AAAAAHHH!

I'm so tired of the pulse-ox. I know that you have heard us speak wicked things about the contraption. So many decisions are based on saturations, yet we often struggle to know what Ayden is satting based on the pulse-ox. For instance, right now, while he is sleeping and completely still, he is satting 74-80 on .075 liters. Only a few minutes ago, when he was awake, the pulse-ox machine was alarming that Ayden was satting 68-72 on the same amount of oxygen. Typically, one sats lower while sleeping than awake. When one is trying to wean oxygen, it becomes an impossible task. The nurses don't feel comfortable removing oxygen on a kid that appears to be satting in the high 60's or low 70's. I'm starting to feel like Ayden can't get any pinker from the small amount of oxygen that he is receiving, but we can't get the numbers to match his clinical appearance. AAAAHHH! I am frustrated and tired, and I feel like I am going to scream every time that stupid machine alarms... which is ALL OF THE TIME!

I just spoke with a nurse practitioner concerning Ayden's saturations, and she believes that we will be seeing the up and down numbers until Ayden's vessel actually clots from the catheterization coils. Waiting on the clot to form and Ayden's lungs to clear create saturation numbers that dip and climb. They have decided that the nurses should allow Ayden 5-10 minutes to dip and come back up before doing anything with his oxygen. Please pray that Ayden's system cooperates, so Ayden can consistently get enough oxygen to his body to be able to come off the nasal cannula.

Ayden's morning chest x-ray showed no change, so they feel comfortable keeping Ayden at his PO Lasix. We will anticipate tomorrow's x-ray results to see if two days on PO Lasix show the same or better findings. Please pray that the PO Lasix can do the trick, so we can be one step closer to going home.

Tomorrow morning Ayden will not receive his Methadone dose. His Methadone will go Q24, so he will get the evening one only. Lately, sedative weans have resulted in some form of withdrawal, which usually affects his respiratory system. The good part about doing the wean here is that he has the perfect support system, should he need it. Please pray that Ayden is able to handle the wean.

Phew! Did I mention that Ayden is sleeping?!?! I should be too!