YAY! HOME! Hannah is settled in and doing well. Her white count is still too high, but oral antibiotics should take care of the infection that's left. She's on a continuous feed for now and we will slowly ween her into bolus feeds.
We are home just in time to be snowed in:) After being off work for two weeks, I've never wanted a snow day so badly. I'm after cuddle time with both of my babies.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
02.19.13
The plan- if weather allows- is still to make it home on Thursday. Hannah is about 8 hours into a slow continuous feed, and so far, so good. We will continue slowly increasing overnight and be at goal for a continuous feed by morning. While this is far from goal for a normal bolus feed, it is a step in the right direction, and it's enough for us to head home.
Tomorrow will be another blood test for a hopefully lower white count and then a probable switch from IV antibiotics to oral antibiotics. If all falls into place, the residents will prepare the discharge paperwork tomorrow night, have it ready for quick overnight updates from Wednesday into Thursday, and send us packing early Thursday.
Now, everyone just cross your fingers that the storm holds out for this mommy to take her baby home!
Tomorrow will be another blood test for a hopefully lower white count and then a probable switch from IV antibiotics to oral antibiotics. If all falls into place, the residents will prepare the discharge paperwork tomorrow night, have it ready for quick overnight updates from Wednesday into Thursday, and send us packing early Thursday.
Now, everyone just cross your fingers that the storm holds out for this mommy to take her baby home!
Monday, February 18, 2013
02.18.13
Good news! No large abscess was found, and Hannah handled the contrast well. Hopes for starting a very slow flow feed tomorrow afternoon. If she can handle it, we might again escape a PICC line and even transition to oral antibiotics. One step closer to home!
I was very lucky to run into a dad that we met from the Ronald McDonald House on our last visit. It's encouraging to hear of other struggles and now that we aren't alone in what sometimes seems an impossible journey. I am blessed to know Rylee and her dad, Larry, and be inspired by their story and motivated by Rylee's beautiful smiles. They are a true testament to seeing God work through people.
I was very lucky to run into a dad that we met from the Ronald McDonald House on our last visit. It's encouraging to hear of other struggles and now that we aren't alone in what sometimes seems an impossible journey. I am blessed to know Rylee and her dad, Larry, and be inspired by their story and motivated by Rylee's beautiful smiles. They are a true testament to seeing God work through people.
02.18.13
Early this morning Hannah was taken down for a picture of her intestines. From what I gather, the picture looks a lot better than it did on Saturday night. However, she's still draining from her stomach and very uncomfortable when the G-tube is clamped shut.
The doctor in charge of Hannah's team was in this morning to discuss the plan. I asked if these two issues- not processing food and her continued high white count (it is still double what it should be after labs this morning), are related. He thinks that they are directly related, and wants to take another CT of Hannah today. We will inject contrast into Hannah's G-tube so that the CT will show what it needs to. The problem here is that Hannah may not be able to handle that much contrast being poured into her belly. There is a back up option using ultrasound, but it wouldn't not provide a picture quite as accurate as is needed.
Once we can see if there is an abscess hiding somewhere, they may be able to remove it via needle, and not have to perform surgery. Until Hannah can eat though, we are back to inserting a PICC line. Probably tomorrow, we will have that placed and then she can lose the other IV that has been providing her nutrition since Saturday. It is not ideal, but if there is an abscess, if they can remove it, if Hannah can handle feeds over the next few days, and if I can administer IV antibiotics through her PICC line, we may be able to go home later this weekend. I think that it's the week of 'ifs'...
The doctor in charge of Hannah's team was in this morning to discuss the plan. I asked if these two issues- not processing food and her continued high white count (it is still double what it should be after labs this morning), are related. He thinks that they are directly related, and wants to take another CT of Hannah today. We will inject contrast into Hannah's G-tube so that the CT will show what it needs to. The problem here is that Hannah may not be able to handle that much contrast being poured into her belly. There is a back up option using ultrasound, but it wouldn't not provide a picture quite as accurate as is needed.
Once we can see if there is an abscess hiding somewhere, they may be able to remove it via needle, and not have to perform surgery. Until Hannah can eat though, we are back to inserting a PICC line. Probably tomorrow, we will have that placed and then she can lose the other IV that has been providing her nutrition since Saturday. It is not ideal, but if there is an abscess, if they can remove it, if Hannah can handle feeds over the next few days, and if I can administer IV antibiotics through her PICC line, we may be able to go home later this weekend. I think that it's the week of 'ifs'...
