night for a long while. We are trying to reconfigure our new life, and had a deep discussion of our fears, hopes, and questions that we need to address. We both feel so blessed to have Lincoln in our family, more now than ever before. While life will be more challenging, we have a great support team at Devos and Forest Hills Pediatrics. We are so thankful that we chose Devos over Motts because we would not have developed personal relationships and such a thorough history together, and we would not have seen the boys for 13 days. I cannot even imagine.

It sounds like checkout is in the distance. We have to get Lincoln's Coumadin levels between 2.5 and 3.5 consistently, and every time they make a change, we don't see a difference for two days. So the change they made yesterday, we won't know how it affects his INR levels until tomorrow. And it currently is at a 1.3. Patience is being forced upon me :) We met with Dr. Mike and Dr. Lacina, our
regular cardiologist, and they both educated us on the uncertainty all of this has in store for us. Lots of doctors appointments, monitoring, and education for those in our lives.

My suggestion of moving Lincoln's potassium vitamin dose has made feedings today so much better! They are trying a different type that will be easier on his stomach. And today is Lincoln's first day without morphine, and he is doing fine. He acts like his an improved version of his old self, and that is the best gift I could have.


Friday, December 7, 2012

Friday rounds

This morning, the team had a good discussion about getting Lincoln's medications squared away. They are weaning him from the morphine this weekend (THANK GOD- I hate it), lowering his LASIK (for fluids), and still working on getting him off of the Heprin IV. His chest x-ray looked great, and they are pleased with how his heart is functioning. He was sleeping peacefully when I came in this morning, and has had some great smiles for me this morning. Dr. Mike stopped in and we discussed our game plan for the little man, as he is so developmentally behind due to his heart failure for the first three and a half months of his life. He was joking that most moms are bragging that their baby rolled over, and I can say "That's  all? My baby survived two bypass surgeries in one week. He's super- hero status now!" Everything else seems pretty minor in comparison.

His tummy still seems upset, so I am excited to see him off the morphine. The potassium he is on also can upset the stomach, so we can see which is bothering him once one is eliminated. He would not take a bottle for the nurses last night, which is strange because he has never had a problem with it before. He loves his pacifier now, and it hit me this morning that it was probably harder to suck on it before with his labored breathing.

The hardest part with coming home right now is getting his Coumadin situated and leveled. There are no signs or symptoms if it is not working, which is kind of scary to me. So we will be checking his INR levels frequently to make sure he is doing well because weight gain makes the medications less productive. And as most people know, infants (normally) grow rapidly, and even though we are excited to see him grow, it makes it more complicated on his heart. And it sounds like we will be getting the co-ag machine eventually, but the cardiologists have to write a letter explaining why he needs it, which I find somewhat ridiculous. So it could be a month or two, depending on how fast the insurance board acts. So pray that they get through the paperwork fast!

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Thursday afternoon

Lincoln is eating! He has nursed for two feelings now today - the first one was rough, but he had only had the nausea meds in for ten minutes. The second feeding was great. He still has to get better and stronger at it, but we are so relieved that it wasn't something more serious. Ahhhmazing feeling.

He has also wanted to be in my arms all day. I've only put him down a few times, and it's amazing to see his old, divo self wanting to be held. So today has been a good day. We are thankful and relieved to see our sweet boy coming out of his whirlwind of complications and effects from two bypass surgeries. Life is good today, and this Mommy is feeling rejuvenated, thankful, and hopeful that we can all be home together soon.


One week later...

Exactly one week ago right now, Lincoln was prepping for surgery. What a difference a week makes.  I am so thankful that the doctors, surgeons, pharmacists, and nurses are receptive to my ideas and knowledge about Lincoln. Dr. Haw made a joke about how meticulous I am, and said we won't have to worry about dental work with this "Mum." Dr. Winters jokes about my notebook, and my list of questions each day. It is nice to see that they are receptive to our input and making jokes. Murph and I have truly appreciated the amazing care team we have here at Devos.

