2 nights, 1 day and the start of a new day

So I'm already getting a little behind on blog updates. It's much harder with a toddler than a baby! Toddlers have bigger opinions!

His first night post surgery was fitful but he was comfortable. I stayed with him and got very little sleep because his fits were every 30 to 45 minutes. The next day (post op day 1) went well. He ate, drank, even sat up and played. We worked on pain management and overall had a good day.

Toward the evening though he seemed to be becoming more restless and agitated. His blood gases showed an increase in lactic acid. We upped his pain meds a bit.  Jackson stayed overnight and said it was simply horrible. Twice he rolled on his stomach, he screamed out all night every 30 minutes and it sounds like he had some mismanaged care with events that the nurses should have alerted the docs about. The attending doc was a little upset they didn't let her know about his discomfort but I think Jackson got to the point that he let the nurses know what he wanted. They do some crazy things I'm the PCICU that for the babies is not as crazy as it is for the kids. Like 3 am baths, midnight X-rays, conversations at bed side, etc. Jackson pretty much put a stop to it. I came this morning and have gotten him down for longer periods of sleep but still only 45 minutes. He is having more chest drainage so he is having to have a medicated fluid replacement. He is getting morphine hourly which is making his face itch and he's about rubbed it raw. I'm hoping an ointment I brought from home will help with that. Dr. Bradley, who I now want to call Dr. Smiles said he can go to the floor today which is great because the whole family can be in the room and he will have more quiet. Before he goes he will get a bandage change on his chest which should be lovely (sarcasm) and pull his arterial IV line in his wrist.  His morning nurse and I have discussed some mild sedation for this since he is already so agitated. 

The big thing now will be getting some food in him. Although he ate yesterday and a little this morning, but he needs to eat more volume and fats so we can see if he has chylothorax, which is a fatty drainage from thoracic ducts. It is a common side effect anytime we have our chest cavity opened up. Drainage is what is going to keep him here. 

Pitiful looking guy this morning.