Well.... we just got home from a very long and tiring pediatrican's visit - no reflection on her awesome doctor - there was just a lot to do at today's visit.
She had a chest x-ray which looked good - no evidence of fluid accumulation on the lung or surrounding pleural space. Thank you JESUS! Dr. R will look at the chest x-ray tomorrow and give the final verdict, but I am pleased that Dr. Y thought it looked good.
She had a urine culture done which looked good - they will watch her urine specimin for 24 hours to be sure that there is no bacteria growth so we won't have the "offical" all clear for another 24 hours, but I am encouraged by today's results. Thank you JESUS!
She has blood drawn today and her white bllod cell count looked NORMAL which means no active infection anywhere in her body - thank you JESUS!
Whew.... Anna Grace was wore out at the end of the visit and Mommy is too. Poor little thing has been through so much that my heart really ached for her today with all the labs and tests, but I know that this is her journey and the Lord will give her what she needs to endure it - I believe that. I am so thankful that the Lord has blessed Anna Grace with such healing - the doctor today and the nurses were amazed that she had just endured OPEN HEART SURGERY not even two weeks ago. She really looks terrific :) Maybe one day ya'll will actually get to meet her?????
So, tomorrow is her cardiologist appointment and the echo which will tell us about her heart function. I am nervous and exctied about tomorrow's visit. Please join us in praying for a good report from Dr. R tomorrow about Anna Grace's little healing heart.
Thank you friends!
By the way... Zachary left today to go to the lake with his Mee-Mee. He has been cooped up in the house for the last 3 days with me and Anna Grace because it has been to hot to even play in the yard. I think he would have spontaneously combusted if we hadn't let him go to the lake today. He was so excited that at 8:00 this morning he was packing his Spiderman Backpack with clothes and toys and his Mee-Mee couldn't get here soon enough for him. When she got here he was ready to hop in the car. I am glad that he's going to get some good outside play for a few days, he is growing up so fast!
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Anna Grace - July 7
Anna Grace didn't sleep all that great last night, but overall she acts like she is feeling better. She is suffering right now from a TERRIBLE diaper rash. All the medication she is taking is really upsetting her tummy. I am hoping to try & get it under control today by letter her go diaperless - yes I know I am brave! It promises to be a very messy day for Mommy, but I'm told that room air is the best thing for it.
I want to share with you that when I was a little girl I would call my Granny (my Dad's Mom) on the phone and talk with her weekly. She would always tell me about her postman, Mr. Brooks. Her mailbox was at her door and the postman would deliver her mail to her door and she would chat with him for a few minutes each day. She really enjoyed his "visits" each day and would always tell me how Mr. Brooks was doing and even bake him cookies each year fro Christmas. I thought it was silly at the time that she would so look forward to the mailman coming each day. But here I am - in quarantine for what seems like forever. We have a mailbox on our frontdoor and our mailman hand delivers our mail each day too. I find it is a nice distraction each day and see why my Granny looked forward to Mr. Brooks "visits" each day. Our regular mailman is on vacation this week and yesterday a maillady came to deliver our mail. I was on the sunporch with Anna Grace and the maillady said "Oh, you just had a baby. She's so cute. This is the best time of her life." Then she was on her way to finish delivering her mail. I thought about what she said yesterday - is this the best time of Anna Grace's life? Hmmmm...... it has been a trying couple of weeks, but there is no question that the Lord has blessed Anna Grace with a speedy recovery after open heart surgery. Somethign to chew on for sure....
Anyway, Anna Grace has her pediatrican's appointment tomorrow and I am going to ask him to check her urine to see if her UTI has cleared up. She had her last does of antibiotics yesterday. Please continue to pray that the antibiotics killed all the bacteria and that this is no longer an issue for her little body. Also, please pray that her echo on Friday shows good heart function and no complications. Our little one still has some healing to do. Thank you friends!