They are lowering his morphine today (my suggestion that Dr. Haw seconded along with the pharmacist) and they are trying a mild anti-nausea medication that has no side effects. So, I am hoping my mommy gut is right, and that will solve his feeding issues. The cardiology team also looked into my suggestion of a twice-a-day heart medication instead  of four times a day, and he will be starting that today instead of his Captapril. Once his  Coumadin levels hit two, he can come off of the Heprin drip, and we can start regulating his Coumadin INR levels. We can get one step  closer to coming home. He is currently at a 1.6. Hoping for a good day today, and we are so thankful for this sweet little boy of ours.

And when we walked in, Will, my favorite night nurse, had moved Lincoln into a crib. He looks so much cuter in a crib! We had quite a few smiles through his pacifier where you can tell is eyes are lighting up. So slowly, we are seeing sweet glimpses of our baby boy.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Small steps

Another long day at the hospital, but we are getting closer to our checkout - I can feel it (not really, but a Mom can hope, right?!). Poor little guy still won't eat, but is tolerating the feeding tube and digestion well, so I really think it is nausea from the weaning medication. Hoping to see a change tomorrow. He perked up a lot today, but is still really grumpy. I have a plan to bring up to rounds tomorrow morning and hoping it will work. His heart meds are getting closer to therapeutic levels, which is good. He cannot come home until they are consistent and more precise.

What many may not understand is that last Thursday, Lincoln's life changed forever. I am forever thankful that he survived his second surgery, but it was the worst day of our lives in many ways. His heart was fixed, but in a way none of us had hoped for, but dreaded. It is clear when we talk to the pharmacists, the cardiologists, the heart surgeons, the PA's, and the nurses, that this will be a difficult path for Lincoln. And for the next eighteen years, Murph and I. The medications he is taking have huge risks and side effects that we will have to watch every day for his safety and well-being.  His valve replacement means a unique life path that will make him different from his brothers, cousins, friends, and peers. It means we will be back in the OR at least one more time to replace his valve again. So we are sad, and we are overwhelmed by what this means for our family. And we understand now more than ever, just how important the core circle of friends and family are in our lives. This is yet another thunderstorm in our sweet Lincoln's journey, and we are humbled that God chose us to be his parents. What an overwhelming blessing.  Xoxo

Wednesday rounds

Oh goodness, where to begin? I have seen a Speech Therapist, Cardiologist, Dietician, Internist, and Lactation Consultant since morning rounds at 8:30. Lincoln still will not eat and has zero interest in it. In fact, he gets physically upset about it. And we cannot figure out why. All of the different medical perspectives this morning threw out different ideas, some of which brought me to tears. The good news is that when they tube feed him, it sits well with him, and he is now sleeping with a full belly. So, we are lessening his anti-anxiety meds to see if it is just making him too relaxed.

The good news is that the hospital is working on a home monitor system for us where we can pin-prick him each day to monitor his levels ( oh yay lucky me!). That will make it easier to sleep at night  for us to know that his levels are at a safe number. It can vary between 50 and 80, but we would like to keep it at a consistent level. Today we are at 65, so that is really good. A small interesting fact for the medically-interested people reading, Lincoln's heart now has a clicking sound that he can actually hear. We thought that was interesting. Everyone has been wanting to listen to his heart - we finally figured out why.

So, we shall see. More waiting :)

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

One step forward, two steps back

Little man had a great morning, but a frustrating afternoon and evening. He doesn't really want to eat at all. They think it is the withdrawals still, so they are putting in a feeding tube so he gets the nourishment he needs and upping the withdrawal medications. Once again, we are helpless and frustrated. Even worse, more medication to wean him off once again. The good news is he seems calmer and more alert, so we are trying to be patient. Trying to appreciate the small blessings- smiles today, and one feeding. Oh, and he loves his new room accessory. Xoxo


Tuesday rounds

The docs are pleased with how Lincoln is doing. His biggest hurdle right now is getting his Coumadin levels rights and getting his last central line out. They also took him off of the LASIK IV and are giving it to him orally now to see if he really needs it.

The best news of the morning is that I can feed him again! No more bottles! His fluid restriction has been liberalized and they all realized this morning  (after the nurse and I pointed out) that he's ticked off, not wanting the bottles from me. He was so happy to nurse, and he even gave us his first smiles right after. It is not easy to hold him, nurse him, or change his diaper with all of the cords and wires (he still has at least six), but we are learning how to maneuver him around a little better. So, this mommy is feel 80% better than yesterday- what a difference a smile can make!

