Still in the PCICU

Rebekah was all set and ready to move up to the floor today, but she is going to spend one more night in the PCICU tonight.  She is doing very well and could have easily moved, but they are out of space!  :)  There was another patient on the floor that should have been discharged, but it didn't happen tonight.  Rebekah will move up as soon as the other patient is discharged in the morning.

I believe there was another reason that Rebekah was kept in the PCICU tonight, and it doesn't have anything to do with her.  Because of staying in the PC, I was able to meet another family whose baby had surgery today.  He was brought back to the bed space right beside Rebekah.  We sort of had a mutual friend-of-a-friend circumstance that led me to start talking with them.  Anyway, I would love for you all to remember baby Jackson in your prayers tonight.  He had a long day of surgery today, and I know the family would appreciate your prayers.  His caring bridge site is http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jacksonwyatt/journal.

Thank you all for praying!  We appreciate all of your prayers and encouragement!

Nancy

Post-OP Day 3

It's amazing how much a little (or a lot!) sleep can help!! Rebekah looked totally different this morning when we came in to see her.  She was alert, responding to our questions, and looked much, much more comfortable this morning.  Her nurse said that she had slept comfortably all night and had not woken up until around 9:00 this morning.  Rebekah was awake for about 2 hours before she fell asleep for a little nap.  Sleep makes such a big difference!

Rebekah's chest x-ray this morning was definitely showing improvement from yesterday.  She still has pockets of atelectasis, but overall her lungs are much better.  Her oxygen sats confirm that because she is at her baseline normal sats today.  Yesterday her sats were hovering in the upper 80's/low 90's.

With the good echo Rebekah had last night, and the improving chest x-ray from this morning, Dr. Zyblewski gave the okay to remove Rebekah's IJ (intra-jugular) and arterial lines.  Those came out around 1:00 this afternoon, with only minimal bleeding.  So Rebekah is not on any more IV medications!! :)  She does have an IV in each foot just in case she needs some IV meds for some reason, but they are not being used right now.

Rebekah's feeds went much better overnight as well.  It looks like her belly is starting to wake up from the anesthesia, and the nurses were able to work Rebekah up to 15ml's/hour of Pedialyte overnight.  Tonight we are going to try running Pediasure (Rebekah's regular formula) beginning at 15ml's/hour and see how she does.  Hopefully her belly will tolerate the feeds with no nausea.

She is really doing so much better today.  She is actually playing peek-a-boo and smiling with Drew.  Yesterday she could barely move or open her eyes without whimpering.  The change is just amazing.

And the best news of the day is that Rebekah is moving to the floor!!!!  She has met all of the requirements to be kicked out of PCICU, and as soon as her room is ready she will be moving to 8D.  We are excited!! :)

Nancy