I want to share with you that when I was a little girl I would call my Granny (my Dad's Mom) on the phone and talk with her weekly. She would always tell me about her postman, Mr. Brooks. Her mailbox was at her door and the postman would deliver her mail to her door and she would chat with him for a few minutes each day. She really enjoyed his "visits" each day and would always tell me how Mr. Brooks was doing and even bake him cookies each year fro Christmas. I thought it was silly at the time that she would so look forward to the mailman coming each day. But here I am - in quarantine for what seems like forever. We have a mailbox on our frontdoor and our mailman hand delivers our mail each day too. I find it is a nice distraction each day and see why my Granny looked forward to Mr. Brooks "visits" each day. Our regular mailman is on vacation this week and yesterday a maillady came to deliver our mail. I was on the sunporch with Anna Grace and the maillady said "Oh, you just had a baby. She's so cute. This is the best time of her life." Then she was on her way to finish delivering her mail. I thought about what she said yesterday - is this the best time of Anna Grace's life? Hmmmm...... it has been a trying couple of weeks, but there is no question that the Lord has blessed Anna Grace with a speedy recovery after open heart surgery. Somethign to chew on for sure....
Anyway, Anna Grace has her pediatrican's appointment tomorrow and I am going to ask him to check her urine to see if her UTI has cleared up. She had her last does of antibiotics yesterday. Please continue to pray that the antibiotics killed all the bacteria and that this is no longer an issue for her little body. Also, please pray that her echo on Friday shows good heart function and no complications. Our little one still has some healing to do. Thank you friends!
Monday, July 5, 2010
Anna Grace - July 5
Anna Grace must have been really tired last night because she slept from 11:00 pm until 6:00 am - it was quite miraculous and I have had a great day being so rested! Perhaps we can have a repeat performance tonight???
However, we started our day off with a bottle of Portagen which caused Anna Grace to vomit. I have been "experimenting" throughout the day to help her tolerate the Portagen better. I went back to the "Stage 2" nipples so that she doesn't drink quite so fast and I have taken to feeding her 3 ounces every 3 hours. She does tolerate the smaller portions better. I am also now feeding her a bottle when she is tired and I'm putting her down for a nap - as opposed to feeding her when she wakes up as I have always done. Now.... I KNOW you're not supposed to feed your baby when they're sleepy because it makes them dependant on the bottle to go to sleep, but hey, I'll try anything to help her keep the food down and this seems to help. So, I'm sticking with it - at least while she's on Portagen.
We are still working on getting her to take her medicine - she is still fighting me. I know it tastes terrible, but there really isn't another option - she has to take her medicine.
So, overall a good day and a good night last night. Thank you all for continuing to pray for Anna Grace :)
However, we started our day off with a bottle of Portagen which caused Anna Grace to vomit. I have been "experimenting" throughout the day to help her tolerate the Portagen better. I went back to the "Stage 2" nipples so that she doesn't drink quite so fast and I have taken to feeding her 3 ounces every 3 hours. She does tolerate the smaller portions better. I am also now feeding her a bottle when she is tired and I'm putting her down for a nap - as opposed to feeding her when she wakes up as I have always done. Now.... I KNOW you're not supposed to feed your baby when they're sleepy because it makes them dependant on the bottle to go to sleep, but hey, I'll try anything to help her keep the food down and this seems to help. So, I'm sticking with it - at least while she's on Portagen.
We are still working on getting her to take her medicine - she is still fighting me. I know it tastes terrible, but there really isn't another option - she has to take her medicine.
So, overall a good day and a good night last night. Thank you all for continuing to pray for Anna Grace :)
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Anna Grace - July 4
With all the excitement of open heart surgery I completley forgot that today is a holiday..... I also forgot it was Sunday..... the days all run together when you're in the hospital and I think it will take a little time for me to adjust to the "real" world again.
Anyway.... Brian rigged up Anna Grace's crib with some pillows under her crib mattress which makes her crib incline. We also made a little "nest" with a blanket like they do in the hospital to keep her from sliding down. Hopefully this will help her sleep more comfortably tonight. We'll see.
