Elijah got the tube out today! We were so surprised because before they took him down we were told by several different people that they didn't expect to be able to extubate him yet. So we were still hoping and praying, but were prepared for him to come back up with the tube still in. But then one of the respiratory therapists came in and told us that they extubated him! They brought him back up and he was looking so great without all those tubes sticking in him! They put a mask on him that's giving him a helium/oxygen combination, but he is taking breaths all on his own and doing great! He is still very sick and still sounds very congested, but he can breathe! Praise the Lord!
So they expect to leave him on the helium/oxygen mix overnight at least. Then I asked when he would get the mask off and the nurse wasn't sure...
OK, I get distracted easily and left this post and since I stopped writing several things have happened! They took his mask off completely already tonight! His oxygen level has remained great and the doctor said he really doesn't need the mask on, so praise the Lord! We did have another little scare with his heart rate, it dropped down to 48 at one point, which is significantly low. And it had been in the 50's and 60's most of the evening, whereas it was around 120 just a couple days ago. So the doctors came in to look again and decided to run another EKG. I don't remember exactly what they said about it, but there was a small problem on the EKG, but both the doctors up here and the cardiologist both said that it was due to his breathing issues, so no worry there! The doctors are all guessing that the low heart rate is attributed to his drugs, he did get 3 at one time around 5pm and it was shortly after that that his heart rate started getting really low.
So they are going to watch him closely tonight and they have dropped one of his drugs completely (one that is known to lower heart rates) and are starting to taper the other ones again. But already since the scare he has woken up and his heart has picked up a little so it looks like the drugs are wearing off and he is doing ok.
So the best news of the evening is... I got to hold my baby! It has been 15 days since I held him last and I have just been aching to have him in my arms! So I sat in the recliner by the crib and the nurse handed him to me (he was sleeping at the time) and he just snuggled right into me and started waking up a little. Then he was just smiling, totally randomly, it was the cutest thing! He was just laying there, very peaceful, smiling at his mommy... We did get pictures which I will put up as soon as I can get them on our computer. While I was holding him he really woke up and was starting to point at stuff and tried to talk a little (his voice is very raspy), and even tried to get up and move around. That kid is ready to go! Daddy got to hold him too of course and we got some pictures of that as well. It was so amazing to hold our baby again!
Well that's all for tonight. All in all, it was a fantastic day today! Your prayers are definitely working! Now please pray that he continues to get better and doesn't take any backward steps. Also, please continue to pray for some answers. We didn't learn anything new today from the ENT guys, so we are still at a loss for what could have caused all of this. So keep the prayers coming, you all have been so amazing through all of this. We can never express how incredibly grateful we are. We love you all so much! Thank you!
Praise God!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteKatie