tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12256234747689095222024-03-13T12:12:39.429-07:00Jack of HeartsThe story of our baby Jackson Paul "Jack" and his journey with Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome.Melissa Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03317481028352781285noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1225623474768909522.post-59831177677881470872015-07-26T19:59:00.001-07:002015-07-26T19:59:50.662-07:00Follow-Up appointment!This past Tuesday Jack had a followup with his cardiologist in town. It all went well, he was so cooperative (which surprised me after all he's been through), he had a great Echo and a beautiful X-ray. Dr. Weineke asked me if I had been watching his oxygen saturations at home and I told him that I had not. I explained that I needed a break from watching them. He told me to take a good break for the rest of the week but to start watching them again this coming week. Boo. Honestly his oxygen saturation is the most depressing thing for me right now. Its hard to look back at pictures and see how pink he was at 92. Now he has cyanotic episodes that are really hard to watch. Then his night saturations are REALLY terrifying! 50s and 60s are not good for anyone! I'm hoping and praying that his saturations are settling out and will stay in the 70s at night.<br />
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Otherwise Jack has been doing good since we've been home. He takes all his medication really well and hasn't been fighting the oxygen placement at night! I've noticed he is trying to say more even though I'm probably the only one who knows what he's saying. Tonight he didn't want the rest of his dinner so he said "Hudsie eat" and Hudson happily accepted it with a "tank too." It was cute! Jack had also been talking in his sleep. The other morning I got up and heard him say daddy over the monitor. I ran back to his room and he was sound asleep. Multiple nights he has said "Hudsie" and laughed but the other night he said "Bye Hudsie" and cried. It broke my heart because when I touched him I realized he was asleep. I'm sure those weeks were hard on both of them.<br />
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Our plans for now are too watch his saturations until his follow up week after. MUSC called and they are deciding which clinic to place him in, so I will let you know more on that later. We are going to SLOWLY resume therapy because I don't want to push him too quickly! I want him to be happy and to heal!!<br />
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<br />Melissa Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03317481028352781285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1225623474768909522.post-62158553183105236532015-07-19T18:15:00.001-07:002015-07-19T18:15:07.055-07:00Home sweet home!We finally made it home on Thursday! There was a lot of debate about Jack being on oxygen and after lots of consideration it was decided for Jack to sleep on oxygen. I honestly was confused about the debate because I thought Jack slept better on the oxygen and his saturations weren't teriffingly low as they were without. Without he dipped into the 50s. That's scary! I called Jacks home cardiologist because as we all know, some docs are easier to talk to than others. He is so wonderful and discussed the advantages and disadvantages of the oxygen. I was all for it once he explained it! The oxygen is essentially therapy for Jack's lungs because it relaxes the pulmonary vessels to allow more blood in to be oxygenated. Then your vessels begin to have "memory" and stay relaxed. It doesn't always work but we need it to so Jack can be accepting to the new plumbing of the Fontan. Since we arrived home Jackson and I have been determining the safest way to do the night oxygen since there are cords in the bed and the best ways to keep it in his nose. We tried not to use tape since his skin is so sensitive, but ultimately had to use tape, and found some tape that doesn't seem to breakdown his skin so much. We've slept a lot and all of us are almost settled in again and not so exhausted!<br />
Tonight Jackson and I were watching Jack play and apparently thinking the same thing. Jackson looked at me and said, "Doesn't it seem surreal that just two weeks ago we almost lost him and now he's sitting here playing and everything is ok. It feels like that was forever ago!" It is weird how quickly things went for horrible to good. I think we both have compartmentalized it in our heads and that is amazing to me. It's a God thing and we both said when it went down, either way God's got this! We prayed for him to take care of our boy but give us more time and he did. I don't want either of us to go back to those emotions again and I hope that we won't have to. For now we've decided no worries and we have to live in the moment and love our kids like crazy! What else can we do- God's got this!<br />
Thank all of you for all your prayers. We know there were so many coming in and He was listening. Jack is so lucky to have so many amazing people in his life with so much love to share with him!<br />
Next followup is Tuesday here in Columbia and the following will be in Charleston. He will be watched closely for a while, and that makes me feel good! He's is great hands!<br />
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Some photos since leaving the hospital! He is sure happy being home!!!<br />
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<br />Melissa Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03317481028352781285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1225623474768909522.post-21578300182881615022015-07-13T13:18:00.002-07:002015-07-13T13:18:32.207-07:00Discharge?Jack has started doing much better since my last post. His stats have risen slightly and he hasn't needed oxygen the past two nights. We feel sure he had a little bug or infection he was fighting. His stats now are lower than before we had his procedure and lower than I had hoped they would be. They will hopefully get a little higher as his body continues to adjust. We've talked to the docs about some short term plans and long term ones including transplant. We've learned that having the third surgery and being done is a big misconception so it's nice to think there is a secondary plan if that's the path God has planned for Jack. Taking it one day at a time for now because I could go mad worrying about the future which I have no control of!<br />
Since he's been feeling and looking so good the plan is to go home tomorrow as long as he doesn't start any funny business! Pulmonology is going to come and talk about the possibility of a CPAP machine or a tonsillectomy, which I am in no rush to do.<br />
Here's some pictures of him playing today. He's looking so much better!<br />
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<span id="goog_1800344805"></span><span id="goog_1800344806"></span><br />Melissa Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03317481028352781285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1225623474768909522.post-69500707460438899952015-07-11T19:53:00.000-07:002015-07-11T19:53:21.673-07:00Slowing it downPoor Jack. Today was much the same as yesterday. He's very pale and puny. I'm working on my communication with the docs because I'm trying to tell them Jack is sick and they keep explaining how the fenestration works. Two days ago Jack was happy and pink and he had two chest tube. His stats were in the 80s even through the night. Yesterday without chest tubes and today he's got lower stats, ran fevers, hasn't played or talked much. Something's brewing but I don't know what. I hope last nights rosephin helped but I also hope it didn't mask it. His X-ray today showed pulmonary edema in his right lung. Today they also decided to drop a dose of lasix. I think we need to slow the train and give Jack some healing time! It was just over a week we were told we may lose him. Tomorrow the plan is for a full blood work panel and X-ray. I'm sure he will be on oxygen by morning because he's been destating at night and they will likely be adding the lasix dose back. Jack is slow and steady and he needs that for his healing. Hopefully tomorrow I can fight for him so he can get the time his sweet self needs!Melissa Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03317481028352781285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1225623474768909522.post-30381610632456908702015-07-10T20:09:00.001-07:002015-07-10T20:09:54.009-07:00Feverish dayJack had another rough day today. It was so sad since yesterday he felt so good! Jackson and I have been keeping a hotel room for a few additional nights to try and catch up on all the sleep we missed last week. Last night was my night to sleep there and he called me early to let me know Jack's oxygen stats were low. I hurriedly got ready and he called again to let me know they thought his pulse ox band wasn't reading well and he looked good again. When I arrived I kissed his head and though he was feeling warm. His stats were lower than they had been and so I asked for a temp. It was slightly elevated but he had just gotten a dose of Tylenol. During rounds they let us know his X-ray looked awesome and that it was time to pull the chest tubes because they had essentially worked their way out. They also wanted to stop Tylenol to see his actual temperature. Some heavy drugs were given so he wouldn't remember the tube pull and they came out great!<br />
