Days 37 - 39

Day 37
Dear Berkley,
   Today, Dr. Buckley came and let us know that your incision is looking great. You are at 2lbs 13oz and holding strong.  Length is 14.25.  Your feeds are up to 23mL every 3 hours.  You did great during cares today and even had the heaviest diaper ever at 58! Overall a busy day, but uneventful.  I pray that you can rest more this week.  You have had a busy few weeks and need some sleep to help you grow!  You are moving in the right direction.

Day 38
Dear Berkley,
   Somedays I just ask why.  Today is one of those.  So much for uneventful days! Today was a DOOZY! We got a call in the middle of the night that you had spit up and was desating quite a bit. (Desating is when the saturation of oxygen in his blood goes below his parameters they have set.) You have never spit up before.  They believe maybe you had some aspiration. (Milk got into his lungs when he took a breath.) So they had a respiratory therapist doing some chest therapy at your 8am cares. With your desats, they want to try to break up any mucus you may have in your lung and help your right lung open back up.  It has collapsed from the air sacks being stuck together.  From what I understand, this could be from the mucus or from the milk aspiration.
  Mrs. Amanda had you today which we both loved.  She can always calm us both down and is great at explaining the information to Mom and Dad. Dr. Prada was here today as well. She ordered an xray on your lungs since your labs showed your carbon dioxide was high. Your tube placement was a little off so they moved your tube to 6.8.  (It has been at 7.5 since the beginning.) Your oxygen levels were the highest they have been at 50-55. I sat with you awhile trying to comfort you and to help with desats. You calmed down and got to about 46-48 and then the tech showed to give you an ultrasound that Dr. Buckley ordered. (More on that in a bit.) Shortly, after the ultrasound we found out you needed a blood transfusion. I am trying hard to leave this all at God's feet.  But I am so scared and worried.  You looked uncomfortable today. I felt overwhelmed and I know you had to be as well.  You were not a happy camper! Your vent settings - oxygen levels, rate, and pressure - all were higher throughout the day. Dr. Prada sat with us and explained a lot about what was happening with your lungs. They are going to order some more labs and a trachea culture to check for an infection or bacteria. I asked for special prayer request for you tonight.
  Back to Dr. Buckley.  He came in this morning and ordered an ultrasound because your leg looked more swollen than it did yesterday.  After reviewing the ultrasound, he is going to do surgery again tomorrow. He believes you have some more infection in your leg that has built up again toward the bottom of your femur. He will have to do a second incision. I know you are tired - tired of being poked, tired of IVs, and tired of surgeries.   You have had so many IVs lately, it's hard to find a vein now.  When they needed one to prep you for surgery - you had all sorts of attention from  Amanda, Beth K, Hannah M, and NPs Hannah and Emily to find a good vein. The day was super long. I pray this is all over soon for you. Even though you were exhausted, you peaked one little eye open tonight for us.  I know you are wore out. I wish I could take your place. I wish I could make it better.  Tomorrow will be better, sweet dreams.

Day 39
Dear Berkley,
  Another surgery has came and went.  We are so proud of you! You did so well! The surgery went very smooth. It took about an hour.  Dr. Buckley will be back to keep an eye on both incisions and your leg. He is a great doctor! This incision does not have a drain tube.  He packed gauze in the cut in order to soak up any infection that is left. You are resting well with your pain medicine.  Respiratory settings are still high at 45 rate and 26/9 pressure.  Hopefully we will know soon what is causing the new issue with your breathing.  They expect you to need blood later tonight and will do some more labs.
  Gammy brought us a mustard seed today.  Matthew 17:20 " I tell you the truth, if you had FAITH even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it would move.  Nothing would be impossible."  We can MOVE MOUNTAINS with faith, buddy!

Sleep sweet. Grow big. Be brave. I love you.