We had a busy day today. It was lots of training time for us with Brendan – meeting lots more new people, getting briefed on all of the resources that we will have available to us and when to use them.
I worked with the ostomy care nurse today and helped to change out Brendan’s bag. Unfortunately, she was not very prepared and made quite a mess of everything – leading to having to change his PICC line dressing and his entire bed and nest setup because of poop everywhere. I did learn everything I needed and in a way, her fumbling made me realize that I will do a better job of it at home and that even if I am not good at it, it can’t be as bad as all this was.
Brendan was pretty upset, but a little sucrose on his pacifier goes a long way to calm him down.
We both held him for a while and gave him a rest from all of the fussing and mess with the wires.
During his time with me, we moved the cannula off of his nose and he spent 35 minutes breathing entirely on his own. He still desats while crying and while too active, but they believe that he recovers quickly and may be able to get off of the oxygen before coming home. We would still have a tank and cannula to give him if things change.
Even though he will go home with a pulse-ox machine to keep track of how he is doing, visually his color and behavior will tell us more about his condition than the machine.
The pacer wires were finally removed today!! Look at all that skin showing!
The only thing left is that PICC line in his leg, and that will be removed just before leaving for home. Everything else that is attached is a monitor or sensor.
Trevor was pretty wiped out after a day at the hospital. But after his late evening feeding, he seems to always have a nice long stretch of awake time.
Here’s a baby in a baggie! Arms going fast!
This baby bag was a gift at my office shower, and at the time I thought it was HUGE. It sure did not take long for him to grow in to it, and his little toes are hanging out the bottom.
Doesn’t this pose look dramatic?
Clearly, that last pose is Trevor gettin’ his air guitar on! He’s even cultivated a pretty respectable guitar face. Let me guess: when he’s at home, you just run the “November Rain” video on a constant loop, right? Now, he just needs a wig and a top hat.
I continue to be encouraged both by the news and by the pics of Brendan. Even after these latest procedures, he still looks so much better than even a week ago. Very happy that he’ll be joining his brother at home. Congratulations!
” Doesn’t this pose look dramatic? ” ———-
” To pee, or not to pee, that, is the question——” 🙂 🙂
It will be so nice, when we’ll be looking for Brendan’s, ‘ next dramatic pose ‘, or watching Trevor and Brendan, copying each others poses, at home.
No better Christmas present than to have both boys home. I know they will be a lot of work, and Brendan will have all kinds of challenges. It is still wonderful that they will both spend their first Christmas at home with you guys – after all of the years, you have children for the holiday!
He looks like a Roman Senator appealing to the crowd of doctors trying to convince them to send his brother home! :O)
So sweet to see these pics and see how close you all are to being home together!! Brendon’s scar looks really good, too. Thanks for keeping us posted through your blog!!