Day 3 in the PICU. This morning was hard for me. It was really the first time since sending him off for surgery that I cried and cried and cried. I think it’s mostly related to fatigue , but also to seeing him so controlled by machines and medicine. He’s still on the ventilator, though they are slowly, slowly starting to wean him off. He’s currently on about eight different medications and drips to give him nourishment, hydrate him, sedate him and help control his heart rhythms. He’s also on a diuretic called Lasix to help draw out some of the fluid he’s retaining in his abdomen and lungs.

I’m impatiently waiting to get it all out of him so I can hold him again, but I know that slow and steady wins the race. Every day his stats look better and better. And, I know that no good will come from rushing this process … still … it’s hard.

Dr. Ceithaml says they are primarily looking to draw some of the fluid in his lungs before they take him off the ventilator. His lungs are still quite wet, so even though he can draw breaths on his own, the heaviness will make it harder to breath, thus putting more strain on his heart. Every doctor and nurse who have been in so far seem really happy about his progress and his prognosis so we just have to wait a bit longer to see him through the thick of it.

Here’s a view of our boy in his PICU room. No close ups until he’s extubated and has some other lines taken out. Rest assured that he looks very calm and peaceful. He’s getting lots of good rest and coloring is much better post surgery than before.

I probably won’t post again until we go over to the step down recovery. I’m looking forward to that day (and of course getting him home) more than I can express.

In the mean time, I am thankful to all who have taken time out of their busy schedules to visit us. Thank you Charlotte Grubbs, for being an amazing Godmother and for loaning me your beautiful Bible. It’s come in handy, especially on mornings like I had today (see verse below). Thank you Cindy Grubbs, Great-Godmother, for providing spiritual support and comedic relief:) Thanks also to my grandparents for coming all the way from Tennessee to stay with us through his surgery, to Donnie, for being such a positive, encouraging presence, to Lida for being you, for the Community Peds Care Team and of course to EVERYONE at Trinity Lutheran Church, who never fail with their love and prayers … And of course, we continue to thank everyone near and far, who read this blog and who pray for our family. It is such a tremendous help having so much support all around us.

“They they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and He saveth them out of their distresses. He sent his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction. Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men.” – Psalm 107: 19 – 21