News from Nov 27th

Just got the update from Nicole along with some pictures. I am always excited to see my little man!

As you know, Christian was having trouble oxygenating and also had a bunch of fluid in the chest cavity. Well they think that he actually had a collapsed lung. But with the "Pigs in Space" placing positive pressure in his lungs, it re inflated, he is oxygenated better and any fluid started going away. So now the mask is gone, the feeding tube is gone, and he is just looking so stinkin cute! They are working on re-teaching him how to eat. That will be wonderful. Advances like that are what is needed to get him home.

Nicole says that they will begin weaning him off of his blood pressure meds now. When he is off of those he can move back to the NICU at OHSU hospital and work on coming home. Don't you know that will be a grand day! I should check on having a parade! Just kidding. Not that I don't think he needs one, I just think they will not comply. Stinkers!

I need to update the newspapers and the radio station that have been following our story. They will be excited to know that Christian is doing so well.

Thanks again for popping in. You may not realize how much your comments mean to us all.

Grandma Whee

Pigs in Space?

Well, Christian is always battling one thing or another it seems! He is once again collecting fluid around his lungs and also not oxygenating his blood in the capacity they would like to see. So, they put the "pig snout" over his nose and a special hat to hold the tubes where they need to be. They call this contraption "Pigs in Space". I guess they need to do something cute now and again to keep their sanity! This is making him oxygenate better now and even helping to reduce the amount of fluid in his chest cavity. If there is not a significant reduction they may insert the drain tubes again. YIKES!

It appears that the heparin is working. Last I heard they thought that the clot was shrinking. That would be a huge thing for him!

I have tried calling the hospital for an update for today and no one is answering phones, so all this info is from yesterday. It is killing me not being there! I will be so excited when he comes home sometime in December.

Ohhhh, is that not the cutest picture of Christian holding daddy's hand???? Gotta love it!

Grandma Whee

EXTUBATED!!!!!

His professional consult with his toys. They all concur that he is the cutest baby EVER!

Great Great Grandpa's hand.

This evening Christian was extubated! How exciting to see his adorable little face again. He still has a nasal cannula for supplemental oxygen and the feeding tube, but not the huge tube up the nose and lots of tape. He is sooooo cute. I got a few pictures of him with his eyes open. And even a few pictures with his crazy hair sticking straight up. I got a funny faced one also that I just had to put on. He is doing so much better today than last night. He did not have very many odd beats today and seemed to be more comfortable. His color was fantastic and he was more alert. What a nice thing. I have to go home tomorrow. That is going to be so hard. I will post as I get news. Please keep checking back

Grandma Whee

Doing better

Christian had a rough night but was better this morning. He is doing better with his heart rate but not fantastic. They will be extubating today and I will post some pictures then with him minus the tube. Then we can see his cute little face again. What a joy!

Grandma Whee

Thrown a curve

Well this afternoon a clot was discovered in Christians heart. They have started him on heparin again hoping to dissolve it. Of course there is always the chance of the clot moving to his brain or lung with many times is fatal. Nicole has not taken this news well as you can imagine. Bryan, stoic as ever, is supporting her very well. We will have to wait a few days to see what happens. It is going to be so hard going home on Sunday. But I can pop up here again real fast if I need to.

Send those prayers and well wishes our way please. We need em'!

Grandma Whee

Meeting more of the family...

Last night my father and grandfather flew in from a trip to Texas and Oklahoma. They came this morning to meet Christian for the first time. It was super sweet. Of course there I was with my camera. We were also able to get a five generation photo. Christian, Nicole, me, my dad, and my grandpa. Grandpa Rex came with Grandma Jeanne, Uncle Darrell and Clara. And my mom was still here. So we had a full room and lots of pictures.

Christian continues to heal. He got his chest tubes removed. His little chest looks so good now. He is still throwing out some irregular heart beats but that is to be expected.

I will be going home on Sunday. I know I am going to have withdrawals from my little fighter! I am sure I will be calling a lot and getting updates.

Thanks for popping in!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!

Today is Christians first Thanksgiving! You can probably figure out what we are thankful for here!

Last night Christian was visited for the first time by Great Grandma Sharon. Kady also came for a visit and was not scared by seeing all the tubes. Grandpa Dave was amazed by his grandson, as usual.

Today we will be here at the hospital for a few hours and then will go to visit Uncle Darrell, Aunt Kristin, Clara, Grandpa Rex and Grandma Jeanne for a nice Thanksgiving dinner.

So, have a great dinner! Thanks for stopping in!

Grandma Whee