Zac was discharged from the hospital yesterday afternoon.
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
Sunday, October 16, 2016
Bye Bye PICU!
Zac spent Thursday and Friday in the PICU being weaning off his sedation medications. By 3:00 pm on Friday he was weaned off the last one and then he made the move back to the 7th floor on Friday night.
Zac on Friday after the pump for the last sedation medication was turned off.
Zane ready for bed.
Saturday morning smiles from Zac.
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Vent free
Today around 2:00 Zac had his breathing tube removed. He is doing great and his lungs sound good. We are still in the PICU. They won't transfer him to his regular floor until he is weaned off of his sedation medications, this could take a day or two.
Thank you for all the prayers and well wishes.
Thank you for all the prayers and well wishes.
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
Yesterday and Today
Yesterday I took Zane back to the hospital for labs. They wanted to make sure he didn't need platelets or a blood transfusion. He surprised everybody with his counts. His ANC was over 800 and everything else looked "perfect.' He could have started Maintenance today but they decided to give him a week off and he will start on the 18th.
I also had them take a look at his left foot. He would not put any weight on it in the morning and he told me it was broken. He was quite happy to have "pictures" of his foot taken. Thankfully no broken bones.
After I got Zane home and settled in I went back to the hospital so Bob could come home and rest. He's been staying with Zac at night this whole time and he needed a break. I hung out with Zac who had a few awake times where he would focus on me. He had a great night and didn't need any extra sedation.
Today is Zac's seventh day in the PICU. I don't think I ever mentioned it but he has pneumonia. His lungs are healing and today they made a plan to start weaning him off the vent and the sedation medications. He should be off the vent in 24 to 48 hours.
I got to love on Denver and now I want another golden retriever. His handler, Joel, brought a whole bunch of projects for Zoe to work on while she visited with Zac. She spent a few hours with Zac today and she can't wait for him to move back on the seventh floor. (It's where her favorite playroom is located.)
I also had them take a look at his left foot. He would not put any weight on it in the morning and he told me it was broken. He was quite happy to have "pictures" of his foot taken. Thankfully no broken bones.
After I got Zane home and settled in I went back to the hospital so Bob could come home and rest. He's been staying with Zac at night this whole time and he needed a break. I hung out with Zac who had a few awake times where he would focus on me. He had a great night and didn't need any extra sedation.
Today is Zac's seventh day in the PICU. I don't think I ever mentioned it but he has pneumonia. His lungs are healing and today they made a plan to start weaning him off the vent and the sedation medications. He should be off the vent in 24 to 48 hours.
I got to love on Denver and now I want another golden retriever. His handler, Joel, brought a whole bunch of projects for Zoe to work on while she visited with Zac. She spent a few hours with Zac today and she can't wait for him to move back on the seventh floor. (It's where her favorite playroom is located.)
Zane looking at his X-ray
The view from Zac's floor.
Zane making muffins.
Saturday, October 8, 2016
The past couple of days
The past couple of days have been a blur.
Wednesday
While everything was going on with Zac, Zane was wide awake. Thankfully his nurse Jon told us he would watch Zane and for us to focus on Zac. The decision to intubate Zac didn't come until 6:00 am. Bob and I headed downstairs to be with Zane while they did that. Jon told us Zane didn't fall asleep until 4:30. He also put a do not disturb sign on the door so we could get some sleep. Bob headed upstairs to be with Zac while Zane and I slept.
After a few hours of sleep I went upstairs to see Zac. It was a shock to see him with tubes and wires everywhere but we know it's the best thing for him right now. When I got back down to Zane's floor the parent host told me she was going to watch Zane and I was going to go home for a little while. I didn't want to leave but I knew I needed a little break. On my little break my mom, Zoe, and I ran toTarget to get pizza making supplies for Zane.
Once I got back to the hospital Bob and I took turns with the boys.
Thursday
We found out Zane had an ANC level of 100 and they started making plans for him to be discharged on Friday. Zac still had an ANC level of zero but his other numbers were starting to increase. Zac needed a little more sedation since he kept trying to rip out his breathing tube.