A short time later his lunch arrived. He quickly lost it and had an oxygen drop. Following his oxygen went from the 60s to the 90s and everywhere in between. His toes and fingers were extremely blue and his face was ashen. Jackson and I were extremely worried along with all the nurses and physicians assistant. By the time the docs got to his room most of his color had returned and his stats were good. There are lots of new nurses on the floor and most don't know Jack's baseline but thankfully there was one nurse that knew him well! She told the docs that he had not been himself all day and that he is usually waving and blowing kisses to everyone. He hadn't said a word all day! After about an hour of me expressing my concerns to everyone they agreed something else non-cardiac was going on. Blood work showed elevated white blood cell count which would explain his fever and how terrible he's been feeling, but what it is is unclear. They are checking for blood infections, urine and viral swabs. One of his ears looks irritated so I'm hoping it just an ear infection and he's been through so much it's hard on him. I will know more tomorrow.<br />
Poor Jack. I just feel so bad for him right now. Hoping he can start feeling better tomorrow.Melissa Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03317481028352781285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1225623474768909522.post-43132875030148948622015-07-09T20:30:00.000-07:002015-07-09T20:30:08.275-07:00Family, sunshine and lots of playJack had another restful night considering all the equipment still attached to him! This mornings X-ray showed edema so the docs added a third oral diuretic to the mix in an attempt to avoid going back to the IV ones. That was his only change for the day and we were so happy with that since we have had such a rollercoaster week prior!<br />
After rounds we went to meet his cousins in the beautiful Children's atrium! All five went from station to station, playing with Jack like nothing was going on with him. I love the innocence they have and I'm sure it was good for Jack to have a little normal in his life! After lunch our sweet friends stopped by and I'm sure we are scaring them to death since their daughter Abigail will have her Fontan in the spring (don't worry Stephanie, Jack re-writes the rules)! Then we went outside!!! I think the sunshine and fresh air was so good for the three of us! There are beautiful gardens around MUSC and I have a trail I love to walk when we get these wonderful 30 minute freedoms. After a short playtime in the atrium, Jack decided he was ready to "eeeeeat." Before bed he Facetimed with his brother and they pretty much said "nite nite" but it was cute seeing their little faces on the screen.<br />
It was healing to see him so happy today! We've got his chest drainage and a few other concerns but I'm amazed that he has not suffered any developmental regression after all of this! He's been walking, talking, coloring and drawing his "curcles" (circles) just like he was before! That is so amazing to me. God is Good!<br />
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(My pictures are out of order and I apologize if they are too large. The website I blog on isn't a fan of my iPhone !)<br />
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Melissa Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03317481028352781285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1225623474768909522.post-66947775267201327542015-07-08T19:57:00.000-07:002015-07-08T19:57:18.513-07:00Peds Cardiac Step Down UnitJack had a good day today. This morning in rounds the docs asked if we would be comfortable moving to the step down unit. He was stable and they needed the bed space for some sick children (prayers for all those babies and children). They knew he was ready but wanted to make sure we were on the same page after all he's been through. I had a lot of reservations but realized that it wouldnt matter if it were today, tomorrow or next week I probably wouldn't be 100% ready anytime in the near future. We agreed to move as long as they watched for a bit as they were weaning the last IV medications. Everything went well so we headed up to 8D. In his new room he can have more visitors and he loved seeing his brother. As soon as they saw one another they kissed and hugged, shared toys and snacks, and played. They had missed one another.<br />
Today an ultrasonic saline mist therapy was started on the burns on his skin and they will know in a few days if it is helping. It amazes me the things that help us heal! This evening Jack's pain got ahead of his medications but I think we have it back under control. I cannot imagine how uncomfortable it is to have a tube going between your ribs on both sides!<br />
We had a special visitor this morning in the PCICU. Rebecca and her beautiful children came to deliver the baskets they put together for the newborn babies with special hearts, in honor of her angel Annabelle. It is such a nice thing to receive and helps the new moms "dress" their babies the only way you can when you can't hold your baby! She's also so supportive to CHD moms and she and her husband have been to Jackson and I. annabellebaskets.blogspot.com<br />
Our plan for now is to hang around here and watch these chest tubes. We are so nervous to even think about leaving MUSC, or Charleston. I'm sure we will get there but we are taking it one day at a time!<br />
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Resting in his new room!<br />
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<br />Melissa Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03317481028352781285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1225623474768909522.post-2721603964210271012015-07-07T19:32:00.000-07:002015-07-07T19:32:43.596-07:00Restful night and dayJack had a wonderful night and day. He is not consider critical so his shift nurse will now have 2 patients instead of just him. He has gone from 4 liters of oxygen on Sunday to none today! They are weaning all his IV medications and working toward oral medication. Today his platelets were up, from his transfusion yesterday, so they will look at them again Tuesday morning to make sure they are holding steady. His liver is still healing but is almost normal levels. Chest tube drainage is minimal but he started eating today and will probably have an increase overnight. Overall he is doing really well, is weak and sleepy, but loving snuggle time! So am I because it is healing my heart too!<br />
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There is talk of sending him to 8D, MUSC's cardiology step down unit Tuesday. Jackson and I are very nervous about the move because it was only days ago we were told he may not even make it. We will probably ask for one more night to ease some of our fears. Over the last few days he has had a lot of medication weaned. This concerns us because many of these medications can only be administered in the PCICU. His chest tube drainage has more than cut in half everyday. This is partially because he has not eaten and because he has been responding well to a medication they weaned today. He just was pulled from oxygen and began eating solids. Considering all these variables, we would like to stay one more day to watch him. It's easier to go up than down and the life saving tools are in arms reach in the PCICU. I hate sounding so negative but I want to be realistic!<br />
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Jack is looking great overall! He has some medicine burns on his forearm from Wednesday where they pumped in the life saving medications. They are internal but seem to be working outward. The wound care specialists will begin an ultrasonic therapy on those burns tomorrow to begin their healing. The hope is that his skin will not start to break which would put him at an infection risk.<br />