We now hope that his levels stay consistent -his co-ag levels are extremely important to monitor and stabilize. Without them at a therapeutic level, he can have blood clots form to his mitrovalve and have a stroke. So this is the first step in getting his levels stable, and then we will have to check them weekly if not more, depending on how he does. They are still looking into a machine, but Dr. Mike thinks we will still want or come down to DeVos since it is such a serious issue. I would agree :)

Lincoln (and I ) will be on a strict Vitamin K diet, as it fluctuates his levels tremendously. Anyone that knows me well knows I love fruits and vegetables, which have an abundance of vitamin K. So I am mourning salads, broccoli, my omega-3 vitamins, and having to do  a lot of math with micrograms. The good news is Dr. Haw and the cardiology team requested that we have a good daycare center with educated, trained teachers, not just an in-home daycare. Thank God for Big Steps Little Feet where we will have the best care for little man when I have to go back go work. Thanks again for all of your prayers and support - it means the world to us!

Monday, December 3, 2012

Tough day mentally

I am exhausted physically and mentally. I am tired of watching my baby suffer. I am tired of leaving the hospital without Lincoln. I am tired of listening to the baby scream next door because his mother neglects him. I am tired of sitting in a dark, quiet room. I am tired of not seeing my boys. And for seven days now, I have felt helpless. Today, my baby boy is still not the baby I had to leave last week in the OR. I am sad, tired, overwhelmed, and ready to hold my baby where he looks at me with light in his eyes and knows his Momma. I know it is temporary, I know this too shall pass. But for now, I am so sad that my sweet boy has had to endure so much. And I am sad for us because unlike him, we will remember this hellish experience forever.

Busy day

Lincoln has had a busy day - X-ray, Echo ultrasound, and his two pacers, catheter, and central tube all removed. He only has one internal line left! Poor little man is sleeping peacefully finally after a busy morning of interruptions and painful removals. I have held him twice to feed him two bottles and changed his diaper (which is terrifying BTW). He is pretty fussy still from the withdrawal symptoms and probably his surgical wounds. He is very congested with each feeding, which makes it really hard for him to feed. We cannot wait to see him look at us with that big smile and talk in his happy coos. Right now, they sound like he is lamenting or yelling at everyone around him. He glares at the nurses when they come near him now- we joke he is going to be a grudge holder!

Dr. Haw came in again to check in on him between surgeries. He is truly a caring man, and genuinely  shows how sad he is that he could not repair his valve on Thursday. He told us that he normally is calm and collected during surgery, but that in the OR, they have a swear box. He joked that he filled it up on Lincoln's second bypass surgery. I think he is devastated Lincoln ruined his statistics, but had been so compassionate and apologetic (even though there was nothing he could have done).

Dr. Mike stopped by this morning, and gave us his pediatric perspective, which was nice to hear since he will be helping us along the way more than anyone else. He's been such an advocate for Lincoln, and we feel blessed that Lincoln has such an amazing doctor on his side.

Still working on the diet information. Those of you who know me well with laugh because two doctors have called me "meticulous" and are working on finding out how the medication and diet restrictions work with nursing. Usually, this medicine is used on older people, not infants. The pamphlet they gave me on one of his prescriptions is 34 pages long if that gives you an idea of how
serious it is, and how complex the process can be. But, we are trying to take it one day at a time. This Mommy  is just happy that I could hold my baby today. Small blessings. Xoxo

Monday morning rounds

Today was the first morning rounds where everyone had smiles and was pleased with how Lincoln is doing! Murph and I are elated. What a difference - doctors joking, nurses smiling, and positive goals being discussed. Last night he was having difficulty with his withdrawals and is still having symptoms. We are hoping it should be better within a day or two. Dr. Huntington stopped by to check on him, and said that withdrawals are very common, especially when he had two mjor surgeries in ne week. I think he was just as excited to see our content little man as we are!

He gets to have his pacer wires out today and possibly his central line, which is HUGE! That means that Dr. Haw and the team have complete confidence in his mitrovalve replacement and heart in general. His lung fluids and air pocket looked even better today on the x-ray, so they are talking about canceling the morning x-rays this week. He still has puffy legs and feet, but the team said that is normal and that the Lasiks will continue to eliminate that fluid. The nurse said that once his wires are out, I get to hold him (Murph keeps telling me not to get my hopes up -too late!). He ate four times over the night, which is also great news. He still has to take bottles because of his fluid monitoring, but he is loving the milk over pedialite. So another positive post! Praise God and all of the prayer warriors! Xoxox

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Lincoln's Mohawk is back!



