Seattle... update

Ok so saturday I sat in on rounds to see what the Dr.'s plans were for Ethan. They went over Ethan's history to bring everyone up to speed. What I found was interesting is that when they said that he had a history or adrenal gland problems (this is when he wasn't peeing) they are not sure that is what his issue was. They said that the medications that he was on also required a sodium supplement that he did not get. She wasn't certain on it but she said that she felt if he did have adrenal gland issues that he would be much sicker than he is. They took an x-ray of his belly to see how everything was looking. Everything looked fine. Ethan will need to have surgery on his hernia but when we don't know. They said that they will be talking with Great Falls to see when that surgeon feels comfortable with us flying back. In Great Falls they didn't plan on doing his hernia surgery until he was 50 weeks (he is 33 weeks gestation right now). Typically they don't do the surgery until they are bigger because the tissue is so fragile that it could tear and the stitches would come out. The reason why we had to fly to Seattle so quickly was because his hernia was incarcerated and if it wasn't reduced he would need surgery on it immediately or it could cause issues for him including being sterile. One thing I like about Seattle is that they seem to encourage holding more often. I got to hold him for an hour and a half! I would have been able to hold him longer since he was doing great but it was time for me pump. They do have him in a normal bed warmer here and not the isolet (incubator) which is nice to see. I don't know if they will keep him like that in Great Falls but I hope so!

I also asked if he was still on his acid reflux medications and she said no. She said that she doesn't think he needs it because he is on a continuous feeding. I explained that is the reason Great Falls put him on continuous feedings and the medication. She said that the continuous feedings takes care of the acid part of it. Ok is all I could say. It gets really frustrating when you have different Dr.'s doing different things. I just pray that he is getting the best care he can not only in Seattle but in Great Falls too. One thing that is nice about flying to Seattle is that you have a whole different medical team looking at his records. Kind of like a double check to make sure nothing has been missed.

Yesterday (Sunday) they decided to try him on cpap. I had been waiting around for them to do it and it seemed like it was going to be awhile yet so I went to the cafeteria to get lunch. I was gone 30 minutes and I came back to them putting him on the ventilator. They had put him on the cpap right after I had left and then he all of a sudden couldn't breath! So they had to put him back on the ventilator right when I got back. They think he had a spasm and it tightened up his airways so that he couldn't breath. The Dr. told me that they were going to put him on a type of steroid for 3 days to help with any inflammation caused from being intubated. She said that she would try him on the cpap after 24 hours on the steroid. I then asked the nurse last night when they started the steroid and he said that they hadn't yet and that they usually don't start new meds until the next day. Ok... so not only have I found out this hospital doesn't work on the weekends but now they don't work nights either... hmmm.. I did get to hold him again for another hour and a half! I am kind of getting spoiled with holding him so much and so long here ;) I have been keeping myself busy with crocheting.... thanks to Matt (he took me to a yarn store so I could have something to do!) I made a diaper cover and a little newsboy hat so far.

There is another family here from Great Falls that I talked to yesterday. I knew they were here because they wanted to talk to me before they left Great Falls so they knew what to expect. They have been here for 3 weeks and they will have to be here for another month or 2! I feel so bad for them having to stay here. I am praying that this stay doesn't last that long!

So today I sat in on rounds and found out that they are still not sure when I will be going back. They said that the earliest would be on Wednesday (why not... since Mark's days off this week are today and tomorrow!) She didn't know what to tell me for the latest though. It just all depends on what they find out from Great Falls. They had called G.F. yesterday and the Dr. told them to call back today since it would be a different Dr. on. So they are calling to find out what the new Dr. has to say and if they could find out when the pediatrician surgeon is on and if he has any vacations coming up that he will be out of town. Here is an idea... maybe have more than one pediatrician surgeon at the hospital! They just want to make sure we don't fly back and have the same thing happen again. They are also starting the steroids but they are also putting him on a trial with the vent for 2 hours today. This just gives him less support to make sure that he can handle the cpap when they change it over. I don't like that they are giving him more steroids because when we got here the surgeon said that he didn't want to do the surgery if he didn't have to because he wasn't off steroids long enough which causes their tissue to tear more easily along with being small. They are adding calories to my breast milk for him to help him put on some pounds so we will see how that goes... I'm kind of looking forward to a little chunky baby ;)