Blessing the Angels -- Mom Mom

We heard this morning that Bryan's grandmother, Mom Mom, went to be with the Lord. We know she is blessing the angels with her witty sense of humor. We send our love to Maryland!

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Ayden's afternoon chest x-ray was the same, so the nasal cannula remains. They added another respiratory therapy called HIT, hyperinflation therapy, which is designed to give the patient big breaths to inflate his/her lungs. Ayden received his other two therapies this afternoon and cried during CPPD because both RT's ignored the fact that he doesn't tolerate it on his chest. (Havilah, we need another crib sign!) Ayden's blood gas was perfect; they wouldn't even show it to me because it was so perfect. They are weaning the nasal cannula; he started out at 2 liters, and he is now at .5 with sats in the high 80's. They are afraid to turn it off altogether, but he's really doing so great with decreased oxygen. We have discovered that Ayden's problem has never really been the need for oxygen; he just needs help with inflation of that right lung. One would think that lack of inflation would affect a need for oxygen and create lower saturation, but Ayden has proven on many occasions that he likes to do things his way. Pray that the right lung pops open, so Ayden doesn't have to go backwards in treatment. Ayden cannot go to the floor (or home) on Vapotherm; he must be on a regular nasal cannula (or nothing!).

Ayden was only sort of tolerating his feeds most of the day. He was digesting enough that his nurse, per protocol, didn't have to turn his feeds off, but he had too much in his stomach to be able to increase his feeds. The nurse just checked stomach residuals, and finally, his bowels have woken up enough for her to increase to 20ml/hr. His goal is 34ml/hr.

His Milrinone drip is to be turned off by 8PM. One cannot go to the floor on Milrinone, so he will have hurdled one more thing.

Ayden is having another good day. He continues to be angry at the medical staff, but he settles out when Bryan and I comfort him. In the picture below, Ayden is receiving normal nasal cannula oxygenation (not Vapotherm), but they have not removed the bigger nasal cannula for fear of making him mad. In the bottom picture, you will see Ayden in the smaller nasal cannula, thanks to his nurse, Ashley, mustering the courage to make our little man tantrum.

I have mastered the frown.

Ayden doesn't appear to have any oral aversions. I mentioned in a previous post that he enjoys his mouthcare; he eats the "toothbrush" and minty moisturizer. He enjoys his bubblegum Tylenol as well. We have tried giving him the pacifier; he likes to hold it in his mouth, but he's still not sure what to do with it.