12/18

I tried to update this morning, but I typed out a long post, then lost it all!! I got so frustrated I just closed the computer down. I'll try again....

He had a good night last night. His heart rate was a little high and oxygen level was a little lower than it has been when we left at 10:00pm. They repositioned him in the bed (sitting up more and propped up on pillows) and that seemed to work. His blood work came back with a good hematocrit count this morning, so hopefully the transfusion did the trick. Still no fevers and minimal chest congestion so that is great news!! Still no poop, but they have given him some medicine called Miralax that should kick in any time.

Dr. Woolley came by around lunch time and said things looked really good. He would like to take him down to the OR Wednesday instead of Thursday to do the scope if he can get on the schedule. He doubts he will be able to, but he is going to try. He said Bryce should be all healed by then (but the scope will tell if he is not). The plan then (whether they do this Wed. or Thurs.) would be to put a smaller breathing tube in while he is doing the scope. Bryce would go back to the PICU and sometime later (hours-1day) they will extubate him (pull the breathing tube so Bryce will be breathing on his own). Bryce will have to be completely off the paralytic and the morphine and versed will need to be decreased before they can extubate him. When they turn off the paralytic they are giong to have to restrain Bryce's hands, arms and legs. They can't risk having him pulling the tube himself. This will be hard to deal with. After this happens there is a chance he would have to be intubated again (if he won't breathe on his own). There is also a chance he might go through withdrawals from the sedation medication he has been on. If that happens he will be put on ativan and methadone to wean him from the addiction.

We are headed up there again tonight at 8:00 so I'm hoping for no change, except for mabye news of a big poop!