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Thank you for your continued prayers for him! We have been so overcome by the outpouring of love! We appreciate all the prayers and reassurance!<br />
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<br />Melissa Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03317481028352781285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1225623474768909522.post-15258806840376855982015-07-06T19:26:00.000-07:002015-07-06T19:26:06.102-07:00Half smile I cannot believe what has happened since Wednesday and the unbelievable turn around he's had. Im sure he's gotten a boost from the platelets but I will take it!! He's still healing but it fills my heart to see his half smile! He's a fighter and a blessing. Thank you for your continued prayers!<br />
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<br />Melissa Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03317481028352781285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1225623474768909522.post-79666642145690821702015-07-06T12:18:00.001-07:002015-07-06T12:18:32.960-07:00Successful PICC placementTHANK YOU for all the prayers, thoughts, and love for Jack. I am amazed and emotional over what a resilient boy he is and how many lives he has touched in 4 years! We appreciate the support everyone has given us!<br />
As I'm sure you can imagine, this morning was filled with nerves for Jackson and I. We spoke with the cardiologists and anesthesiologists, asked them lots of questions and voiced our concerns. They shared our concerns and explained their plan to get through the procedure as quickly and easily as possible. He had several risks, mostly his episodes in the past days but also the fact that he has had several PICC lines can make placement more difficult. He had to receive donor platelets before hand because he had bottomed out and they were not coming up.<br />
The procedure only took one hour! They had told us two but I think that was so I wouldn't have a panic attack if they went over the normal amount of time. The were able to only use a mild amount of sedation so he could breathe on his own the entire time. He has fewer medicine lines now and it sounds like he will have even less by day's end.<br />
I never took any pictures of him Wednesday, Thursday or Friday because I never want to think of him like that again! I can say that he has made a huge turn. He's warm and pink and I want him to stay that way! In the days ahead they will keep weaning medications and oxygen, watching his platelets and liver, and monitoring his chest tube drainage. He's had significant output. He drained a liter the moment they placed the chest tube. His five day total is 3.02 liters or 12.75 cups. He's on a medication to help dry the effusions but he is reaching the time limit he can be on it. Also he has not eaten (he's back on the fat free/low fat diet) and when he does it will his output increase some. We got lots of hurdles to overcome but he has made a dramatic turn. Thank you for praying for this sweet boys recovery!<br />
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<br />Melissa Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03317481028352781285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1225623474768909522.post-66060158110849606462015-07-05T08:44:00.000-07:002015-07-05T08:44:01.860-07:00Pray for JackWe've been on a rough ride lately. I've always felt so fortunate that Jack's surgeries have gone so well, having some minor complication, but Jack always battled on! In April we began to notice changes in Jack. His breathing was noisy. We took him to the doctors and were reassured when his lung sounded clear, stats were good and heart function was great. Seasonal allergies were the logical culprit. The weeks kept going and the noisy breathing continued past allergy season. Again more reassurance from doctors but with a plan. Four days of nebulizer treatments and if he wasn't better we would get a pulmonology referral. Days later Jack earned that referral. June 18 Jack had a cardiologist visit. He looked and sounded good, oxygen saturation was 92% as always. The following Monday I began to see marked changes in Jack's breathing and the way he was feeling. I called pulmonology to see if we could get in sooner on a cancellation And he was able to go in on Wednesday. In the office his oxygen saturation was only 86%. Thursday evening he began labored breathing and I knew we had something much bigger going on than noisy airway and a wet cough. I loaded him up and drove to MUSC. The ER was thourough and cardiology saw edema around his lungs on X-ray. He was admitted for further testing on Friday. Friday's X-ray and Echo showed large effusions on both sides of his lungs and the echo showed the culprit!<br />
Jacks last open heart surgery was the Fontan. It takes the main vein from the leg and connects it to the pulmonary artery completing the bypass of the right side of his heart. Jack had a fenestrated Fontan where the surgeon left a "pop off valve" into the right heart to relieve pressure. Jack should always have passive blood flow through his body. Some Down's syndrome individuals (and many other single ventricle people) have higher blood/lung pressures which works against the Fontan flow causing a dangerous back up. The fenestration "pop off valve" allows that pressure to release and some blood to mix. Now that Ive explained this I can explain what's happened to sweet Jack.<br />
Jack echo showed his fenestration had closed by his body "healing" it. We scheduled a heart cath for July 1 to reopen his fenestration and reduce the high pressures, so his chest could heal and stop creating the effusions. During the heart cath Jack had a dangerous build up of pressure and his heart sent un-oxygenated blood to all his organs. His blood pressure and oxygen dropped damagingly low. Thankfully a quick working team stopped him from getting to the point of needing compressions, got him to a stable point, placed chest tubes to relieve his fluid, and reopened and placed a stint in a new and larger fenestration. During the episode Jack's liver and kidneys were "bruised" the liver taking the biggest hit. His pulmonary bed in his lungs were shocked from the high pressure and large amounts of fluid around the lungs. His blood pressure was supported by maximum doses of three medications and was still bordering a dangerous low. His blood profusion to his hands, legs and feet was poor leaving them extremely cold. He was filled with fluid and running a fever that was not responding to Tylenol. The only good thing was his heart function.<br />
Thursday the doctors began a method of weaning him off the blood pressure medications and ventilator. All was well until 7:30pm when Jack had a second episode like he did in the cath. It was a very traumatic experience for Jackson and I to witness and it seemed no one could answer our questions. The only thing we heard was he needed off the ventilator.<br />
He had a third "mini" episode through the night. The staff shift changes occurred and a new cardiologist came on for the weekend- Dr. Zyblewski. In all our time here we have never had the privilege of her working with Jack. The team came to discuss Jack and she asked Jackson and I what we understood about the events and Jack's anatomy. She got paper and a pen and drew Jack's heart and explained the Fontan as I did above and then told us what has been happening. Jack has Fontan failure. That hurt. He has to have the fenestration or it causes the dangerous back ups and it could still happen with the fenestration as it did. She said if I had not brought Jack to MUSC the day I did he would likely not have made it the following day. She said many kids with Fontan failure will not make it to adulthood and most have liver issues because the liver is the first organ to hurt. Finally she explained that we had to get Jack off the ventilator. While the vent kept him alive it also worked against the Fontan increasing his blood/lung pressures putting him in a worse situation. He had a 50/50 chance that he would be able to come off the vent.<br />
