G-Daddy & His Famous Names

My daddy, Ayden's grandfather, is the person responsible for coining the name for the masses who pray for Ayden daily. "Ayden's Army," as Daddy calls them, were first part of an email list that Daddy had created to update people on Ayden's progress. Since then, we have affectionately adopted the name.

My daddy is notorious for thought given to... well, everything. He spent a lot of time thinking about what he wanted Ayden (and future grandchildren) to call him. Names up for consideration were the following: Pappy, Ace, G-Daddy, Bobaloo, Coach, Hi5, Abuelo, Saba, and Nonno. He decided on "G-Daddy," thinking it very cool. (I'll admit; I like it.)

Ayden's G-Daddy came up for the day and spent some time in the PCCU with Ayden. Then he went home with Bryan and worked on our house. Specifically, they put in more flooring in the attic so that we could store some things there instead of in the middle of our guest room floor.

Thanks, G-Daddy, for being the ever loving father and grandfather!

My kingdom for a bed!

It appears that the doctors have declared Ayden ready to "go to the floor," yet he remains in the PCCU.  The hold up?  There is no bed for him on "the floor."  This is hospital speak for "there isn't an empty room."  It's possible, if not likely, that he will "graduate" tomorrow.

Today was another slow day, which we like.  The only new development is he is now down to only one chest tube.  They took out the second one this morning.

A Day of Rest

Ayden has spent most of today sleeping, which comforts his parents in no small amount.  There is still the lingering issue of intermittent low blood pressure, but overall he continues to do well.  We would not be surprised if, before the weekend is over, Ayden has "gone to the floor."  As one doctor put it today:  "the PCCU is for sick children, and Ayden is not sick."  (From where we sit, that statement seems likes crazy talk.)

We are so grateful for the continued progress that he has made.  In the grand scheme of things, the issues that he has had are relatively minor, considering the very serious surgery he had only a week and a half ago.  I don't know about Allison, but it is a constant challenge for me to remain nothing more than guardedly optimistic.  Many of the doctors seem to speak so highly of his progress, so it's hard to keep from getting carried away.  There are still things that concern me - his blood pressure and the SVTs, to name two - so, as odd as it sounds, I sometimes have to force myself to focus on those issues so I don't take anything for granted.

Again, though, God has been so good to us.  I pray everyday that it continues.  Please continue to do the same.  We don't have him home yet.  And even once he is home, the time until the second surgery will have some very real dangers.

Ch-ch-ch-changes.

Today has been an eventful day for Ayden.  Some things have come out, some have gone in.  Other things have just happened.

Deep breath.....

The RA (radial arterial) line in his left leg was taken out, the BROVIAC line in his upper left chest was taken out, the IV in his right arm was removed, a PICC line was placed in his right leg, his stitches in his chest were removed, his blood pressure has been a little low at times, he had an SVT episode when they started the PICC line (the injection stopped it, as before), he's back on the anti-SVT medication, he suffered through a couple of x-rays, they checked his kidneys, he was going to take a field trip down to radiology but didn't (somebody down there was going to do the PICC line, then wasn't - don't ask), and he's now in a Big Boy Bed.

Like I said.  Eventful.

Obviously, some things have meant progress, others have not.  An up and down day, in other words.  Overall though, he continues to do well.  A doctor today described him as "the hypoplast that doesn't know he's a hypoplast."  Later the surgeon's nurse said "he's our star."  I am glad he can't understand these things - not to mention all of the nurses (and many of you readers) fawning over his looks - or his ego would be so big we wouldn't be able to get him through the double wide doors of his room.

Speaking of those looks, here he is, in his Big Boy Bed and sans stitches.

Quick Update

Ayden’s blood pressure has been good. They have taken him off the blood pressure medication.

They tried to put a PICC line in Ayden this morning, to no avail. The reason they need a PICC line is because the line he currently has can only take in fluids/meds; no blood can be drawn from it; they need a more lasting line with the ability to do both. They would like to put the PICC line where Ayden’s arterial line is, and since his blood pressure looks okay, they are considering taking the arterial line back out. (If you are thinking that there is some major yo-yo action, we are thinking the same thing.) Plus, Ayden can’t be moved to the next floor with an arterial line.

The speech pathologist made a return trip to Ayden’s room. (Who knew that an infant would need one of those?!?!) He screamed loud for her, and she said that he sounded great. (This mom thinks that sound is terrible!) Once again she stuck her plastic glove finger in his mouth to test his sucking reflex. Then she did the same with his pacifier (which his daddy has been training him with for days now). Then the moment of truth—she gave him some liquid from a bottle! He wasn’t too sure about it at first, and he definitely has some gag reflex, but eventually, he seemed fairly comfortable. She said that, when he gets his chest tubes out, she would like to see him do the swallow test, which will tell them if he can take milk/formula from a bottle.

Ayden has had multiple poopie diapers today. A hospital is the only place one can get all excited about pee and poop. Perhaps we will be less excited when we get him home… though it means he’s home.

We have had another Clemson nurse, Stephanie, for the past few day shifts. (Go, Tigers!) She’s good with Ayden… and with us. We ask a lot of questions, and we are ever present, so I know that we may be a bit more demanding of the nurse.

Today is a good day, and we are inching toward home. God is so good.