Hospitalization #9 - Day 6

Going home today! This is the difference some IV fluids and antibiotics along with an infusion of IgG can do for Brett. The first pic was taken on day 1 and the second was last night, day 5. He's all ready to come home and be with his family again. MidCarolina will be delivering his medications to the house so we can keep his IV schedule going like clockwork. More updates on Brett's progress soon.

Hospitalization #9 - Day 5

Brett gets chest PT by his favorite tech, Janay

We're in the last stages of this hospital visit - gearing up to go home tomorrow! Not sure how long Brett will be on IV antibiotics at home, but it will probably be another week or two. Not a fun thing to do, but much preferable to staying here for the duration of the antibiotics. He's feeling much better, although a little crazy because of the steroids he's taking. Look forward to reporting good news tomorrow. 

Hospitalization #9 - Day 4

Today Mark and Gantt and I visited Brett and GG at the hospital. We spent 2 hours visiting and playing...and eating. Mark loves "hospital pizza." As you can see from his smile and his color, Brett is feeling much better. Seeing his brothers perked him up a lot, too.

Playing in the crib together

Getting tickled by Mark

Gantt eating spinach ravioli

Brett eating sweet potato puffs

Mark...always a Jedi

Hospitalization #9 - Day 3

Reinforcements have arrived!!! GG made it in today from Atlanta and took over for Rob at the hospital so we will be able to be at home together for a day or two. We're so grateful to her for coming to help out whenever we need it, and grateful that my dad is gracious about being without her for the week so she can be here.

Not much to report today. Brett is just getting the IV antibiotics and we're waiting out the weekend. He is not feeling much better yet. He's distressed about being here - we can tell because he wants to be held constantly and he cries when we even go out of the room for a second. Whenever the door opens he starts to cry because he is just so tired of being messed with. I can certainly understand how he must feel, and why he just wants mommy or daddy or GG to hold him. He did feel well enough to do a little playing in the bed today. We don't have any toys there right now, so he improvised a little with a wisk and a bowl. It's not a terribly exciting video, but cute nonetheless.

Hospitalization #9 - Day 2

Today was uneventful except for the good news that the team was able to get a PICC (peripherally inserted central catheter) in Brett's arm. As I said yesterday, this is preferable to a Broviac because there is a smaller risk of infection, and it can removed at home by a nurse when his treatment is completed instead of having to get it removed surgically. This is a big deal because it was thought he might be too small to get one. It's Brett's first PICC - he's had 3 Broviacs before this.

This also means that we didn't have to wait until Monday to get this line in, meaning our stay will likely be a good bit shorter. Now that he has been on his IV antibiotics (Tobramycin and Cefepime, in case you're wondering), they will have to draw blood at certain hours after infusion to "check the levels" - that the dosage of medicine is in fact the correct dosage for his bodyweight. Too little and it won't be effective, too much and it could result in hearing loss. Since he's been on these antibiotics 2 or 3 other times, they have a good idea already of where to start. If the levels are perfect the first time, we may be able to get him home early next week. If they are not, it usually means waiting another 36 hours to try again....

Praying we'll be able to bring him home sooner rather than later!

Hospitalization #9 - Day 1

Back in the hospital again because Brett just hasn't been improving. His cough has worsened and his breathing still remains labored. Talked to the doctor the last couple of days about whether to come in, and last night decided that he should come in today. Everyone agreed that he needed fluids and IV antibiotics. They saw us in clinic and we got another x-ray, which does show even more improvement than last Friday's, which is encouraging. We got an IV placed in clinic, got a separate blood draw for various tests, and started the fluids. While we waited for a room, Brett slept on my chest for about 2 hours. He was feeling a good bit better after the nap and the fluids. We got a room about 4:00 and made it through all the admit procedures. I've unpacked and finally had something to eat, but then his IV came out. So we're wanting to get settled in for the night, but I know they are coming to put another one in sometime tonight.

The PICC team is going to look at him and see if they think they can place a PICC. I really hope they will look at and maybe do it tomorrow, because if we got a more permanent line placed, he could go home early next week probably. If they don't do it tomorrow, it won't get done until Monday. The PICC is preferable to another Broviac because there is less of a risk of infection, and it can be removed by a home health nurse when we are finished with it - it does not require another surgical procedure for removal.