The Daily News

The good news is......there isn't much news to report! Rebekah had an eventful night, only because the doctors from cardiology and the doctors from pediatric surgery couldn't agree on a "safe" range for Rebekah's oxygen saturation levels. So for a while we were riding back and forth between going back on oxygen and staying off (just oxygen through a nasal cannula like she was on in the picture below, not back on the ventilator).

Rebekah on Tuesday morning after moving to the step-down unit.

So far, Rebekah has tolerated her feedings very well. As a matter of fact, when we met with Dr. Hebra, her g-tube surgeon, the two things he told us to most certainly expect were that Rebekah would not be eating by mouth for 3-4 weeks post-surgery and that she would not be able to burp. We have been "burping" her g-tube, which basically amounts to letting air out of her tummy. Rebekah has now had every feeding but one by mouth (and LOTS of milk at each feeding compared to what she had been eating before) and she has burped twice, once all on her own without me patting her back. So, no offense to anyone, but sometimes this little girl just has her own plans no matter what the doctors say! :)

Rebekah this morning in the step-down unit.

This just in......we are now packed and ready to leave!! Rebekah has been discharged and we should be home late this afternoon. We will be coming back in two weeks for a one-day clinic (like a doctor's appointment) for Dr. Hebra to check on Rebekah's Nissen and make sure all is going well.

Rebekah sends her love to you all!!

Nancy

Save the Date!

Day 2!

I am happy to announce that we are having an uneventful morning in the PCICU this morning! Rebekah was taken off the ventilator around 2:00 this morning, and although she has a nasal cannula with a little oxygen, she is breathing on her own today. We are listening to the familiar beep, beep, beep of the monitors in the PCICU.

The view outside the hotel we are staying at. It is a beautiful fall morning today.

Since Rebekah is in the PCICU, the doctors took the opportunity to do a few other tests as well. This is Rebekah during her EKG yesterday. She slept right through it! You can't see the g-tube due to all of the leads, but it is on her left side about at the level of her belly button. It is clear and kind of rubbery feeling (almost like a pacifier or bottle nipple) and has a 8-10" IV catheter through the center of it. She has not started using it yet, but as soon as we are moved to the step-down unit, they will begin giving her some clear Pedialyte through the g-tube.

Speaking of step-down units, we are moving there just as soon as they have a bed available. We must have come at a peak time because the PCICU was completely full yesterday (the most we had seen previously was all but one bed full) and the step down unit is completely full today. As soon as someone is discharged, we will be moved to 7C and if all goes well, we could be discharged as early as tomorrow!

Rebekah during EKG.

Sleeping beauty. :)

This is a sign that is posted in front of the parking lot at our hotel near two very large trees:

Hmmm.....draw your own conclusions.......

That's it from the PCICU this morning. We are hoping to move to step down soon and have a very quiet, uneventful day. Of course, we will post anything new that happens and try to get some more pictures a little later when Rebekah is awake!

Nancy

Recovery

I am sitting here with Rebekah. She is doing great. She has woken up and has been little alert. We have one more vent setting to drop down to then we should be able to be off the ventilator. We may be able to be off and go to step down later today. Over all she is doing much better then expected. We Praise the Lord for his protective care of Rebekah.

D

Post-Op!

It's 10:45 and Rebekah's surgeon just came in to speak with us. The surgery went perfectly, and Dr. Hebra was very pleased. He was able to place the g-tube and do the Nissen procedure all laparoscopically, so she did not have to have the large incisions that could have happened. She just has six small (1/2 inch or less) incisions that will heal fairly quickly.

Rebekah is still on the ventilator and will be until she fully wakes up from the anesthesia. Based on her previous experience under anesthesia, we are expecting that it will take a while, but we are thankful she is doing so well.

We should be able to go in and see Rebekah in about a half hour. We will post some pictures and another update later on today. Thank you all for your comments on facebook and prayers. Rebekah is one very loved little girl!

Nancy

If you think of it, please keep Zachary in your prayers today as well. He was heading to the doctor this morning for a possible ear infection and almost certainly a sinus infection. Pray that he is well before Rebekah comes home and that no one else comes down with his sniffles!