Friday, February 06, 2009

Roller Coaster!

I feel like we have been on a wild, crazy, and stressful roller coaster this week! I knew that we were to expect this but not really a ride that I love to be on:-) Just kidding! We are so very thankful for the progress that Reed has made and all that he has fought through. He is definitely a little fighter. I have to remind myself that it has only been 2 and a half weeks since his heart transplant and that he is doing outstanding considering all that the little guy has been through. Let me catch you up:
1) Tuesday was when he had the fluid build up aroung his left lung so they sent him to the 5th floor and they inserted a tube to drain it off.
2) Wednesday he was looking and feeling much better. They moved him back up to the 6th floor that afternoon with the tube still in place. He lost some weight since he had so much fluid drained off of him. I think he was about 8lbs. 13 oz that night. That night, Ryan was with him and Ryan called me to tell me that Reed's heart rate went to 75 and stayed there for about 5 minutes. They did an EKG and everything looked fine. I worried all night about Reed because when we checked on him in the middle of the night, his heart had done that a couple other times.
3) Thursday morning, Ryan got to the hospital and Reed's heart went really high to about 175. Remember that his normal range is from 120-140's. Thursdays are echo days anyways so the doctor did an echo on his heart and it looked as it always does, great! The doctors discussed everything and believe that this is all due to draining off excess fluid which then caused his electrolytes to be out of whack! If you don't know, your electrolytes have a direct effect on the heart and its function. Can you see why I was a little stressed?!?
4) Thursday night, Dr. Dodd and Dr. Fish both reviewed his heart rates from the previous days and believe that this is all normal and not anything to be overly concerned about! Yea!!! They did give him a dose of steriods, precautionary, to make sure that this was not a mild case of rejection.
5) Friday, I got to hold Reed all morning and he was looking great! They have not resumed his feedings because they are getting his fluid levels back in check. Please pray that Reed will do well with his feedings and keep them down when they start them back. Thanks to Reed's care partner, Mrs. Dana, for giving him the best little baths. Mrs. Dana just loves all over Reed when she is there. She even spent time rocking him this morning before we got there. She cleans every little crevice of his body....I am learning what terrible baths that I have been giving Braden!
Mrs. Dana calls this his beauty parlor look!!!
I have to give a special thank you to the Larry and Connie Evans family for these precious sweaters. I absolutely love them! I cannot wait for Reed and Braden to wear these next winter. They are going to be little pimps with these sweater on! Isn't the monogram so cute with the W in the background. Mr. Larry and Mrs. Connie, we miss you guys being in Nashville and cannot wait for you to meet Reed and Braden when you come visit. Thank you!!!!

Thanks Mandi for letting us borrow this playmat. Braden loves playing on this! I think our boys are going to be Polo boys just like their dad! Thank goodness TJ Maxx carries Polo for little boys!

14 comments:

Vanessa said...

I'm glad to know that he is stabilized. It's got to make you feel good to hear the doctors say that it's not too alarming. Despite the roller coaster, I think that Reed looks really good in these pictures. Love the beauty parlor shot.

Anonymous said...

Braden & Reed are Pimps.

President Obama

Abigail and Ansley said...

Those are wonderful pictures! Reed looks so great! I am ready for you all to get off this roller coaster and take your little man home with you!

That was the girls favorite playmat also. Mr. Star was awesome. If you need another one, we have one. That was one of the only things that we had just one of. (Abigail and Ansley would love to share.)

May God continue to bless your precious Reed and your family...and may He continue to give you the strength that you need through all of this. Lots of love!
The Johns family
(We may have to talk about what kind of camera you have too...what wonderful pictures!)

mkburcham said...

This has been quite a week for all of you and I am so thankful to hear that Reed is still doing so great--I am sure that you feel a huge relief also! I will continually keep all of you in my prayers--Reed is a figher-just like his mommy! I think he looks better each time you post pictures-I will pray for his eating, fluid etc. that you will be able to take him home soon!
BTW-what kind of camera do you have? I love it--so cool!
love ya!

Beth and Harrison said...

This journey definitely has been a roller coaster but i'm glad the week has calmed down and reed is doing well!! I love the picture of him after his bath! So cute!! Hope feedings go smoother the next time and you get him home soon! I'll try and visit sometime next week when i'm at work on Sunday or Monday!!

The Hadfields said...

Reed looks so good, his color is such a drastic difference. I know you must be so exhausted. Hang in there!

Anonymous said...

Glad he's doing well! I LOVE the pic with the towel on his head! Too cute!!!! Macy's has infant Polo too! :)

Missy said...

Lots of prayers for your family!

Anonymous said...

We are so glad that little Reed is doing better. The pictures are great - he just makes you melt with those big eyes. He will be a ladies man when he gets older and then Braden with the beautiful smile. You will have to keep the girls away!!! We are still keeping both of them in our prayers and you too!
Love you,
Jerry, Dana, Wesley, John @ Kendall

Michael and Hannah said...

Wow, that really IS a roller coaster! I can't get over how amazing Reed looks since his heart transplant though... his coloring is so great and he just looks so alert and content. I'm glad that all the tests are coming back with good results. And I feel like I've neglected poor little Braden... he is such a handsome guy!

Hello blog buddies! It's me, Crouse! said...

I just can't believe how much better Reed looks! I can't imagine how stressful this is, but I am so happy that the light is at the end of the tunnel. You will be home soon!

Anonymous said...

My great grandbabies are so cute! Love you, Nanny

Anonymous said...

Keeley,Ryan,Braden and Reed I love you, and love looking at the pictures. Nanny

Anonymous said...

It has been a pleasure and a privilege to pray for Reed and his family on a regular basis. He was on our prayer list while we were in Guatemala on our medical mission.