Honestly the team didn't expect he would be able to not be supported by the ventilator considering the reaction he had the day before. We composed ourselves and called the family to come be with us and see him. Dr. Zyblewski is incredibly smart, methodical and conservative. She told the team her plan and things she wanted to change and the order she wanted to do it all. Medications changed and then it was time to start weaning. The combinations she had created Jack responded to well. His blood pressure began to increase, his oxygen saturation increased and his fever broke. His hands warmed and by the evening his legs were warm again. It had taken all day but he had come a long way and was stable. Since the same team was going to be on in the morning and he was so stable she wanted to wait to pull him from the ventilator. Jackson and I finally had the ability to eat and went to the cafeteria with Hudson. When we arrived on the floor a team was surrounding Jack and he was fighting. He had woken up after lingering anesthesia wore off but Dr. Zyblewski said he woke appropriately. She again came up with her plan to go ahead and pull the vent since he ws ready.<br />
After the pull he was agitated but was improving. Saturday she gave him tons of diuretics to pull fluid off of him from his cath trama. She added medications to try to dry up some of his chest drainage. Saturday he weaned off all blood pressure medications, nitric oxide and oxygen support. He had a restful day and night and today is looking much better than two days ago.<br />
There are still concerns about his health. His liver is healing but slowly. His platelets are low and he may need donor platelets later today. Jack will be in the hospital for an extended period so he is going to get a PICC line tomorrow. We are EXTREMELY nervous about another round of sedation but it has to be done.<br />
Please pray for a safe sedation and continued recovery.Melissa Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03317481028352781285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1225623474768909522.post-44707831534740569442014-08-29T09:16:00.001-07:002014-08-29T09:16:49.004-07:00Home!We made it home! Jack had his post-op appointment in Charleston Wednesday! It was a very long appointment and at times it was very nerve racking. I knew from they way he was so happy and playing so hard he was ok but there is always that little part of you that thinks "what if. " First he went for his vitals check. He's only lost 2 pounds. I thought that was good considering this fat free diet but also because of how little he has eaten over this month. Next we went for the X-ray. Jack hates the X-ray. I know it doesn't hurt but I guess he thinks the machines are scary? That was quick. Echo took forever and was the part where my stomach started to turn. The echo tech stayed in one area on his left side for the longest time and seemed to be taking video and pictures in the same area over and over. I didn't ask him why because they cannot tell you much about what they see. Jack was so good and laid so still while the tech got all the pictures he needed. <div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5u1FNluKxtl56NZctvAyqBmQUrBeM1y0gB8MFwgFLNATAy3A67O2oYUqzNaHIOBB4BjnpgSzHuXaQCZYatnL2F6VWQOQlw2DyFIzS7A7z3F2PYG8pL7c9ZqbL_ItsqhJzcJOoPtI3g8/s640/blogger-image--530770222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5u1FNluKxtl56NZctvAyqBmQUrBeM1y0gB8MFwgFLNATAy3A67O2oYUqzNaHIOBB4BjnpgSzHuXaQCZYatnL2F6VWQOQlw2DyFIzS7A7z3F2PYG8pL7c9ZqbL_ItsqhJzcJOoPtI3g8/s640/blogger-image--530770222.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Then it was time for the doctors. First was the fellow who allowed me to breathe a huge sigh of relief because he told me the X-ray and the echo looked great. He said Jack's turn around with his drainage was baffling and they rarely see anyone with as much drainage as he had dry up so quickly, go home and stay drainage free. This comment was something all the doctors said. I know this was just another one of His miracles!</div><div>Finally Jen and Cathy from Dr. Bradley's team came in. I love both of them dearly. They checked Jack out and then it was play time. They took selfies. Played with pagers and cell phones. Blew kisses and tormented me with Jack holding Clemson paraphernalia. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJFFQ0EbfzJKnKad7lP02yhEiAniFPiFf0g5G5OB4pTmpjIKnSm1CpPU2daY-UhTIgbrSB2xj0qkVtH4Zu-wRGt0sstdXDt7mEeM5ILIK3oLjd6Up6g3gcsnW01fkdGnWI7hq4r-zeT74/s640/blogger-image-1504149658.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJFFQ0EbfzJKnKad7lP02yhEiAniFPiFf0g5G5OB4pTmpjIKnSm1CpPU2daY-UhTIgbrSB2xj0qkVtH4Zu-wRGt0sstdXDt7mEeM5ILIK3oLjd6Up6g3gcsnW01fkdGnWI7hq4r-zeT74/s640/blogger-image-1504149658.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>It was a bittersweet experience. My original plan was to start cardiology follow up at MUSC. I just don't love the Richland clinic. MUSCs feeling was that we needed a doctor in Columbia and presented me with an option I liked. We should be getting a call with our follow up appointment this week. </div><div>Jack still has to be on the fat free diet until September 28. I'm pretty sick of ground chicken at this point so if anyone has any other fat free or low fat options let me know. He can have up to 5g of fat at lunch and dinner. We've all been doing the diet because Jack always wants to eat what we eat. Hence my disgust toward ground chicken at this point!</div><div>Tuesday I packed up and loaded the car. I was really hoping the appointment yesterday would go well and thankfully it did!!! As soon as Jack was done it was off to Columbia! Jack came in the house, pointed and talked about everything. I have never wanted to know what he was saying more than I did then! He had to get re-acquainted with all his toys. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMEW7c9e5BZMOsoDJLA3ZQxO6PfWo_F5KE4WK3cfrke_T9aGu-uTZgijbjSBEqrm-35yRuqBs0cd0-Xko_jtr9BCW6-V7CJULR60JtkK0xTOKRqpap5MGBhbBsMbWcqmDz6t6Vh9ZWkQg/s640/blogger-image--1188238896.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMEW7c9e5BZMOsoDJLA3ZQxO6PfWo_F5KE4WK3cfrke_T9aGu-uTZgijbjSBEqrm-35yRuqBs0cd0-Xko_jtr9BCW6-V7CJULR60JtkK0xTOKRqpap5MGBhbBsMbWcqmDz6t6Vh9ZWkQg/s640/blogger-image--1188238896.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>When it was bedtime both boys went right to sleep and I didn't hear a peep until morning! It's so good to be home!!!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY5cwE9kAa1xO-CN5GfysCm1ZaO5GpdhpuV0Mi3druvzZ_UPILIAB1XA_e9ny5K-Ym1uhl74mba5798rlLHAgEldGqhyphenhyphen9OLStqoyBgvhKmjKRA9u5GNdPQmjfr_uYyIpARaZl2J_S9kUI/s640/blogger-image--589794992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY5cwE9kAa1xO-CN5GfysCm1ZaO5GpdhpuV0Mi3druvzZ_UPILIAB1XA_e9ny5K-Ym1uhl74mba5798rlLHAgEldGqhyphenhyphen9OLStqoyBgvhKmjKRA9u5GNdPQmjfr_uYyIpARaZl2J_S9kUI/s640/blogger-image--589794992.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers for Jack!</div>Melissa Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03317481028352781285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1225623474768909522.post-73450255895565421882014-08-26T19:17:00.001-07:002014-08-26T19:17:06.952-07:00Bags packed, ready to go?Well, not too much has happened since Jack was discharged. Except that I have a little boy who is 200% better than before. Yeah, 200%. His skin is brighter, his eyes whiter, voice is clearer, full energy to the point of no more naps, and more. If you could think of anything that would be better about someone after they've gotten well, he's got it!! GOD IS GOOD!!!<div>One of the biggest things I've noticed is that he stands flat footed now. One of my theories of why he hasn't walked yet is circulation. I feel sure that is true. He used to stand on his heels and avoid his toes at all costs!!! If he didn't want to stand he wouldn't! Now those feet are planted so I can't wait to get him back into physical therapy!</div><div>Our other big news is that we are packed and ready to go. He has his last post surgical follow up tomorrow morning. Assuming everything goes well we are headed home! I love this city but being stuck inside is not as fun as getting out there and seeing it all!! Plus it will be nice to get the boys back to their beds! Ill keep y'all posted on what the doc has to say!!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfDHNebjIRW4R393d-jV_ELuURCYLEmyabkvchZcHHF0u4G7FG71B1Rryj_hyugw-O0wotzQuo3oGuxuwmiZ2zk508i9gesD9tyz9SZSamLoCKckQP6tzZ533MOOrfYhgn2rzACCjG8OQ/s640/blogger-image-1983228891.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfDHNebjIRW4R393d-jV_ELuURCYLEmyabkvchZcHHF0u4G7FG71B1Rryj_hyugw-O0wotzQuo3oGuxuwmiZ2zk508i9gesD9tyz9SZSamLoCKckQP6tzZ533MOOrfYhgn2rzACCjG8OQ/s640/blogger-image-1983228891.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpn4jclT-kj3AyUXyHOMexMBJG9sm3HS9bOK3XbwkfeGnCWG8RegUqIuFhcKLZ-jtXo-cSeGUheXc_PYIx29YxFkBbwcx1wzZiolt6tuqwI9SeLHFhdHaloUKGLSK6nTwLsdA_N7J5-6U/s640/blogger-image-583644339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpn4jclT-kj3AyUXyHOMexMBJG9sm3HS9bOK3XbwkfeGnCWG8RegUqIuFhcKLZ-jtXo-cSeGUheXc_PYIx29YxFkBbwcx1wzZiolt6tuqwI9SeLHFhdHaloUKGLSK6nTwLsdA_N7J5-6U/s640/blogger-image-583644339.