It is nice to be home, I have the best bed and pillow ever, it feels like complete luxury after sleeping on the hospital couch. We are still working on laundry here at the Bentley house.... I did manage to make it to the grocery store today AND cook dinner for our family. It was only possible because Brian was home with me today, I don't know what I'll do once he returns to work on Tuesday. Can you say... 1-800-PapaJohns?????? Anna Grace just wants to be held constantly, which I can't blame her really, but you can't do anything while holding a baby. We are also not supposed to pick her up under her arms or hold her around her chest for 6 weeks which is tough at this age - it also limits what you can put her in... no bumbo, no exersaucer, no high chair.
Anyway.... our little girl, who used to be SO GOOD about taking her medicine now fights and cries every times she has to take it - which is A LOT. She is still on quite a bit of medication (even for Anna Grace), but we are hoping to drop two of them by the end of the week. I am praying that as she adjusts to being home she will adjust to happily taking her medication like she used to. Please be praying with us about this, it is hard to force her to take her medicine and it is critical that she take it.
I have taken her temp a couple of times today and it has been normal each time, this is a good indication that there is no active infection - THANK YOU LORD!
Anna Grace also got a GOOD bath tonight for the first time since surgery. Well, I can't wash her chest just yet, but her bottom, legs, arms, and head got a good scrubbing. She seemed to enjoy it and she smells a lot better now too :)
As for the Portagen.... she is doing OK on it, although she doesn't really like the taste and it upsets her tummy.... she is drinking a little of it. Since Portagen is a fat free food it doesn't really fill her up so she is eating smaller quantities more often, which means Mommy is up during the night. Only 5 more weeks.... I am seriously counting down the days. Seriously. Just so you know, it says on the side of the can of Portagen "Portagen Powder is not designed for use as an infant formula". Poor Anna Grace :( She is a little trooper though.
So, overall today was a good day - although at one point today I just got overwhelmed with it all and started to cry. It is a big responsibility taking care of a sick baby and I question sometimes if I am up to the task. I asked the Lord today to increase my faith - clearly HE thinks I am up to the task.
Anyway.... Brian rigged up Anna Grace's crib with some pillows under her crib mattress which makes her crib incline. We also made a little "nest" with a blanket like they do in the hospital to keep her from sliding down. Hopefully this will help her sleep more comfortably tonight. We'll see.
It is nice to be home, I have the best bed and pillow ever, it feels like complete luxury after sleeping on the hospital couch. We are still working on laundry here at the Bentley house.... I did manage to make it to the grocery store today AND cook dinner for our family. It was only possible because Brian was home with me today, I don't know what I'll do once he returns to work on Tuesday. Can you say... 1-800-PapaJohns?????? Anna Grace just wants to be held constantly, which I can't blame her really, but you can't do anything while holding a baby. We are also not supposed to pick her up under her arms or hold her around her chest for 6 weeks which is tough at this age - it also limits what you can put her in... no bumbo, no exersaucer, no high chair.
Anyway.... our little girl, who used to be SO GOOD about taking her medicine now fights and cries every times she has to take it - which is A LOT. She is still on quite a bit of medication (even for Anna Grace), but we are hoping to drop two of them by the end of the week. I am praying that as she adjusts to being home she will adjust to happily taking her medication like she used to. Please be praying with us about this, it is hard to force her to take her medicine and it is critical that she take it.
I have taken her temp a couple of times today and it has been normal each time, this is a good indication that there is no active infection - THANK YOU LORD!
Anna Grace also got a GOOD bath tonight for the first time since surgery. Well, I can't wash her chest just yet, but her bottom, legs, arms, and head got a good scrubbing. She seemed to enjoy it and she smells a lot better now too :)
As for the Portagen.... she is doing OK on it, although she doesn't really like the taste and it upsets her tummy.... she is drinking a little of it. Since Portagen is a fat free food it doesn't really fill her up so she is eating smaller quantities more often, which means Mommy is up during the night. Only 5 more weeks.... I am seriously counting down the days. Seriously. Just so you know, it says on the side of the can of Portagen "Portagen Powder is not designed for use as an infant formula". Poor Anna Grace :( She is a little trooper though.