Sunday afternoon :)

Finally- some good news! Baby boy's blood samples came back negative for viruses, so we are out of the isolation garb! The doctors really think he is having withdrawals from the Fentanyl (he has six of the score factors) and since they have given him medication to help, he has been so much more relaxed and his eyes do not have that sad, fearful look anymore. Who knew we would be excited to find out that our baby is having withdrawals from drugs -- that is the crazy world we live in right now! Since then, he has had his first sponge bath, breast milk, and new linens. He is a new baby with his Mohawk back in style. He is finally sleeping peacefully and even the nurse can't believe the difference from this morning. Yay! Small blessings in a huge way.

And, I do not have to throw my freezer-supply of milk away, which if you are a nursing mom, you know how much work that is. I am working with the lactation ladies, a pharmacist, and Lincoln's team to figure out the best plan for my diet with his restrictions. Small steps, but at least we are moving forward.


Sunday morning

Every morning when we walk through Lincoln's room, we hold our breath and hope for good news. We have not had a morning yet where we walk into to hear that Lincoln is doing great. We are still waiting, and it is mentally and physically exhausting. This morning, Lincoln's cough is more congested, and he is in obvious discomfort every time he coughs. He had a hard time taking his oral medications, and clearly something is not right. He looks terrified and anxious, so they are wondering if he could be having withdrawals from the Fentynl. They are giving him a strong antibiotic to hopefully help him along and an anti-anxiey med to ease him and his nerves. They are testing him for infections again, which means he is in isolation and we all have to wear gowns, gloves, and masks until the results come back.

The good news is his heart and lungs look great. Dr. Haw is very pleased with how his valve looks as well as the minute leaks. Tomorrow they want to take out his pacers, which is a great sign of their comfort of his heart functioning. Pharmacy is going to come talk to us about lifestyle changes, nutrition, and breast feeding a baby on blood-thinners. Lactation is also going to come see me and help me to figure out my diet restrictions (so far, it looks like four pages worth). Between the two, I need to figure out what is more important -the antibodies in breastfeeding to keep him healthy or the consistency of formula for his co-ag levels. Lots to think about.

So more short-term complications for today, but hoping the afternoon will get better.  And hoping for negatives on the viruses, so he can see our faces again!

What really matters

In 2013, Murph and I will have been together 16 years. And despite going through Hell this week, our relationship has never been stronger. He and I (somehow) have managed to support each other through all of this, and became even closer. He has always been my best friend, but right now, he is doing an outstanding job taking it all on-  and holding it together while I fall apart. We are both realizing how so much in life just does not matter. When our baby is sick, nothing else really matters except trying to get him better.

We have realized that some people will not understand what we are going through and now that our life is in such chaos, we only need people in our life who will lift us up, who are here for us and our children. Thankfully, we are blessed with so many loved ones around us who do just that.  Eating dinner tonight, we were reading the blog comments, texts, and Facebook posts from so many friends and family members, trying  to lift us up. We are so thankful because that is what we need. "Family isn't always blood. It's the people  in your life who want you in theirs, the ones who accept you for who you are. The ones who would do anything to see you smile and who love you no matter what." And so many of you are now family. Xoxox

Lincoln's fight to live in his short four months has been excruciating for him and us. I found a quote on Pinterest that says "Every day may not be good. But there is something good in every day." That has been our mantra this week -even the small blessings need to be admired and cherished. So today, I laughed with my husband. It's the first time in weeks. And it felt great. And I comforted my baby boy in a way no one else can, not even the surgeons or specialists. All day long, he was alert enough to finally look at me with real eyes (not the dazed, doped-up look). And for those things I am grateful.

