Parker is finally home from her hospital stay. Actually we got home on the 15th...sorry for the BIG time lapse!! But now I can say that I think she is back to her happy, smiley-self. Here is a quick recap...
I took her to the ER in Marshalltown on Feb. 1st with the diagnosis of RSV-Pneumonia, where she stayed for 2 days. Then on Feb. 3rd she was life-flighted to Blank in DSM and put in a ventilator. She stayed on the vent for 9 days with heavy sedation medications. Each day the doctors and nurses would tell me that she sounded a little better. The first Saturday we were there the doctors attempted to take her off the ventilator and with no luck, had to reinsert the straw-sized tube back into her throat. So after a day or two they decided that they would try again on Thursday. They didn't want to have to get her on the vent 3 times, so they gave her time to get better and heal from the failed attempt.
Wednesday night (day 10) Parker was coming off her sedations and threw up 3 times in about a 2 hour span. The doctor decided it would be a long night if she continued like this. Around 9 PM the staff came in and removed her tube. She responded very well this time. About an hour after the procedure I finally got to see her smiling, laughing and playing with the nurses, who were all shocked by her happiness. Right after the procedure, they said most babies are very unhappy. The doctor was very pleased so far.
The last 5 days of her stay was to continue weaning her from her medications and help with the withdrawal symptoms. This might have been the toughest part for me. She was basically over the RSV, but her personality was a complete 180 from her normal self. Very difficult to she her like this and left me wondering if she would ever return to her normal self.
After being home for a week now, I can say she is doing very, very well. Her personality has returned and she is smiling, playing and acting just like before. Thank goodness!!!!
Monday, February 23, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
Getting better
I am writing this from the play room at Blank. Parker is still here and improving. RSV gets into kids and takes such a long time to leave! Kids get so much thick, sticky junk (this is how the doctors describe it) in their lungs it is so hard to get it out. She is still on a ventilator and sedation. I wish I had more information to write about today, but we are still waiting for enough progress to get off the vent.
Saturday the doctor thought she was showing the signs that she could be taken off the vent. After about 2 hours of Parker breathing with minimal help the doctor decided to take it out. She had a spasm once the tube was removed and couldn't keep up the breaths on her own. They had to start again and reinsert the ventilator. The rest of Saturday and now Sunday became resting days. They lowered the vent some today (Monday). Also gave her a steroid to help with any inflammation she may have or may develop when they try again. Possibly late tomorrow night or Wednesday is my guess for another try. After no-such-luck the first time, they are going to be very certain that it works the 2nd time.
This weekend Kyle and I were able to spend sometime with the big girls. They came down both Saturday and Sunday for a couple of hours. Our parents have been taking turns watching them so I can stay with Parker and Kyle can finish up is basketball referring season. Definitely hard being all split up! Days at hospital get lonely since there is nothing that I can really do to help. Lots of waiting. I did get to hold Parker today for a couple minutes while the nurses changed her bed. That was probably the highlight of my day since I haven't got to hold her since last Tuesday. The next couple of days should hopefully bring new news!!
Saturday the doctor thought she was showing the signs that she could be taken off the vent. After about 2 hours of Parker breathing with minimal help the doctor decided to take it out. She had a spasm once the tube was removed and couldn't keep up the breaths on her own. They had to start again and reinsert the ventilator. The rest of Saturday and now Sunday became resting days. They lowered the vent some today (Monday). Also gave her a steroid to help with any inflammation she may have or may develop when they try again. Possibly late tomorrow night or Wednesday is my guess for another try. After no-such-luck the first time, they are going to be very certain that it works the 2nd time.
This weekend Kyle and I were able to spend sometime with the big girls. They came down both Saturday and Sunday for a couple of hours. Our parents have been taking turns watching them so I can stay with Parker and Kyle can finish up is basketball referring season. Definitely hard being all split up! Days at hospital get lonely since there is nothing that I can really do to help. Lots of waiting. I did get to hold Parker today for a couple minutes while the nurses changed her bed. That was probably the highlight of my day since I haven't got to hold her since last Tuesday. The next couple of days should hopefully bring new news!!
Friday, February 6, 2009
Just a visitor...
Today Parker is improving from what the doctors can see. Her lungs are sounding less like a growling bear, as one nurse told us. She is still sedated heavily and breathing with the help of a ventilator. Today they have reduced her sedation and lowered the vent for about 2 hours to test her tolerance with out breathing help. The doctors and nurses were pleased with how she did and will try it for longer periods of time tomorrow and hopefully get off it on Sunday!
My days at the hospital are, well, uneventful. Today I did find some humor in my trip to the cafeteria. (now remember, things are pretty slow for me these days and the small things are quite funny)
During our 28 day hospital stay in September with Parker I got to know one of the housekeeping ladies named May. May was usually cleaning the bathroom upstairs when I went to shower most every day. There is a washing machine up there too that I'd use. I ran into her quite often and she would offer to change my laundry for me when it was done. There was another face that I got to know in the cafeteria. One day last September this cook begins to ask me a question when I was waiting for my quesdilla to finish cooking. She asked me if my shift ended at 11:00. Confused at why she would think I was employed by the Iowa Health Systems, I nodded and acted like I knew what she was saying. Then she rambles on how she wishes her shifts were like the nurses and blah, blab, blah. All that I am thinking is 'what makes me look like I work here'? I have no name badge like the other workers. Maybe it is because I have had more meals through your serving line than anywhere else lately??? Or maybe my sweatpants and tennis shoes appear that I'm in my medical scrubs. Either way I'm just visiting.
