While Bei was in the hospital I learned really quickly that the medical field is not for me. I am way to emotional and highstrung for that type of business. Here is why: For the first 24 hours after Bei's open heart surgery there are stringent guidelines for his blood pressure. It needs to remain between 70 and 90. The nurse that we had was wonderful and walked us through what all the machines were that Bei was hooked up to and what each one was monitoring. The first 8 hours or so went really well. If Bei's blood pressure would creep up past 90 the nurse would adjust the meds and you could watch on the monitor it coming down quickly to within the guidelines. Things were going along as usual and Bei's blood pressure started to creep up, ...no worries, the nurse will adjust the meds and it will come back down...no problem...uh oh...it's not coming down, it is going from 93 to 99 to 103 to 110...., I'm watching the nurse...he is looking at all the machines, trying to figure out what is going on. Now it is 121...126....147, Oh boy, I'm ready to jump out of my skin, my first instinct is to call 911( "Help! Help! we need a doctor!!!...oh yeah, we are already were we are suppose to be!)...I can tell the nurse can't figure it out...he is conferring with the charge nurse...(I want to shout at the top of my lungs, "Blue Light Special! Blue Light Special"...oh no, that is K-Mart!, "I mean "Blue Men's Group", "Blue Men's Group...oh no, that is a band that plays really bad music and actually charges people to actually listen to it. "Walk the blue line! Walk blue line"...okay, I give up, I can't think of "Code Blue"under pressure). I finally can't restrain myself any longer and I said, "I just saw Dr. O, do you want me to run and get him?" Now I'm envisioning myself running down the hall, sweeping this 6'2" doctor up into my arms and throwing him over my shoulder and running back to Bei's bedside. I think I could have done that easily, my adrenline was pumping so fast. Instead the nurse on charge said "I'll go get him". Now I look at this woman who is as round as she is tall and realize that if her butt was on fire, she would still meander to a bucket of water....I want to shout "NO!" I ran track over 25 years ago and I use to be fast! Get out of my way! I didn't give her enough credit, surprisingly, Dr. O was there within seconds. Just as he got there, my nurse, realized the pump that injects the medicine had turned itself off. He was embarrassed and felt bad, but he was an excellent nurse and we requested him for the next day. Anyway, unless I'm scrubbing toilets, that hospital business is not for me!
10.24.2008
Chicken Little
While Bei was in the hospital I learned really quickly that the medical field is not for me. I am way to emotional and highstrung for that type of business. Here is why: For the first 24 hours after Bei's open heart surgery there are stringent guidelines for his blood pressure. It needs to remain between 70 and 90. The nurse that we had was wonderful and walked us through what all the machines were that Bei was hooked up to and what each one was monitoring. The first 8 hours or so went really well. If Bei's blood pressure would creep up past 90 the nurse would adjust the meds and you could watch on the monitor it coming down quickly to within the guidelines. Things were going along as usual and Bei's blood pressure started to creep up, ...no worries, the nurse will adjust the meds and it will come back down...no problem...uh oh...it's not coming down, it is going from 93 to 99 to 103 to 110...., I'm watching the nurse...he is looking at all the machines, trying to figure out what is going on. Now it is 121...126....147, Oh boy, I'm ready to jump out of my skin, my first instinct is to call 911( "Help! Help! we need a doctor!!!...oh yeah, we are already were we are suppose to be!)...I can tell the nurse can't figure it out...he is conferring with the charge nurse...(I want to shout at the top of my lungs, "Blue Light Special! Blue Light Special"...oh no, that is K-Mart!, "I mean "Blue Men's Group", "Blue Men's Group...oh no, that is a band that plays really bad music and actually charges people to actually listen to it. "Walk the blue line! Walk blue line"...okay, I give up, I can't think of "Code Blue"under pressure). I finally can't restrain myself any longer and I said, "I just saw Dr. O, do you want me to run and get him?" Now I'm envisioning myself running down the hall, sweeping this 6'2" doctor up into my arms and throwing him over my shoulder and running back to Bei's bedside. I think I could have done that easily, my adrenline was pumping so fast. Instead the nurse on charge said "I'll go get him". Now I look at this woman who is as round as she is tall and realize that if her butt was on fire, she would still meander to a bucket of water....I want to shout "NO!" I ran track over 25 years ago and I use to be fast! Get out of my way! I didn't give her enough credit, surprisingly, Dr. O was there within seconds. Just as he got there, my nurse, realized the pump that injects the medicine had turned itself off. He was embarrassed and felt bad, but he was an excellent nurse and we requested him for the next day. Anyway, unless I'm scrubbing toilets, that hospital business is not for me!
posted by
10.22.2008
Bei's Post Op Visit
I knew Bei was feeling better by Tuesday night because he really wanted to spend alot of time with his Aunt Jeannine. Prior, it was always "Momma do it".
My sister Jeannine started to call Bei "Ham Bone". The picture speaks for itself.
"I thought I told you to get rid of that guy!"
This is such a cute picture of Bei. We were getting ready to leave for his post op appointment on Tuesday and my sister shot this picture. Where is my lipstick when I need it?
