So Happy Together

Well, everyone except Gantt I guess! LOL. He just wanted to get down and play. We are still so happy that Brett is home after just 3 days in the hospital. We couldn't believe it. It helps that I do have the pulse oximeter at home and I'm set up for oxygen therapy if he begins to need it. Even the IV schedule is much less demanding as last time - just 3 doses, 7 am, 3pm, and 11pm, with flushes 30 minutes afterward. We're trying to get back in the swing of things now - the daily routine of life.

A Pleasant Surprise

We brought Gantt to visit Brett yesterday, as we "switched-off" for home duty and hospital duty. The docs had mentioned he might go home Wednesday, but by the time I got home, as I was turning in the driveway, they called to say he could go home that day! So I turned around and went back to help get everything together to come home.  They were so cute playing together, though.

It turns out the Brett has rhinovirus - the common cold. In Brett this caused some pneumonia and inflammation in his lungs. I think the doctors were more comfortable sending us home finally knowing a diagnosis, combined with the fact that he was able to completely come off the oxygen before discharge. We'll have 3 weeks of IV antibiotics (3 doses per day), but all can be done at home. We are so happy!

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs caused by an infection. Many different organisms can cause it, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Pneumonia is a common illness that affects millions of people each year in the United States. The symptoms of pneumonia range from very mild to very severe, even fatal. The severity depends on the type of organism causing pneumonia as well as the age and underlying health of the individual.

Not a bad day today. Brett is feeling better, but still coughing a lot and requiring oxygen. The nasal swab viral panels have not come back yet. The blood cultures are still negative for bacteria growth, so that is major good news!! 

Sunday Night Update

The initial report based on the interpretation of the chest x-rays is that Brett a spot on his lungs that looks like a pneumonia.  He is being treated with two IV antibiotics now, and his mood is much improved . The great thing is that he is physically able to sit up and stand up, which really helps keep the infection from settling in further. 

His blood cultures are negative for bacteria growth as of now, so hopefully we'll know more about those results in the morning. He also had a nasal swab taken last night to run a viral panel. As usual, until the viral panel is proven to be negative, we are on contact precautions and droplet precautions. That means the yellow gowns and the masks all the time. Yuck. His oxygen was increased to a half liter per minute overnight because he was working hard to breathe while sleeping.

His cough has increased in frequency and intensity. Lots of raspy, wet coughs. But they tell me that is good - that he is coughing the congestion up and moving it around. He breathes a lot better in an upright position, so whenever he's not sleeping I have him sitting up or standing in his exersaucer.

The good news is that the hospital has lifted the restrictions on children under 12 visiting! So Brett's brothers will be able to come up and hang out in his room. Although I certainly understand the need for children to stay away in the wintertime - and agree with it for the sake of my own sick child - it was one of the most difficult issues we had during each hospitalization since October. Another tidbit of info - Brett and Gantt are 13 months old today! I am all prepared for the marathon hospital stay, and Rob is prepared for the marathon home-alone-with-the-kids marathon. Our babysitter will still be working most days, though, so that will help him out some.  

We have a trip planned for the weekend to celebrate Mark's birthday (May 19), and it looks like Brett and I may not be able to go. Unfortunately, this has become a way of life for us, and we've got sort of a system for it.  And of course we are thankful that Brett does have time he can spend at home. I know a lot of families whose children are suffering with illness and have to be in the hospital for a lot longer time than we do. I hope this will turn out to be our regular 7-10 day stay.

Got a Room

We got to a room about 10pm tonight. By that time Brett was beginning to feel better. We got assigned to the 6th floor for the first time since all the beds on the 5th were taken. (the pulmonary service works on the 5th floor.) Our docs will come up to see us, but we might request a transfer. I don't know, though, because when we got in the room we noticed it had a DOUBLE pullout bed. We are used to only having a twin size pullout!!
So for now Brett is started on IV antibiotics-a general one until the cultures come back specific for any particular bacteria. In that case, it may be changed or something else added to it. He ought to sleep like a rock tonight since he's been awake for so long. I'll post more tomorrow evening.