Today I'm waiting for this familiar cook to get my eggs and toast ready for me and who else but May walks up wanting some breakfast too! Of course I recognize both May and the cook, don't think they know who I am. The two actual employees are joking and having a good time. The cook tells May that she is only going to serve her 'real' customers. May jokes back to the cook, throws her arm around me and says "what do you mean, real customers, this is one of my co-workers". Really...do you see my name badge or my scrubs???????
Yes that's right....I have been mistaken for an actual employees, not once but twice! If this isn't a sign that I have been here just too long I don't know what is!!
My days at the hospital are, well, uneventful. Today I did find some humor in my trip to the cafeteria. (now remember, things are pretty slow for me these days and the small things are quite funny)
During our 28 day hospital stay in September with Parker I got to know one of the housekeeping ladies named May. May was usually cleaning the bathroom upstairs when I went to shower most every day. There is a washing machine up there too that I'd use. I ran into her quite often and she would offer to change my laundry for me when it was done. There was another face that I got to know in the cafeteria. One day last September this cook begins to ask me a question when I was waiting for my quesdilla to finish cooking. She asked me if my shift ended at 11:00. Confused at why she would think I was employed by the Iowa Health Systems, I nodded and acted like I knew what she was saying. Then she rambles on how she wishes her shifts were like the nurses and blah, blab, blah. All that I am thinking is 'what makes me look like I work here'? I have no name badge like the other workers. Maybe it is because I have had more meals through your serving line than anywhere else lately??? Or maybe my sweatpants and tennis shoes appear that I'm in my medical scrubs. Either way I'm just visiting.
Today I'm waiting for this familiar cook to get my eggs and toast ready for me and who else but May walks up wanting some breakfast too! Of course I recognize both May and the cook, don't think they know who I am. The two actual employees are joking and having a good time. The cook tells May that she is only going to serve her 'real' customers. May jokes back to the cook, throws her arm around me and says "what do you mean, real customers, this is one of my co-workers". Really...do you see my name badge or my scrubs???????
Yes that's right....I have been mistaken for an actual employees, not once but twice! If this isn't a sign that I have been here just too long I don't know what is!!
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Parker is 5 months today....
And probably not where ever thought we would be with her. She was almost 1 month when we brought her home from the hospital, and how she is celebrating 5 months back here at Blank!!
Sunday night she was admitted to Marahalltown's ICU for RSV and Pneumonia. By Tuesday afternoon things were not improving and hew oxygen levels were dropping to 70% or lower with some coughing spells she was having. (normally you should have 100%) After her level dropped to the 40 range our Dr. was called and she made the decision to send her on to Blank Children's Hospital in Des Moines. By this point she was so sick that she had nothing on reserve to even cough. She is breathing with a ventilator and very sedated. The doctors want her to be as still and relaxed as possible so her body can work towards healing and not use her energy to cough.
Today the doctor said there was a small improvement in her lungs. Just from what the doctors have told us, I am guessing that she will be on a ventilator for probably 5 days.
Since my kids have been born there are definitely firsts that I can remember for each of them. Parker's list goes something like this.... 28 day hospital stay first month of life, surgery @ 19 days of age, Ambulance ride @ 5 days, life flight @ almost 5 months, 2nd hospital stay at a Blank(hoping to be shorter than the last :), and lots more IVs than the rest of her family has had combined!!!
We are hoping for a speedy recovery and a healthy Parker to return home soon!!
Sunday night she was admitted to Marahalltown's ICU for RSV and Pneumonia. By Tuesday afternoon things were not improving and hew oxygen levels were dropping to 70% or lower with some coughing spells she was having. (normally you should have 100%) After her level dropped to the 40 range our Dr. was called and she made the decision to send her on to Blank Children's Hospital in Des Moines. By this point she was so sick that she had nothing on reserve to even cough. She is breathing with a ventilator and very sedated. The doctors want her to be as still and relaxed as possible so her body can work towards healing and not use her energy to cough.
Today the doctor said there was a small improvement in her lungs. Just from what the doctors have told us, I am guessing that she will be on a ventilator for probably 5 days.
Since my kids have been born there are definitely firsts that I can remember for each of them. Parker's list goes something like this.... 28 day hospital stay first month of life, surgery @ 19 days of age, Ambulance ride @ 5 days, life flight @ almost 5 months, 2nd hospital stay at a Blank(hoping to be shorter than the last :), and lots more IVs than the rest of her family has had combined!!!
We are hoping for a speedy recovery and a healthy Parker to return home soon!!
This is Parker's Life Flight leaving Marshalltown. Yes we were nervous, but also knew she was in good hands and couldn't miss this photo opt :)
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