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJOEcgCURpju1LXqQ2UxHF_Nhj9-S27kPtfePoEhEXUgYw9CrXx322LgUdh_nI6Ua-8JhoLK57ZSmyA3x6dS8fQN8E6Th7YX0haNjssuDUrjJWz6AM6WOf-OXuG6V6o6Y6y5LUXpiR-xE/s640/blogger-image--75102486.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJOEcgCURpju1LXqQ2UxHF_Nhj9-S27kPtfePoEhEXUgYw9CrXx322LgUdh_nI6Ua-8JhoLK57ZSmyA3x6dS8fQN8E6Th7YX0haNjssuDUrjJWz6AM6WOf-OXuG6V6o6Y6y5LUXpiR-xE/s640/blogger-image--75102486.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Also, Hudson is 9 months. I'm so sad he's growing up so fast!</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1X34dYq9jMLIHinJ16qonMBEH1tPB59N5VL_Q9nXCLREKrsn4VKR_59_fQiZwd5fDvBv6xbE5bwTSNP7VeAhAIOeaR5etyVehnpVUJ8HGzzEShJyWKiT6WpA_DuXwyg-k5ykCnpuQrZU/s640/blogger-image--1966497177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1X34dYq9jMLIHinJ16qonMBEH1tPB59N5VL_Q9nXCLREKrsn4VKR_59_fQiZwd5fDvBv6xbE5bwTSNP7VeAhAIOeaR5etyVehnpVUJ8HGzzEShJyWKiT6WpA_DuXwyg-k5ykCnpuQrZU/s640/blogger-image--1966497177.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABe_ix9agto8DwUqVtnDrTKeqaqt5IEH7GiEEdI5-wNx5Kw4-olswoVV9skW89QaLXSipv-YxuBKe0UKuvdo_byil13kwskH6v6PLegE1Mkn6vCXhFN5Xw_pzT9F2t9e00PKFk7XOTRA/s640/blogger-image--620643973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABe_ix9agto8DwUqVtnDrTKeqaqt5IEH7GiEEdI5-wNx5Kw4-olswoVV9skW89QaLXSipv-YxuBKe0UKuvdo_byil13kwskH6v6PLegE1Mkn6vCXhFN5Xw_pzT9F2t9e00PKFk7XOTRA/s640/blogger-image--620643973.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaQl2NsxBSwY5aQwKyeZIDZILVaAehkvi_ev5q1DL2iDYN6NqcTnPU6RUW2chL3viKa7bbH7LMOJd-NM7QBQcCjPq15Xx9AbVwk4JoAh4A0e7p1LjLdSJPP_ZuwFvQipylDc9NPx7GHX0/s640/blogger-image--1374949481.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaQl2NsxBSwY5aQwKyeZIDZILVaAehkvi_ev5q1DL2iDYN6NqcTnPU6RUW2chL3viKa7bbH7LMOJd-NM7QBQcCjPq15Xx9AbVwk4JoAh4A0e7p1LjLdSJPP_ZuwFvQipylDc9NPx7GHX0/s640/blogger-image--1374949481.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div>Melissa Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03317481028352781285noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1225623474768909522.post-67005917334468201502014-08-18T16:22:00.001-07:002014-08-18T16:22:17.334-07:00So amazingI don't know why but Jack seems more like a little boy to me- more than ever. He sits up taller, his eyes are brighter and he's as sweet as ever! <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwTJpRz5wR0lOyDlIQvehYHrXMn40f712XVlI0dUkpfcXl13AHhhulB2Vt6QRTNy_5N_uNJOqcYlbTX7Ad5ShYis-4EjoaEYCOEFLR0B3dJYXeKXPiRjiUUeG0IRuT0J0e4UfMO6hb-f8/s640/blogger-image-1727447941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwTJpRz5wR0lOyDlIQvehYHrXMn40f712XVlI0dUkpfcXl13AHhhulB2Vt6QRTNy_5N_uNJOqcYlbTX7Ad5ShYis-4EjoaEYCOEFLR0B3dJYXeKXPiRjiUUeG0IRuT0J0e4UfMO6hb-f8/s640/blogger-image-1727447941.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">He's also been sleeping in the "big boy bed" at the hospital and looks big in it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9b2_mNzz61NA32t9MJLQVqSxKdpzV7QLbDlX6mfXAJNwQczAiIAPFF8q70Lc7v6B6Nq3vAdFAUIFq4_F_3Xgeidz_6uniey2nNAZTUW7xJdX9D1xazJXb7BjzUiK_kRN8BkZ107GfY-w/s640/blogger-image--1586382573.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9b2_mNzz61NA32t9MJLQVqSxKdpzV7QLbDlX6mfXAJNwQczAiIAPFF8q70Lc7v6B6Nq3vAdFAUIFq4_F_3Xgeidz_6uniey2nNAZTUW7xJdX9D1xazJXb7BjzUiK_kRN8BkZ107GfY-w/s640/blogger-image--1586382573.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><div>Amazing! Also what's amazing- his chest. 12 days post surgery this is what it looks like- internal stitches, steri-strips gone, chest closed and chest tube places scabbed over. The human body is amazing and God is to thank!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZP6Dl4yjlFEkInJOqBhx8PKnlSgA-c_5yHdwIytW-PH7L09RMSwbdan3dIbl5S8DhXuFZ9XNxjaNbPRtcuD8zb0ds_in9rOADHHUKcJjFSQasFhfyqzaRL-1I94g3vTqjlslUpPwGMs/s640/blogger-image--255862885.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZP6Dl4yjlFEkInJOqBhx8PKnlSgA-c_5yHdwIytW-PH7L09RMSwbdan3dIbl5S8DhXuFZ9XNxjaNbPRtcuD8zb0ds_in9rOADHHUKcJjFSQasFhfyqzaRL-1I94g3vTqjlslUpPwGMs/s640/blogger-image--255862885.jpg"></a></div> </div>Melissa Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03317481028352781285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1225623474768909522.post-12370300103349500522014-08-18T12:45:00.001-07:002014-08-18T12:45:36.064-07:00Discharged!So we broke out of 8D! We love the nurses, PA and docs but it was time! It was so much easier with a baby to be cooped up!! Everyone was sad to see him go and he blew lots and lots of kisses! We will be going back in the coming days to get X-rays and echos to make sure the fluid is not accumulating in his chest. Also I'm sure they will be quizzing me on the fat free diet! <div><br></div><div>Resting peacefully in Charleston now!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHink94-soLez9X_dIdmOCK-rePL7k0IiEbfvKAOhwMBiQ1PdMDv7VVZ1c6TmxKGMNE7j3mOtRoQChD8ZWvPP0OrgEnAnYZ81DTWFF2o8t95uEjL2lod4qqJlBErtLN2zwl0hHAE3Kso/s640/blogger-image-1429045463.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHink94-soLez9X_dIdmOCK-rePL7k0IiEbfvKAOhwMBiQ1PdMDv7VVZ1c6TmxKGMNE7j3mOtRoQChD8ZWvPP0OrgEnAnYZ81DTWFF2o8t95uEjL2lod4qqJlBErtLN2zwl0hHAE3Kso/s640/blogger-image-1429045463.jpg"></a></div> </div><div>On the way home!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik_p3rmhoStOXljA66BgmRzHkOe-nzVxOw756Gwcoh56DX5xdrkP2KDJ3-fP36yrx3lcUfVbQhgvU0TIC6Py8uuA6LJjjAzYq_TBVVixoY5f-0TvksluQ9ZmNXEt9Bt_WbRFFx8y9zRCI/s640/blogger-image-1662723581.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik_p3rmhoStOXljA66BgmRzHkOe-nzVxOw756Gwcoh56DX5xdrkP2KDJ3-fP36yrx3lcUfVbQhgvU0TIC6Py8uuA6LJjjAzYq_TBVVixoY5f-0TvksluQ9ZmNXEt9Bt_WbRFFx8y9zRCI/s640/blogger-image-1662723581.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Blowing kisses to the people who will always have a special place in our hearts!!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0rYfQHiezH86HXtLb5I9UUzY74xOUikeqpQzKS4LbJWpQqWcOTjA6lpVZ6EUNKdNxrKKhrULlSDAKQyHA-tiBMpHCbc-PyLfJX7lEHf_IH-IYJNWo7sWNu3E_0gbDvyxgYYdcQrIiBNs/s640/blogger-image-1742937923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0rYfQHiezH86HXtLb5I9UUzY74xOUikeqpQzKS4LbJWpQqWcOTjA6lpVZ6EUNKdNxrKKhrULlSDAKQyHA-tiBMpHCbc-PyLfJX7lEHf_IH-IYJNWo7sWNu3E_0gbDvyxgYYdcQrIiBNs/s640/blogger-image-1742937923.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTehA-K1krzzo7rU-Xhyphenhyphen3sSVsR8FdBjuNtm3WHjDm864kEHipa-RqjsudDTAhdtvCFmBc4mXW1311bcXmeFayvoRH1FwQnKdvPisjAoDbj4Sog7oVCR6VC_YRmEaR4QzqBo-Re3mRlcME/s640/blogger-image-1527948303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTehA-K1krzzo7rU-Xhyphenhyphen3sSVsR8FdBjuNtm3WHjDm864kEHipa-RqjsudDTAhdtvCFmBc4mXW1311bcXmeFayvoRH1FwQnKdvPisjAoDbj4Sog7oVCR6VC_YRmEaR4QzqBo-Re3mRlcME/s640/blogger-image-1527948303.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb98B6M-dkdzC4OYbdIutRQSfqAfKfCPzHgJ9PTaT33ULcUEGwtutNi8n6j51LhtUorFzXHy_gg6hWV5nqpx7_jIDeTiqcCmIm8RM71NQPGlfepTuAJngVgntEtc01OEbyzliCq_hQAls/s640/blogger-image-299288274.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb98B6M-dkdzC4OYbdIutRQSfqAfKfCPzHgJ9PTaT33ULcUEGwtutNi8n6j51LhtUorFzXHy_gg6hWV5nqpx7_jIDeTiqcCmIm8RM71NQPGlfepTuAJngVgntEtc01OEbyzliCq_hQAls/s640/blogger-image-299288274.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mW39z_FKTKdmJqToGhVe3Ec5YRMH1fk3lMq_6uWXhWB36HNj1lG709ebUyaItRcYO1RNbDZV-hGDgHLW4ZWPGQh49lujFl_NDxiF5nhbWdpbdyf5FdFQjv_LBv4aNXo1Z0Udo5OmZ2o/s640/blogger-image-937394192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mW39z_FKTKdmJqToGhVe3Ec5YRMH1fk3lMq_6uWXhWB36HNj1lG709ebUyaItRcYO1RNbDZV-hGDgHLW4ZWPGQh49lujFl_NDxiF5nhbWdpbdyf5FdFQjv_LBv4aNXo1Z0Udo5OmZ2o/s640/blogger-image-937394192.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDiQDCXvnqQLgqm1wwYtNQiZp74IMFbdvp7Ryt2zcCO-TrHuEIybNVcVl8PeMBo0OxZThyphenhyphenRcFmJIbkNLMUwvden8y6eJwW7IolVm4dYZmAc0YsJjnnAmZU7zfL1CJhEgo3naFtW_JvTnI/s640/blogger-image--1397498881.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDiQDCXvnqQLgqm1wwYtNQiZp74IMFbdvp7Ryt2zcCO-TrHuEIybNVcVl8PeMBo0OxZThyphenhyphenRcFmJIbkNLMUwvden8y6eJwW7IolVm4dYZmAc0YsJjnnAmZU7zfL1CJhEgo3naFtW_JvTnI/s640/blogger-image--1397498881.