My mom and Zoe came up to the hospital and Bob went home for a few hours. Zoe had a blast playing in the playroom and I asked the Child Life team to do some role playing to prep her in case she wanted to see Zac. On Zane's floor they had a pizza and ice cream party. Zane walked in and saw nothing but Dominos pizza. He wasn't to happy about that since his current favorite pizza is Papa Johns. He left the Dominos rep know he wasn't pleased. He was happy once he saw the ice cream and toppings from Culver's.
After eating their food, Zoe was ready to see Zac. The Child Life Specialist came upstairs with us and she also let Zoe pick ou a beanie baby to give to Zac. She did pretty good seeing Zac and was able to explain to us that he has a tube in his throat that is giving him special air to help get the bad guys out of his lungs.
Zac had a rough evening and needed a little more help with his settings. They did tell us it would get a little worse once his ANC levels start to rise. He had a breathing treatment and they changed some of his sedation medications.
Friday
Zane's ANC level was 300 and he was discharged from the hospital. Zac's ANC level was a whopping 1100!! Now his body can start helping fight his infections. Zac spent the day resting while we packed up Zane's room. By late afternoon Zane and I were on our way home. When we got home the first thing Zane wanted to do was bake a cake. Zoe was glad to have one of her boys back. She told me she can't wait for Zac to get home so we can be a family again.
Saturday (today)
Zac's ANC level is 2100. Today is a day of rest for him. They lowered his vent setting this morning and they do not plan to lower anything until tomorrow.
Some pictures from the past week:
Wednesday
While everything was going on with Zac, Zane was wide awake. Thankfully his nurse Jon told us he would watch Zane and for us to focus on Zac. The decision to intubate Zac didn't come until 6:00 am. Bob and I headed downstairs to be with Zane while they did that. Jon told us Zane didn't fall asleep until 4:30. He also put a do not disturb sign on the door so we could get some sleep. Bob headed upstairs to be with Zac while Zane and I slept.
After a few hours of sleep I went upstairs to see Zac. It was a shock to see him with tubes and wires everywhere but we know it's the best thing for him right now. When I got back down to Zane's floor the parent host told me she was going to watch Zane and I was going to go home for a little while. I didn't want to leave but I knew I needed a little break. On my little break my mom, Zoe, and I ran toTarget to get pizza making supplies for Zane.
Once I got back to the hospital Bob and I took turns with the boys.
Thursday
We found out Zane had an ANC level of 100 and they started making plans for him to be discharged on Friday. Zac still had an ANC level of zero but his other numbers were starting to increase. Zac needed a little more sedation since he kept trying to rip out his breathing tube.
My mom and Zoe came up to the hospital and Bob went home for a few hours. Zoe had a blast playing in the playroom and I asked the Child Life team to do some role playing to prep her in case she wanted to see Zac. On Zane's floor they had a pizza and ice cream party. Zane walked in and saw nothing but Dominos pizza. He wasn't to happy about that since his current favorite pizza is Papa Johns. He left the Dominos rep know he wasn't pleased. He was happy once he saw the ice cream and toppings from Culver's.
After eating their food, Zoe was ready to see Zac. The Child Life Specialist came upstairs with us and she also let Zoe pick ou a beanie baby to give to Zac. She did pretty good seeing Zac and was able to explain to us that he has a tube in his throat that is giving him special air to help get the bad guys out of his lungs.
Zac had a rough evening and needed a little more help with his settings. They did tell us it would get a little worse once his ANC levels start to rise. He had a breathing treatment and they changed some of his sedation medications.
Friday
Zane's ANC level was 300 and he was discharged from the hospital. Zac's ANC level was a whopping 1100!! Now his body can start helping fight his infections. Zac spent the day resting while we packed up Zane's room. By late afternoon Zane and I were on our way home. When we got home the first thing Zane wanted to do was bake a cake. Zoe was glad to have one of her boys back. She told me she can't wait for Zac to get home so we can be a family again.