Sunday, February 17, 2013
02.17.13
We will be here a while. Unfortunately, while the spleen infection is out, we are now facing a bowel obstruction. On Friday night, Hannah began to be very uncomfortable. Her belly started to swell and wouldn't go down. By Saturday afternoon, we pulled 450 ml of fluid from inside Hannah's stomach. The good news is that it was not leaking to anywhere else in her body.
The worst case scenario is that we are looking at another surgery. Tomorrow morning there will be another blood draw to check the white count but we will also have a picture taken to view Hannah's intestinal tract and see where there is any movement happening. Right now, Hannah's tube is connected to vent constantly. Two attempts have been made to close the vent and see how she handles pressure build up- both did not last long. She gets pretty uncomfortable pretty fast. Until tomorrow, the tube will remain vented, the hope being that Hannah's bowels wake up and start to move the blockage through, or that the venting helps release the blockage. Either of these would be a better option that surgery.
There is no real reason for the blockage, but until Hannah's bowels start to move again, she can't eat regular food. Right now she's on IV fluids again and we are hoping that the vein for this IV continues to hold out. We are running out of viable veins for nutrition.
Right now, Eli is cuddling with Hannah in her crib and she is grabbing his arm and smiling. She's awake and flapping her arms and legs- let's get the poop flowing!
The worst case scenario is that we are looking at another surgery. Tomorrow morning there will be another blood draw to check the white count but we will also have a picture taken to view Hannah's intestinal tract and see where there is any movement happening. Right now, Hannah's tube is connected to vent constantly. Two attempts have been made to close the vent and see how she handles pressure build up- both did not last long. She gets pretty uncomfortable pretty fast. Until tomorrow, the tube will remain vented, the hope being that Hannah's bowels wake up and start to move the blockage through, or that the venting helps release the blockage. Either of these would be a better option that surgery.
There is no real reason for the blockage, but until Hannah's bowels start to move again, she can't eat regular food. Right now she's on IV fluids again and we are hoping that the vein for this IV continues to hold out. We are running out of viable veins for nutrition.
Right now, Eli is cuddling with Hannah in her crib and she is grabbing his arm and smiling. She's awake and flapping her arms and legs- let's get the poop flowing!
Thursday, February 14, 2013
02.14.13
-hannah's white counts came back even higher-now they are more than double what they should be.
-she ate well today and they ordered a feeding pump to our house for when we get back home.
-we were rushed into a CT scan tonight before everyone took off for the evening to try and figure out this nasty blood count.
-hannah does not have an abscess or fluid sac causing infection, rather a spleen infection.
-shouldn't require surgery, but doctors will conference in the morning to decide on plan of action from here. IV meds vs. oral (g-tube) and when we get to go home.
-hannah's snoring away and i'm not far behind her...
-she ate well today and they ordered a feeding pump to our house for when we get back home.
-we were rushed into a CT scan tonight before everyone took off for the evening to try and figure out this nasty blood count.
-hannah does not have an abscess or fluid sac causing infection, rather a spleen infection.
-shouldn't require surgery, but doctors will conference in the morning to decide on plan of action from here. IV meds vs. oral (g-tube) and when we get to go home.
-hannah's snoring away and i'm not far behind her...
02.14.13
Today the doctor sent Hannah's ultrasound off to a pediatric specialist for a second time to reaffirm that nothing is abnormal in her belly. We may have to head for a CT scan if there is still no explanation for her high white count. It's hard to measure this change in less than 24 hours, so there probably won't be a blood draw until tonight or tomorrow morning. The plan was still to head home tomorrow, although today's findings may prolong that.
In the meantime, Will and Eli have been taken care of at home. A HUGE thank you to my book club ladies who have been so giving in making meals for the boys this week. I am so grateful to know that they are eating well while I'm away! In fact- maybe too well as they have been spoiled with desserts:) Really, I'm thinking Eli is enjoying his cupcakes and daddy time!
No matter when it happens, we will be home soon. Each day Hannah is happier and more herself, making all of our time here much easier.
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