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Melissa Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03317481028352781285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1225623474768909522.post-83250140962587379952014-08-17T14:14:00.001-07:002014-08-17T14:14:30.018-07:00Discharge MondayJack got his last chest tubes pulled today!! He had a clear X-ray following the pull and if his X-ray and echo tomorrow look good we are out of here! I'm really still in shock because this will be less than 2 weeks!! Every time the docs come to talk to us about it they talk to us like we are ready to get out of here. We keep telling them we are ok staying! I feel comfortable with leaving Monday. <div><br></div><div>Jack is definitely Jack again. Playing hard and happy! </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXuOd0LwzuDtiyHKINjEGNhLJf2wkmXp8VECoF-uGjXAkdR0hPwNp2y0oKirqpB_dFkiwe-k_0lOULl3CfyCwgMtIjqRRT_3CpiZfVo0-KchssinX0s5LChp9tuf-Ceah5QX3cIRJYVQ4/s640/blogger-image--723568530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXuOd0LwzuDtiyHKINjEGNhLJf2wkmXp8VECoF-uGjXAkdR0hPwNp2y0oKirqpB_dFkiwe-k_0lOULl3CfyCwgMtIjqRRT_3CpiZfVo0-KchssinX0s5LChp9tuf-Ceah5QX3cIRJYVQ4/s640/blogger-image--723568530.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd85UkV1fOXtA1ctAaZe8Qz4LV3PSt2o_PwnTPq0RobDKzmF5z3VPpC2Ds0LdXZXbMyhp8lBZfPi59wDEWOsNBdSh_P5yvfg8tn8Y6VPTrRDH_Y9T3G5V_A7d4r9q63WMraraQ1Zvjces/s640/blogger-image--1583057330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd85UkV1fOXtA1ctAaZe8Qz4LV3PSt2o_PwnTPq0RobDKzmF5z3VPpC2Ds0LdXZXbMyhp8lBZfPi59wDEWOsNBdSh_P5yvfg8tn8Y6VPTrRDH_Y9T3G5V_A7d4r9q63WMraraQ1Zvjces/s640/blogger-image--1583057330.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>I will let you know tomorrow if we really leave or not!</div>Melissa Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03317481028352781285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1225623474768909522.post-89436981225624366342014-08-16T12:32:00.001-07:002014-08-16T12:32:23.096-07:00Rumor has it...We may go home on Monday. Well, not home, home- to our home for the month. His drainage has decreased to the magical level and because we have somewhere in town to stay they are going to set us free! They are planning to pull his chest tubes tomorrow and then keep him overnight for observation. If everything looks good they will discharge him!!<div>We will have to come back every few days for X-rays to make sure there is no additional fluid build up. He will continue on the fat free diet for at least 6 weeks. Hopefully after that we will think of Jack's heart surgeries as a distant memory! </div><div>God has blessed us so much- not just on this surgery but the other two as well. I told one of our favorite nurses that I was nervous to leave and she said that he is so much more stable than he's ever been! That's a great feeling!</div><div>Yesterday some of the players and Charlie from the Riverdogs came! They were so kind; and they played and got to know each child and family individually!</div><div>Jack is back to being Jack. He plays hard, dances to music, talks and is happy again! What a relief!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYoBEfHE2bJVm-zRmpF3Bn3Q4WUWdYB9oSFSC1Hqjvm6diK5A4v-T0wgjnpjpltmRsnSk32bBe8R-yGZouva6Q2VjUmWHG4FLWGHgZhn0mg9GOid0LVatD-clNUR0CulR9VoO3aBxQXD8/s640/blogger-image-930743057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYoBEfHE2bJVm-zRmpF3Bn3Q4WUWdYB9oSFSC1Hqjvm6diK5A4v-T0wgjnpjpltmRsnSk32bBe8R-yGZouva6Q2VjUmWHG4FLWGHgZhn0mg9GOid0LVatD-clNUR0CulR9VoO3aBxQXD8/s640/blogger-image-930743057.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKw5hMTM5K2yNhWiMi98oW5HFymzy2VNe3Vmw5zHcagUARvr1BC5Lc5WO8vGM74roC2KKtgjwv9_jvnM0jnxtPJZ8hLOFuVOqKrO_FlMeE1qZm748bZ1DNSe6jDDtnRMA1wy_U3Uh69w/s640/blogger-image-1223436587.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKw5hMTM5K2yNhWiMi98oW5HFymzy2VNe3Vmw5zHcagUARvr1BC5Lc5WO8vGM74roC2KKtgjwv9_jvnM0jnxtPJZ8hLOFuVOqKrO_FlMeE1qZm748bZ1DNSe6jDDtnRMA1wy_U3Uh69w/s640/blogger-image-1223436587.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHIuc9oEdWTG6X93H1HokBAh5LRoyK0d0RWlSoLC0zziLOrRzD3svfxlQMnVwIIiquEtR-aBqKDqpyz3CD2R_A3yih46GCO8XcP88F902K9HEWXGZ68UcyQ6XmyUQorAGzXybsLG_eWkc/s640/blogger-image-420550604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHIuc9oEdWTG6X93H1HokBAh5LRoyK0d0RWlSoLC0zziLOrRzD3svfxlQMnVwIIiquEtR-aBqKDqpyz3CD2R_A3yih46GCO8XcP88F902K9HEWXGZ68UcyQ6XmyUQorAGzXybsLG_eWkc/s640/blogger-image-420550604.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8KXlxw0vFAssan2IPPhBib9ubk6gCbaFMhNKLjBDjmYoY1qEjn_I5g0V0fJQUQhyphenhyphenSuEkaEZvwE1O5yKWV41pNFXFl1sZoFNgUf7mVLDaophxx9HFxoCHg1XTacDmXZsLkC63klq_F8jI/s640/blogger-image--546122014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8KXlxw0vFAssan2IPPhBib9ubk6gCbaFMhNKLjBDjmYoY1qEjn_I5g0V0fJQUQhyphenhyphenSuEkaEZvwE1O5yKWV41pNFXFl1sZoFNgUf7mVLDaophxx9HFxoCHg1XTacDmXZsLkC63klq_F8jI/s640/blogger-image--546122014.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Melissa Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03317481028352781285noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1225623474768909522.post-46365899560642628272014-08-15T04:46:00.001-07:002014-08-15T04:46:41.828-07:00OverdueWow! My post is so overdue I had to go back and see where I stopped. It is difficult to have time for much of anything other than Jack here which is just fine because he is our number one priority! My nerves have been so frazzled at times I'm not sure if will be able to ever unwind. It's so hard to watch him hurt when he's maxed out the pain meds. I check every line coming out of him to make sure they aren't a culprit. When it's nothing else, all I can do is sit with him and let him cry it out. The other thing about this surgery is that Jack is only 3. I believe Jack understands most of everything I tell him but it is hard to rationalize that you can't sit or scoot over your chest tube lines because you will pull them out. Or that I know it is uncomfortable, but if you sit still the blood pressure cuff will stop squeezing you so tightly. Anyways, this has been one of the most challenging experiences of my life. <div>The PICC line was placed late afternoon Tuesday. They put him on a clear liquid diet starting at 12am Monday. There was no scheduled time for the cath lab so I thought it would be early considering the clear liquid diet. Well it wasn't. Finally after all the jello I could possibly feed him they called him to come to waiting area at 2:40pm. He was getting incredibly irritable- assuming because he had had nothing to eat in almost 24 hours. There was some "discussion" on whether they would be kind enough to remove his neck line and redress his chest tubes while under anesthesia since he had been so irritated the previous days. They sent me off when they took him back and I had no idea what to expect after the PICC line. After an hour of fresh air they called and I went up pleasantly surprised. The amazing physicians assistant personally went over to the cath lab to take care of Jack's line removal, bandage change and got all the sticky of his sweet skin as she could! That was so above and beyond her duties I still can't thank her enough. She just makes sure to tell Jack that he can't make too many more girlfriends other than her on the floor! </div><div>We got back to the room sometime after 8pm. Wednesday Dr. Bradley decided that his drainage on his middle tube had decreased enough for it to be pulled!! The docs and nurses all told me once that comes back you begin to get personality back. He skipped a nap Wednesday and played all day. We went to the children's atrium twice but it was so difficult with the 2 chest drainage boxes and the IV pole. </div><div>Today Jack's nurse and the nurse practitioner helped convince the docs to let him off the IV meds for an hour to play in the atrium. They did and today he by far has been the happiest. He is starting to like everyone and has been talking, smiling, waving and blowing kisses. Tomorrow we are looking at fully coming off the IV meds and another chest tube!! Drainage has dropped significantly!! As of the moment it looks like we could be out of here by the end of the month! Maybe even next week!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ZtNlbbdQpf1hC6hcnZK8VFn5wvGdljZSREtg1e5vheVFBaap3WyEV2wMFRM4NtA22sBsWvYFNE_40FrCNBJbqWMJ0N4Wdxbw7TtrphaKn2pxtRyhM_-6b-l3q7rL3EwhAdBaR7jN2a0/s640/blogger-image-1245897078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ZtNlbbdQpf1hC6hcnZK8VFn5wvGdljZSREtg1e5vheVFBaap3WyEV2wMFRM4NtA22sBsWvYFNE_40FrCNBJbqWMJ0N4Wdxbw7TtrphaKn2pxtRyhM_-6b-l3q7rL3EwhAdBaR7jN2a0/s640/blogger-image-1245897078.