Our Sick Little Guy

I think the best way to illustrate our last 2 weeks is through my emails. They showed the emotion and the details.

Sent Tuesday, March 8th:

We're needing some prayers. Blake has RSV. We are in the PICU at Arkansas Children's Hospital. They intubated him last night. Now we are just waiting. Jason's mom flew in late last night and is staying with the girls. What we really need are prayers. Pray that Blake will respond well to the vent and that his little body will heal. The doctor estimated that he may be on the vent for a week. Please pray for me too. I didn't know I had this many tears. Just when I think I have it under control, I lose it again. It's hard to see your little one like this.

Sent Friday, March 11th (morning):

Thank you all so much for all the prayers. We are definitely feeling them, and he is definitely improving. Yesterday:

• they removed the catheter - yea!
• he peed on his own - yea!
• he had his first poops since monday - yea!
• they lowered his morphine - yea!
• then he started squirming and messing with his tubes, so they put him in wrist restraints - boo!
• they lowered the pressure on his lungs - yea!
• his lungs are sounding better - yea!

So, overall it was definitely a good day. Our night nurse last night was the same one we had our first night (Monday). And, she kept going on about how much better he looked and sounded since then.

The doctor just came in and they are planning to get him off the vent this afternoon - YEA!!!!! They are stopping his feedings and lowering the morphine right now. This is such a huge praise. From the beginning, we were told that the average for rsv babies on the vent is one week, and we have only been on for 3 1/2 days. Half of that! I know that is due to our awesome God! He is answering all those prayers. Thank you all so much!

I'll let you all know when he's off and I get to hold him again.

Sent Friday, March 11th (evening):

Blake was extubated at 4:50 this afternoon. He's doing great!!! I got to hold him and loved every minute of it. His Daddy is holding him now.

We should be here in the PICU for one more night, then onto the floor in a regular room tomorrow. Hopefully home by Sunday or Monday.

Thanks again for all the prayers! We serve an awesome God!

Sent Saturday, March 12th:

He is off the oxygen and breathing great on his own. They will be moving us out of PICU soon.

New prayer request - that Blake will nurse. So far, he just screams or falls asleep. We can't go home till he remembers how to do it. They are giving us one more try before they start the milk in the feeding tube again - which will just delay getting home.

God is good. He can do this!

Sent Monday, March 14th:

We're still at ACH. Blake is doing great. He is off of everything but the feeding tube. Poor guy is having trouble nursing. He does great for about 10 minutes, then he gets choked - which can lead to aspirating and pneumonia. They tried several bottles, but he can't seem to figure out how to suck on them. We can't leave till he is nursing or taking the bottle well. Keep praying that he will be able to eat on his own.

Sent Tuesday night, March 15th(after 9 days in the hospital):

We're home!! Praise the Lord!!!! Blake nursed several times today and did a great job, so they took out the feeding tube and let us come home. It is so nice to be back with my whole family under one roof. Thank you all so much for praying for the little guy.

Taken shortly after his feeding tube was finally removed from his nose - A happy tubefree baby!