The doctors were glad we brought him in and immediately began breathing treatments with him. While chest x-rays didn't show anything of huge concern, the doctor on call was still wary of the situation, so we were admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at 6am that morning.
Throughout our stay a blood oxygen monitor was hooked up to Carter's toe. This shows the level of oxygen in his blood at any given time. 100% is optimal, and 90-100% is ok. When we got to the hospital, his level was 78%. The monitor has proven to be a slight challenge our entire stay, though. He pulled three off with his hands, and one off with the toes from his other foot. He also continued to be mystified by his "E.T. Toe" which was lit up bright red. In the end, the solution was to tape the monitor to his foot, tape the cord to his leg, put a sock over the monitor, and add another round of tape over all that. All to get around little McGyver Koenig. Whew!
The Pediatric Specialist began treating Carter for what he suspected was going on: bronchialitis or viral pneumonia. They hooked our poor little boy up to monitors of all different sorts and an IV to deliver both fluids (for dehyrdation) and an antibiotic. All day Monday and Monday night, the oxygen level in his blood was watched. He received breathing treatments every 3-4 hours, as well. He also had his nose suctioned every few hours - a really horrific experience every time. According to one nurse, "that'll suck your toe nails out through your nose if done right!"
The doctor explained to us that while Carter's condition wasn't really critical, he wanted to err on the side of caution with his age - hence the admittance to the PICU. He suggested that we would likely be moving to the regular Pediatric floor later in the day. We also received a visit from the hospital's Child Life Department who brought him toys and a soother with lights, sounds and lullabys for the side of his bed. What a relief that was!
Jackie stayed with him on Monday night. At one point three of the night nurses came in to suction him (one to suction, two to hold our fighter down) and they commented to each other, "oh he IS so cute!" Turns out, the PICU wasn't full so the nurses decided to keep him with them instead of sending us to a room on "the Floor" because he was so cute. Go Carter!
During one of his suctioning/fighting escapades, though, he managed to wiggle loose his IV. He went to sleep but then awoke a few minutes later where Jackie noticed that both his swaddle and his hand were bloody. Luckily, the nurses were just able to change his dressing and flush his IV - and we didn't have to endure a whole other IV insertion at 4am. Close call!
On Tuesday morning, the doctor authorized the removal of his monitors (save his oxygen monitor) and for a heparin lock to be placed on his IV. He was feeling good with how Carter had progressed, but still wasn't thrilled about his lack of appetite or thirst. Carter also got a sponge bath for which he was extremely happy.
Unfortunately, he wasn't happy enough to eat. We tried feeding him throughout the day but he had difficulty eating because of his stuffed nose and then cried after every sip of milk or Pedialyte because either his throat or ears hurt (we couldn't tell which). By 6pm on Tuesday Carter's hunger strike hadn't weakened so he had to go back on the IV (which had to be re-inserted) and we had to stay another night. This time we weren't so lucky with our room and at 3am early Wednesday morning we had to move (the PICU was now full and a new baby had come into the ER and needed the room). Jackie got to shake herself awake (after only an hour of sleep anyways), pack up all our stuff, trudge across the hospital to our new room, and get everything re-situated. Good times.
On Wednesday morning, the drill was repeated. Carter received 2 breathing treatments and was suctioned and then his IV was stopped. This time, Carter ate enough throughout the day to finally get us released!
We're now all at home resting much more comfortably. He'll have to stay on the antibiotics for his ears and his chest infection, and undergo at-home breathing treatments for a while, but we're still thrilled to be in familiar surroundings once again.
Thanks for all of your support as we endured this experience. We're lucky to have so many friends and family that love us.
Carter with the soother lent to us by the hospital.
In this pic you can see the IV on his right hand and the respiratory monitor wires underneath his gown.
Jackie's bed
The monitor we kept our eye on. The blue line was his blood oxygen level at 96%. The white and green lines showed heart rate and respiratory function but obviously weren't recording when I took the picture.
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