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div>Melissa Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03317481028352781285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1225623474768909522.post-44145465023021970662014-08-10T14:40:00.001-07:002014-08-10T14:40:02.253-07:00Day 4Today started out great! Jack wanted to play, he ate and got out of the bed for a while. It seems soon but moving around is the best thing he can do. It helps to push the drainage out. We had planned to take him to the children's atrium today but they have shorter hours and it didn't work out with lunch and nap. He woke from his nap in an all out fit. All the nurses keep reassuring me that they all are in this much pain and this miserable and he will get back to normal. I believe them until the next fit happens. It's just so hard to see him like this!<div>Jack has confirmed chylous drainage so he is on a full fat free diet now. I'm having a hard time with it because many of the good for you things we all eat are not fat free. The nutritionist will be back tomorrow so I'm hoping she can help me out with things to feed him because there don't seem to be many options on the hospital menu. </div><div>With the drainage the doc told us to expect at least a month stay, which I had planned on but hoped we would get the nice 2 week scenario the staff talks about. We always seem to take a permanent residence here. </div><div>Dr. Bradley came by and said Jack is draining a lot, which didn't surprise me because I've been keeping track of it as well. He also said it needs to taper off or they may have to do something. I know what that something is and it is not a good something. Just have to trust that whatever happens is for the best for Jack. </div><div>Another bit of not so thrilling news is that he will go into cath lab this week to have a PICC line put in. That requires full sedation and intubation. I guess it gets me upset because I requested he get one in pre-op and was told he didn't need it. Granted they didn't know how long we would be here or how badly he would drain but I should have demanded it. Always trust that parental instinct!!!</div><div>On a good note we were moved to a new room since we are always here for so long! It is huge and we have a great view of the city and the Ravenel Bridge! Another really good note- I have to say that my children have the greatest father in the world! He is so attentive and nurturing to our children. Asks the docs and nurses questions about Jack and his care. And he always checks on me. Luckiest girl right here!!</div><div>A picture of Jack before it all went south today!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtP_sTfxYC6auT-8Rw8g8rwg32oWkDUV0oyTwkECDedbNB1chIuEfl0A2N-vdXFTZDVNsNaWz3jFJbZmaw5zFUt0hZpJAlzmzy2eUUDrU4EjKtKa8z_OpgJCKawI1LOQIsTFJjm1Wo34Q/s640/blogger-image--1469800382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtP_sTfxYC6auT-8Rw8g8rwg32oWkDUV0oyTwkECDedbNB1chIuEfl0A2N-vdXFTZDVNsNaWz3jFJbZmaw5zFUt0hZpJAlzmzy2eUUDrU4EjKtKa8z_OpgJCKawI1LOQIsTFJjm1Wo34Q/s640/blogger-image--1469800382.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div>Melissa Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03317481028352781285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1225623474768909522.post-51481395603950410572014-08-10T00:12:00.001-07:002014-08-10T00:12:18.352-07:00UpdatesSo I'm behind again! I will start where I left off- we ended up leaving the PCICU before lunch time!!! I love short PCICU stays! Got to 8D and we were a very needy room and have continued to be. Most of the day was uneventful but he was uncomfortable from the adverse side effects of morphine. He looked like he had been in match with Mike Tyson! We started him on oral and IV benedryl which helped calm him. He also needed several dressing changes and so we got him mild sedation to keep him comfortable. The night was rough. Thrashing continued, agitation, shaking etc. there wasn't too much we could do for him. <div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPJnlMME7UKt0c4eMumUNWLkLdC_cS8FD5wTwW57aOBh14IJ1lf2YgYDNLJ__cWIPbJZ1F24NaxilTOjaTNtQ2B2HUREaVR_Ee5WcxnsZuKoeNKdYVtt_3huL8YDvKak_Vjv2ZDqn71E/s640/blogger-image-519305745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPJnlMME7UKt0c4eMumUNWLkLdC_cS8FD5wTwW57aOBh14IJ1lf2YgYDNLJ__cWIPbJZ1F24NaxilTOjaTNtQ2B2HUREaVR_Ee5WcxnsZuKoeNKdYVtt_3huL8YDvKak_Vjv2ZDqn71E/s640/blogger-image-519305745.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>That brings me to today. Throughout the night he had an exceptional amount of drainage, 1000mLs! For those of us not on the metrics, that's 4 and a 1/4 cups! In the morning he was comfortable at times and then had times of pain. We watched the same videos over and over. Jackson and I are pretty sick of Mickey and Oso but he loves it so whatever!! Fortunately there is an enormous video library here we can keep changing out when they are open. We got to spend a little bit of time with Hudson in the children's atrium and I think it did all three of us some good. All he wanted out of all the toys you can imagine to choose from was a bucket of balls! He is a ball player yet!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Q1H3ZA1CJNr2yZ0WGewGG8-uf8HaFF9Z0a3uQtSOEwOilYDCJTAOgSsO7JwMCs7zoUe92K1dTALwIrG8SV1X25etbgO5pL5rIZKzA2S9Q30irgC4nob3bcdvmufS-fWfvs1zgbYY-mY/s640/blogger-image-492823957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Q1H3ZA1CJNr2yZ0WGewGG8-uf8HaFF9Z0a3uQtSOEwOilYDCJTAOgSsO7JwMCs7zoUe92K1dTALwIrG8SV1X25etbgO5pL5rIZKzA2S9Q30irgC4nob3bcdvmufS-fWfvs1zgbYY-mY/s640/blogger-image-492823957.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL0qxXb4nJk8YnTOZuWrMTM0wbhONC1apXsiGbxl7Ro0zNHLduTCPC4MLRSo2D75jeSaesLVRuCz4CWfi2Ula9imeDS4CWj4N-6anaP5X2D0UEPorF4e_Qq0ISH3jrDYswWj4-xTwPYYY/s640/blogger-image--650542208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL0qxXb4nJk8YnTOZuWrMTM0wbhONC1apXsiGbxl7Ro0zNHLduTCPC4MLRSo2D75jeSaesLVRuCz4CWfi2Ula9imeDS4CWj4N-6anaP5X2D0UEPorF4e_Qq0ISH3jrDYswWj4-xTwPYYY/s640/blogger-image--650542208.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>He likes to come visit and gets so excited to see Jack. He is worried about him though. If Jack cries he cries. It's pretty sweet. When we got back to the room Jack had decided he wanted to eat. We let him have at it. He didn't eat much and unfortunately lost all of it! As soon as he lost it Dr. Bradley walked in. He decided to restart Jack on a Milrinone drip to help his heart squeeze more since there is so much drainage. </div><div><br></div><div>We got our first smile which was fabulous! </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY0mQlP9qxq3K1FCjsvZ2j4frq8OsuWl8wx96b0-NJb3BSkqQCm0R_mAxnQLPAbb4kveXl2Cv3ecwIEBgDlt1j9-gz3nrPZbp30Gj3nIpkv1tlMkjns5eWDd2Gzb2IrSXFzveIamMWMfQ/s640/blogger-image-1455554711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY0mQlP9qxq3K1FCjsvZ2j4frq8OsuWl8wx96b0-NJb3BSkqQCm0R_mAxnQLPAbb4kveXl2Cv3ecwIEBgDlt1j9-gz3nrPZbp30Gj3nIpkv1tlMkjns5eWDd2Gzb2IrSXFzveIamMWMfQ/s640/blogger-image-1455554711.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>He ate a decent about for dinner. Of course the nurse just came in and let me know he has chylous drainage. The levels were not too high but he also didn't eat much. They will probably make him eat a little more fat to see and then call it. That unfortunately means we are here for a while because there will be lots of drainage. Poor Jack. It's not like he hasn't been through enough. More to come!</div>Melissa Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03317481028352781285noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1225623474768909522.post-16872620463657794842014-08-08T15:06:00.001-07:002014-08-08T15:06:45.360-07:002 nights, 1 day and the start of a new daySo I'm already getting a little behind on blog updates. It's much harder with a toddler than a baby! Toddlers have bigger opinions!<div>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.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDj0ohLb4aL-yZl9j6yi1lLLspAjZd19-ihQPHddSGimNf_SV0B9VBxbbTP8QJQjxZuHi4oFo9inCCcFivbKTRSvdswjtysJKFAgIm-KbtBexfh0MMvnaYQDkTAIEYhFxNRVQCay3mRlw/s640/blogger-image--784538944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDj0ohLb4aL-yZl9j6yi1lLLspAjZd19-ihQPHddSGimNf_SV0B9VBxbbTP8QJQjxZuHi4oFo9inCCcFivbKTRSvdswjtysJKFAgIm-KbtBexfh0MMvnaYQDkTAIEYhFxNRVQCay3mRlw/s640/blogger-image--784538944.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7-qcze4dqzvhrV6xifBfXUC2-_wwlhkVf_PhdVChh1Sd_6WSNFuBoR0kSLMxjvishk2uKw9G5gt8ycHKqPxFM9MjhLGQeay3oN0a6nQaZ6_iVHQL2IxDPkxzcHy4HyWNyCNBizcUL51g/s640/blogger-image--1181318238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7-qcze4dqzvhrV6xifBfXUC2-_wwlhkVf_PhdVChh1Sd_6WSNFuBoR0kSLMxjvishk2uKw9G5gt8ycHKqPxFM9MjhLGQeay3oN0a6nQaZ6_iVHQL2IxDPkxzcHy4HyWNyCNBizcUL51g/s640/blogger-image--1181318238.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>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. </div><div>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. </div><div>Pitiful looking guy this morning. