Still Waiting...
I wish I had better news. After yesterday, we just hoped today would be better. I arrived at the hospital at 9 a.m. (Gary had to work), and Carter was "resting" in his crib. He lies still for a few minutes, then wakes up--I presume in pain--and lets out a cry. He just didn't look good. His eyes were sunken and dark.
Dr. Schropp came in a few minutes later. He said that Carter's numbers and the way he looked showed that he was beginning to get dehydrated again. So, they decided to replace his fluids at 100% (they'd dropped it to 50% for the past few days). He also said that Carter wasn't absorbing the fluid the way he'd hoped, so he is working on something else, although he's not sure what to do. What they do for adults is to remove the fluid and then re-route it back into the body, or something like that. He says this isn't a good idea for babies because it can cause problems like clotting in the gut. So, we will continue to wait and see.
Carter lost 300 grams yesterday, so he is at 3442 grams...something like 7 1/2 pounds. Poor guy--he's all arms and legs, and belly. His belly is so round that his diaper hardly fastens.
They did an ultrasound on his abdomen today to see how it looks. We don't know the results yet.
He continues to get many meds and supplements. His CO2 level is 12 today, which is very low. His white blood count is 42, which is very very high. They find no infection, so they are unsure of the cause.
It's all just confusing right now. He's sick. He should be getting better. Since he is now on formula, his poop has changed from mustard yellow to dark green--it's yucky, but a good sign! So we must just wait to see what his liver does. We know that the fluid is a sign of a sick liver, and so we pray that it stops coming. Today during the 1 hour of suction, he put out 275 mLs. He felt much better after that, although he had a bit of trouble keeping his food down.
When we came back from dinner, the nurse had deep-suctioned him. He was very congested, and it helped him quite a bit. He woke up for awhile and we had some nice moments:
Click this link for a video of our little guy...warning, he's a bit grumpy, but oh-so-cute!
posted by Carter Heckman @ 7:51 PM
2 comments
2 Comments:
Hi Sarah and Gary,
You don't know me but I feel that I know you and your family. I am a friend of the McKinley's. I in a small way understand what you are going through. I have a son who is 4 months with neonatal Hep. He spend the first 3 weeks of his life too in a NICU. We have both gone through most of the same test for the liver including the biopsy. And now we are facing a liver transplant. I know how scary it is to just sit in at hospital bedside, having all of his "numbers" running through your head. Please Sarah don't feel like a bad mom for needing time to think and to take care of your self. It is very tiring to go through what you and Gary are.
Everyday when I read your posts I weap and pray to God that the Dr's will have the wisdom to heal or just simply figure out what is going on with Baby Carter. I wish that there was more that I could say and do. But prayer is the best way that I know how. He is great hands!
Carter is a beautiful little man!
Jennifer Stults
IT IS THROUGH FAITH AND PRAYER THAT WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE IT THROUGHT THESE DIFFICULT TIMES. I KNOW YOUR HEARTS ACHE FOR YOUR LITTLE ONE. HE IS A PRECIOUS GIFT. MY HEART ALSO ACHES AS I READ YOUR POSTS. WE ARE ALL IN GOD'S HANDS AND LIVE BY HIS GRACE.
YOU TWO NEED TO KEEP UP YOUR STRENGTH BOTH PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY FOR THE DAY WHEN CARTER GOES HOME. THEN THE WORK WILL BEGIN. YOU WILL BE SUCH A WONDERFUL FAMILY.
LOTS OF LOVE AND PRAYERS COME YOUR WAY. MY STUDENTS AT SCHOOL AS TO SEE CURRENT PICTURES OF CARTER. THEY HAVE SOME OF THE MOST TENDER COMMENTS TO SAY ABOUT HIM. IT HAS REALLY OPENNED UP CONVERSATION ABOUT THEIR BIRTH AND THOSE OF THEIR SIBLINGS. I ALWAYS TELL THEM WHAT WONDERFUL PARENTS YOU TWO ARE.
WILMA B
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