Saturday (today)
Zac's ANC level is 2100. Today is a day of rest for him. They lowered his vent setting this morning and they do not plan to lower anything until tomorrow.
Some pictures from the past week:
Zane with the pizza he made in the hospital.
Zoe with her pumpkin
Decisions, decisions!
You looking at me.
Zac after his bronchoscopy
Taking a walk.
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
PICU
Overnight Zac starting having difficulties breathing. His little body was working so hard so the PICU team was called and he is now in the PICU. In the PICU they tried to help him with his breathing before doing a intubation tube. He kept struggling with his breathing, his heart rate and respiration rate were high so the decision was made to intubate him and allow his body to rest.
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
The Roller Coaster Ride Continues
Zac spent yesterday fighting fevers and napping. We also found out he will be NPO for 7 days and he will be having daily abdominal X-rays. Infectious disease was also brought on to help the team determine the type of infection and how to treat it. Respiratory was also brought on to help him with his breathing.
He had a rough night and then this morning his pulse ox dropped into the 80's. He was coughing so much he couldn't catch his breath. The rapid response team was called and we had a ton of doctors in the room. The PICU team came down to evaluate him and so did pulmonary. They decided to do a bronchoscopy and they told us after the procedure he would most likely go to the PICU. In the OR, where they did his procedure, he had another breathing and coughing episode. After he stabilized they took him back. While he was back there they also did an echo just to take a look at how his heart is handling all of this.
We got the page to go to recovery and found out he didn't need to go to the PICU. We were pleasantly surprised and grateful. He is currently resting and getting oxygen while the anesthesia drugs wear off.
Zane is still waiting for his counts to recover. They have started switching his meds from IV to oral in preparation of him going home. Both boys still have zero ANC levels.
He had a rough night and then this morning his pulse ox dropped into the 80's. He was coughing so much he couldn't catch his breath. The rapid response team was called and we had a ton of doctors in the room. The PICU team came down to evaluate him and so did pulmonary. They decided to do a bronchoscopy and they told us after the procedure he would most likely go to the PICU. In the OR, where they did his procedure, he had another breathing and coughing episode. After he stabilized they took him back. While he was back there they also did an echo just to take a look at how his heart is handling all of this.
We got the page to go to recovery and found out he didn't need to go to the PICU. We were pleasantly surprised and grateful. He is currently resting and getting oxygen while the anesthesia drugs wear off.
Zane is still waiting for his counts to recover. They have started switching his meds from IV to oral in preparation of him going home. Both boys still have zero ANC levels.
Sunday, October 2, 2016
Weekend Update
Zane has had a good weekend. He's been fever free and his appetite is starting to return. He is now just waiting for his counts to recover so he can come home.
Zac spent Saturday morning sleeping but when he woke up he was in pain again. His doctor happened to be walking by his room. He came in and ordered a scan. That scan revealed infections in his lungs and bowels. They have started another antibiotic and have started giving him a low dose of morphine to help with the pain. He is also NPO (nothing by mouth). This is to give his bowels a rest. He is still having fevers but they are getting further and further apart.
Today Bob and I were able to spend some time with Zoe. She has been such a trooper.
While I was at home I was able to upload some pictures of the past week to the blog.
Zac spent Saturday morning sleeping but when he woke up he was in pain again. His doctor happened to be walking by his room. He came in and ordered a scan. That scan revealed infections in his lungs and bowels. They have started another antibiotic and have started giving him a low dose of morphine to help with the pain. He is also NPO (nothing by mouth). This is to give his bowels a rest. He is still having fevers but they are getting further and further apart.
Today Bob and I were able to spend some time with Zoe. She has been such a trooper.
While I was at home I was able to upload some pictures of the past week to the blog.
Zac a week ago in the ER.
Zane with his Papa John's pizza
Zac sleeping
Zane decorating his cupcake.
Zac and mommy this morning.
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