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Saturday afternoon

I sent Murph home to take a break, so Lincoln and I have been hanging out with a new nurse today (who I have won over and she agrees Lincoln likes his momma close by).  This morning was rough. Still waiting to see if all of the fluctuation in levels were just a fluke or are something more serious. More waiting -something I am NOT good at. They will test again tomorrow and do more x-rays to see how he is doing. This whole experience keeps teaching me to stay in the moment because when I plan ahead or think what ifs, things change in the meantime and it was a waste of my much-needed energy. He has been off of his Fentanyl today and doing pretty well without it (hoping to keep him off of it-it is stronger than morphine!). His stomach was really upset and gassy, but after a suppository, he has been doing much better. His breathing is labored, but the doctor thinks the air pocket by his lung should heal itself. He took four one-ounce bottles of pedialite and has been more alert today than all week. His co-ag levels are in the therapeutic range, which is really good for his valve and heart. He is finally liking his pacifier again, which is really helpful to soothe him since we can't pick him up. His cough looks excruciating when he has to cough because of his chest. I guess it is normal and needed, but I feel for the little man every time. We are trying to keep our spirits up, especially for him.  Lincoln needs us to be strong to help him fight through this and start recovering. And Murph and I will need support from people who truly care about us and Lincoln's well-being. So many of you have just been amazing -we truly appreciate it. Xoxo

Breaking the rules...

Anyone that sits in with a group of teachers knows we are the worst listeners. So here I sit by Lincoln's bedside, holding his hand & comforting him when he cries. And it seems to be helping. If I try to let It go, he holds on stronger. Sometimes, Mommy knows best. And I even convinced the nurse to let me give him his pedialite bottle, and he sucked it down like a champ. They won't let him have milk yet because of his sodium levels, and his fluid restriction is still pretty high. We have had two wakeful periods where he just stares at me -the most alert he has been since Monday morning before his first surgery. Hoping, and praying.

Small world (FHC that is...)

I had to post this because we are all connected to so many people, even when we do not know it. Dr. Fitzgerald has been our doctor on the floor all week- his wife works at FH Pediatrics (Kathy Howard) and their daughter is a freshman at FHC. Today, Dr. Stoiko is working (father of Michael, Rachel, and Allisandra) and introduced himself to me as one of Allisandra's favorite teachers. He told me the kids at school are worried and praying for our baby boy as well. Our anesthiologist, Dr. Huntington (Kate's father) who was also in my Honors English class, has come to check on my sweet baby multiple times and helped me to understand some of the drugs Lincoln will be taking. Dr. Laughlin, Tory's dad, also helped in Lincoln's second surgery, and he too has shown compassion and concern every step of the way. We are incredibly blessed to have such good care for Lincoln, but to also have that human connection outside of patient protocol. My sweet boy is getting the star treatment he deserves.

Rough Saturday morning

Poor Lincokn just cannot catch a break. He has been struggling this morning in a lot of different ways. His sodium levels are still high, which the docs are investigating with further tests. He spiked a fever this morning, and they have brought his temperature down, but they are testing him for signs of infection to try and figure out why he has a fever. Lincoln also has air and fluid next to his lungs which are making him uncomfortable and have fast breathing levels. This can be from the chest tube being removed, so we are hoping it will heal itself soon. We are supposed to let him be today, and try to stay away from him because he gets so upset that we can't hold him. His blood pressure sky-rocketed early this morning when Murph was talking to him, so today is a quiet, dark room with little interactions to just let him heal and rest.

They are also trying to prepare him and us for his blood-thinner medication because it has a lot of side effects, dosage variety, and training that we need to be prepared for. I have to watch what I eat and drink with nursing because even that can affect his co-ag levels. So today, I am kind of a wreck for my baby's health short-term, long-term, and just getting him through this recovery. Right now, we are nowhere near the safe zone, and that is absolutely  terrifying. Every time we think positively, something slaps us down.

Today, Lincokn is four months old. I should be placing his sweet self on the calendar to take his monthly picture. I should be holding him in my arms and listening to him coo. Instead, I am watching  his vitals, listening to jargon I don't understand, and praying he will come out of this. I just want him to be healthy and happy. We all miss him at home. The house doesn't feel right- there is a void that cannot be filled without him. The boys miss him like crazy. Jackson just keeps asking for "Bink-in" and Sam wants to know when Linc can come home and read books about Abraham Lincoln until he does come home.  This isn't just a disruption for our family, it has momentarily torn us apart. And we just pray that we can be whole again soon.