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPn2ryCykXMVqeQsJbEs_QGAAGNQv9qBR2to7Ke7k0WRxUfgihV9MXIcPPLGkrDt4XjerGBUXje6MAgHbVrkYMzyHzLLsKzs4OiOUU8DTTrGxoqpsFyUn5XfJDyVtQAx5ZBEZ-a20jxBM/s640/blogger-image--1420194321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPn2ryCykXMVqeQsJbEs_QGAAGNQv9qBR2to7Ke7k0WRxUfgihV9MXIcPPLGkrDt4XjerGBUXje6MAgHbVrkYMzyHzLLsKzs4OiOUU8DTTrGxoqpsFyUn5XfJDyVtQAx5ZBEZ-a20jxBM/s640/blogger-image--1420194321.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Melissa Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03317481028352781285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1225623474768909522.post-18972003479779679242014-08-06T18:16:00.001-07:002014-08-07T01:10:21.734-07:00Post OpThings have been moving much more quickly than they have with the past surgeries. Shortly after being admitted into recover Dr. Bradley wanted to wake him up! He was off sedation by 4 pm, and being restless and off the ventilator by 6 pm. He is loaded with IV lines, stickers, chest tubes and tape. Currently they have him on dopamine and milrinone both for heart function, which they are weening from the surgery; heparin and a slew of pain meds. The great news is that his vitals are AWESOME!!! It took a while but his blood pressure finally came up! Heart rate is normal as well as his breathing which has gotten much deeper. His venous pressures look great which is something we will be watching for a while. The best thing of all is that his oxygen stats are in the low 90s!!!! Yeah- nine zero!! He is so pink!! His lips, toes, fingers and eyes look so good! Crazy what a little oxygen will do for you!!<div>Tomorrow he will be more awake and can start drinking water. If he can hold that down they will allow him to start some food!! I can't even imagine the pain he is in or how hungry and thirsty he must be so I'm ready to get him anything he needs!! Hoping we can get to 8D (the step down unit) and his chest tubes drainage remains normal. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYO_S-_c-AZ8tqfZii-nvwDQTEedmkp2KPJZ6FHinu9pZCkBc4eKAX-9vHOuY9DiAyQGOEU87gi0JxqwAU3Qg6Z7ep0jh9JqANWgg-tdXATgy65xpK3QropSX1wAlADICrmZfVOPBcea8/s640/blogger-image--1107225849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYO_S-_c-AZ8tqfZii-nvwDQTEedmkp2KPJZ6FHinu9pZCkBc4eKAX-9vHOuY9DiAyQGOEU87gi0JxqwAU3Qg6Z7ep0jh9JqANWgg-tdXATgy65xpK3QropSX1wAlADICrmZfVOPBcea8/s640/blogger-image--1107225849.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjLuxU6AU0cTxZJvwZTSsNg4EeXuUBgKcyxjsBojnAC5URtBCPoPXAWgDJD06MCu4HlA4Q3t12WpxMScXxXdm-u68jqXRhNdRGkFbtQ9emiOl9FY55VjH8qV2vhyC6FF84UTLB9QMK1a0/s640/blogger-image--83741579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjLuxU6AU0cTxZJvwZTSsNg4EeXuUBgKcyxjsBojnAC5URtBCPoPXAWgDJD06MCu4HlA4Q3t12WpxMScXxXdm-u68jqXRhNdRGkFbtQ9emiOl9FY55VjH8qV2vhyC6FF84UTLB9QMK1a0/s640/blogger-image--83741579.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWujzDvCxH4HlkEFA5oCl7CTm3jEcDX3KULjuGYrTBS5TlRnhJJDLEy-FAk5uOe1cfIzN070VWD39jUazu7qSRB4x5ZX32WcDj4TmwbUbiVWB5eOSlVNKRilYFu8YhKS5yEJYQmTbkpxY/s640/blogger-image--1133400432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWujzDvCxH4HlkEFA5oCl7CTm3jEcDX3KULjuGYrTBS5TlRnhJJDLEy-FAk5uOe1cfIzN070VWD39jUazu7qSRB4x5ZX32WcDj4TmwbUbiVWB5eOSlVNKRilYFu8YhKS5yEJYQmTbkpxY/s640/blogger-image--1133400432.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Melissa Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03317481028352781285noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1225623474768909522.post-34975232794999582772014-08-06T10:38:00.001-07:002014-08-06T10:38:03.225-07:00In recoveryWe just talked to Dr. Bradley and Jack is in recovery!!! Dr. Bradley smiled as he talked to us, and y'all when this man smiles it is a BIG deal!!!! He said he was happy with the connections and his lung pressures!! I hugged him and thanked him and he giggled a little! We are waiting to see Jack now and should go in between 1:45-2 pm. <div>Thank you for all the prayers. Please pray for his continued recovery!! </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivHyimGpjeDZ8ngUH5vVd-CuznXDMsoNXij3uh7ly0ZsHiuoQqzyz3fTIQwNFv6xtue2p6tISpOFA7TeaQI1BfcmQ_ZRJKQ5AzWrWU9rkaw0ETtkKRO3sxelATuXWJExtq76m2CD4SwDU/s640/blogger-image--734006071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivHyimGpjeDZ8ngUH5vVd-CuznXDMsoNXij3uh7ly0ZsHiuoQqzyz3fTIQwNFv6xtue2p6tISpOFA7TeaQI1BfcmQ_ZRJKQ5AzWrWU9rkaw0ETtkKRO3sxelATuXWJExtq76m2CD4SwDU/s640/blogger-image--734006071.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Melissa Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03317481028352781285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1225623474768909522.post-64523979354765439012014-08-06T03:59:00.001-07:002014-08-06T03:59:31.499-07:00He's off to surgeryHe woke up this morning at 4am with lots of laughter as usual. He played while we got our things together and talked and laughed about the car ride. His joy helped Jackson and I but we couldn't help saying to one another "Poor guy doesn't know what's coming. "<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33gSgBcqfWiZuJHtkwK3tgkU1zlZhCZEsf2kQOMe_pywGVz6YeWEAlXs1vZZcicKFgPkTKmhU01ablipzIR6fVVds6ifLI4lpMrhM0EFoHxzGRM_2h794mxHpuTRRkN_oSXs6T2KPjmg/s640/blogger-image-795654696.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33gSgBcqfWiZuJHtkwK3tgkU1zlZhCZEsf2kQOMe_pywGVz6YeWEAlXs1vZZcicKFgPkTKmhU01ablipzIR6fVVds6ifLI4lpMrhM0EFoHxzGRM_2h794mxHpuTRRkN_oSXs6T2KPjmg/s640/blogger-image-795654696.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>We met the rest surgical team this morning. Jack was in really good spirits but after discussing pros and cons with the anesthesiologist we decided to give him some "happy juice" to help with any separation anxiety. </div><div>We are waiting now to get our pager which will give us updates throughout the day. We can't wait to get that sweet baby back into our arms again. Thanks again for all the prayers!!!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm9EfmUZoVdPzfz-r6qsxxNQqMbN9RE2O-nfshK8_uZTETkUdFrgnS4wKvZ4VfiyufVcA2VpSAohXznH5OrGh5KaMhJLMWMQF-iJkRnHkORNNBCGcsAA9RT4t12WEBC1sCqUgjfoFR1E0/s640/blogger-image--1859465172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm9EfmUZoVdPzfz-r6qsxxNQqMbN9RE2O-nfshK8_uZTETkUdFrgnS4wKvZ4VfiyufVcA2VpSAohXznH5OrGh5KaMhJLMWMQF-iJkRnHkORNNBCGcsAA9RT4t12WEBC1sCqUgjfoFR1E0/s640/blogger-image--1859465172.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Melissa Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03317481028352781285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1225623474768909522.post-30763411607145876742014-08-05T14:01:00.001-07:002014-08-05T14:01:04.434-07:00It's a goWell we have just finished our full day of Pre Op at the hospital. Everything went well and we got the go ahead for surgery tomorrow morning. We check in at 5:30am and meet with anesthesia, respiratory, surgical staff, etc. The surgery will take anywhere from 5-6 hours and we probably won't see him for another hour after he is done. The first 1-2 hours of surgery will be getting through the scar tissue and the procedure takes 4. The plan is to take him off the breathing tubes around dinner time and help him rest through the first night and following day. <div>Please pray that all goes well and his body is accepting of the new changes. We have some challenging days ahead with this sweet guy. Fortunately today he won over the staff loving on each one after his blood was taken, echo, EKG etc. I guess it definitely can't hurt!! Thank you for all the love, prayers and support so many of you have given our sweet boy!!!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKwpCekIWeQzdv7Q5Bh-mwWWgd9JKKHzTh0AhG6zADctSYTEw9sHN1SMMTwJfSRUBh4RtTI-b0cr0rt6w7c0WTD59NiGL2hsuhhheyTZM3cr-my_Ru2z7Yiqbjxtik1Dcg75MtVK1RzQ/s640/blogger-image-1060626053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKwpCekIWeQzdv7Q5Bh-mwWWgd9JKKHzTh0AhG6zADctSYTEw9sHN1SMMTwJfSRUBh4RtTI-b0cr0rt6w7c0WTD59NiGL2hsuhhheyTZM3cr-my_Ru2z7Yiqbjxtik1Dcg75MtVK1RzQ/s640/blogger-image-1060626053.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Qwhu5CKA5Cox4yp_0eE8dFX0pX9MhFObZ6pxHfbadIxuahA6OViu0Utj4frWDAJINd40QynUdXIaPOal9y0lBHzmHtvsUbuF23TJoLEgiiBShYjfgukHRiMWLWt7aDsaIdVEiIUJKqM/s640/blogger-image--742325866.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Qwhu5CKA5Cox4yp_0eE8dFX0pX9MhFObZ6pxHfbadIxuahA6OViu0Utj4frWDAJINd40QynUdXIaPOal9y0lBHzmHtvsUbuF23TJoLEgiiBShYjfgukHRiMWLWt7aDsaIdVEiIUJKqM/s640/blogger-image--742325866.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Melissa Babcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03317481028352781285noreply@blogger.com1