Bei is such a trooper of a kid, he gives himself his own medicineOn Tuesday, they did an EEG, EchoCardiogram and took an X-ray of Bei's chest and he is healing perfectly. There was no fluid in his chest and he only has to take the diruretic once a day. I lied about the bath, it isn't that he can't take a bath for 2 months they just don't want him soaking in a tub. He can take a bath this Friday. We think we are going to just sponge bath him, since he likes to have the water up to his neck. It is too hard to explain to a 2 year old why he can't have the water where he wants. All is well at our home. We feel very blessed!
posted by
10.18.2008
Bei's Recovery
I wanted to send a quick note just to let everyone know that Bei continues to do really well in his recovery. He lost 4 lbs while in the hospital and is down to 18 lbs, so we are trying to fatten him up. The most noticeable difference for me, since the surgery, is Bei's heartbeat. Prior to the surgery, his heartbeat was so fast and hard that if you touched anywhere on his chest you could feel it. You could actually feel the extra blood whooshing through from one side to the other. It was creepy. Now, he has a very regular heartbeat. The other new thing is, he refuses to take a nap. I'm trying to figure out why. It could be that he is most uncomfortable when he is lying down or he is afraid that I'm going to leave him. Or maybe his body doesn't need it now that his heart is working properly. No naps these past two days. His restrictions are few, he can't be around crowds of people for the next two weeks, they said to keep him away from little kids for two weeks and he can't take a bath for 2 months. Yep, you read it right, 2 months! On Tuesday, we meet with the cardiologist again. He is quite clingy to me, but I would imagine that is par for the course for a kid that just went through major traumatic surgery.
Thanks again for all the support! It is so very appreciated by us!
posted by
10.16.2008
Open Heart Surgery Picture Progression
Mom, Bei and Dad celebrating at home (Thursday, October 16, 2008)
Bei was visited by his close and personal friend Melissa Gilbert and her co-star of the Little House of the Prairie play which is now showing in the Twin Cities. Bei also made the 5:00 news. If the link doesn't work, go to www.wcco.com and look for a story on Bei...just kidding on Melissa Gilbert. It was a video on the top right hand corner when we searched for it.(Thursday, October 16, 2008)
Thursday morning Bei woke up and definitely wanted to go home...along with my sister Nanette we strategized all morning long on the best way to convince the doctors that we should go home. The surgeon was the final decision maker and he laughed when he saw us because he said I heard that you guys would be meeting me at the elevators with your bags packed. We thought of it but didn't go that far. Seriously, we had the best care and I was very impressed with everyone, but a hospital is no place to get any sleep! And our little guy needs some sleep to heal!(Thursday, October 16, 2008)
Bei's first meal was 24 hours after they pulled the ventilator, it was Cheerios. We are waiting to go to the step down unit, where we finally will have a private room. We were in a bay with 4 other beds with only curtains separating which they didn't draw. Tuesday night neither Bei or I got any sleep because it was loud and the lights were on the entire time. (Wednesday, October 15, 2008)
I crawled in bed with Bei and pretty much didn't get out til it was time to leave the hospital. I reminded Sam, our nurse, to tell the new nurse on-duty about the hourly feet massages he gave me and if she had time she could also paint my nails...who said High Maintenance??? (Tuesday Afternoon, October 14, 2008)
Bei mouthed the words Momma...momma, but his voice was so hoarse from all the tubes. 20 minutes after the ventilator was pulled he said clearly "ee aa aa", aka Veggie Tales.
Hence, he is pointing to Veggie Tales on the TV screen and dancing with the celery stalks. (Morning Tuesday, October 14, 2008)
Tuesday morning they are weaning Bei off of the ventilator (Morning Tuesday, October 14, 2008) and getting ready to pull the tubes to see if he can breathe on his own.
Post Open-Heart Surgery, Bei is in ICU and on a ventilator. (Monday, October 13, 2008)
The night before the big surgery, Bei is helping Dad with a few last minute chores around the house. (Sunday, October 12, 2008)
Tuesday morning they are weaning Bei off of the ventilator (Morning Tuesday, October 14, 2008) and getting ready to pull the tubes to see if he can breathe on his own.
Post Open-Heart Surgery, Bei is in ICU and on a ventilator. (Monday, October 13, 2008)
The night before the big surgery, Bei is helping Dad with a few last minute chores around the house. (Sunday, October 12, 2008)
posted by
Prayers have been answered!
Believe it or not we are home!! I can hardly believe it myself! Bei is a superstar! Everybody fell in love with his very sweet demeanor. He was a model patient in every way. So thank you everyone for your support!! I'll follow up with a picture progression of this past week.
posted by
10.15.2008
Bei's Remarkable Recovery - Part II.
Bei has been moved from ICU to an intermediate care unit, with plans to go home on Friday! He continues to do remarkably well. Thanks for all your prayers, and please continue to lift him in prayer during the coming days and weeks.
posted by
10.14.2008
Bei's Remarkable Recovery
Bei was removed from the ventilator this morning and is scheduled to be moved out of ICU tomorrow morning 10/15/08. Our little guy is not only impressing Dan and I with his amazing recovery, but also the physicians and nurses here at Children's Hospital. When one of Bei's nurses was asked if she believed Bei was doing well, she stated he was "flying through his recovery". Dan and I thank you for your prayers and ask that you continue to pray for a successful recovery.
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