So, overall today was a good day - although at one point today I just got overwhelmed with it all and started to cry. It is a big responsibility taking care of a sick baby and I question sometimes if I am up to the task. I asked the Lord today to increase my faith - clearly HE thinks I am up to the task.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Anna Grace - July 3
We made it home last night about 7:30 pm. It was so good to be home, although our house is a wreck ... we are doing laundry and trying to put things back in order from being away. Anna Grace slept OK last night although I think it is uncomfortable for her to lay flat on her back. We ended up putting her bouncy seat (which she is really too big for) in the crib and she seemed to be more comfortable sleeping in that. I think it's going to take her a week or so to adjust to being back home. It's been a lot of changes for her over the last couple of weeks.
I know that I am so thankful to be home with my whole family under one roof. It is a blessing that I do not take for granted.
Anna Grace has a doctor appointment with the pediatrician on Thursday and one on Friday with her cardiologist to follow up. In the mean time we are just trying to keep her comfortable with Oxycodone.
It was nice not having nurses come in during the night last night for vitals, much needed rest! We are all just being lazy today and hanging out in our PJ's.
Thank you Lord for allowing us to come home after only 1 week in the hospital. We are thankful!
Also, we are thankful for all our prayer warriors out there. Please continue to pray for no heart infection for Anna Grace. The discharge paperwork said that this is common the second week following open heart surgery and that we should be on the look-out for it. Also, please continue to pray that the antibiotics Anna Grace is taking will clear her UTI completley and that we can stay out of the hospital. These next few weeks are still critical.
I know that I am so thankful to be home with my whole family under one roof. It is a blessing that I do not take for granted.
Anna Grace has a doctor appointment with the pediatrician on Thursday and one on Friday with her cardiologist to follow up. In the mean time we are just trying to keep her comfortable with Oxycodone.
It was nice not having nurses come in during the night last night for vitals, much needed rest! We are all just being lazy today and hanging out in our PJ's.
Thank you Lord for allowing us to come home after only 1 week in the hospital. We are thankful!
Also, we are thankful for all our prayer warriors out there. Please continue to pray for no heart infection for Anna Grace. The discharge paperwork said that this is common the second week following open heart surgery and that we should be on the look-out for it. Also, please continue to pray that the antibiotics Anna Grace is taking will clear her UTI completley and that we can stay out of the hospital. These next few weeks are still critical.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Anna Grace - July 2- Update #2
They decided to switch to the oral antibiotic and send us HOME today! She has to have one dose of the oral antibiotic to be sure she doesn't have a reaction to it and as long as she doesn't have a reaction then we can go home. Hoping to be home by 8:00 tonight....
Please join us in praying she can tolerate this oral antibiotic and then for traveling mercies.
We'll have our hands full for a while caring for her at home, but I'd much rather be at home doing this than at the hospital!
Please join us in praying she can tolerate this oral antibiotic and then for traveling mercies.
We'll have our hands full for a while caring for her at home, but I'd much rather be at home doing this than at the hospital!
Anna Grace - July 2
Anna Grace had a great night last night which means that Mommy was able to get a little rest. However, since she is feeling so much better everything to her is a toy and she wants to play with it - including her IV. So this morning as she was getting her morning does if IV antibiotics she pulled her IV out. I think the doctors really wanted her to have another day of IV antibiotics before switching to oral, so I don't know if they'll decide to put another IV in or go ahead and make the switch to oral. They'll make rounds about 11:00 or so and I'll know more then. The great thing about the OV antibiotics is that they don't upset her tummy, the bad thing is that they'll have to put another IV in..... never fun in a baby.
It's sunny here today so I'm going to try to take her for a walk outside in the stroller if they'll let me. I think it will do us both good. I think Brian, Zachary and Miss B are going to try to go to the beach today.
As for the Portagen... she drinks it better at night than during the day - I think just because she's sleepy at night so she doesn't really notice the taste, but during the day I can barely get her to drinnk an ounce of it. It's going to be a long 6 weeks on this nasty stuff.
I will have her 24 hour urine specimin results about 1:00 today and will post what they show. Thank you for continuing to pray about this. This is our biggest obstacle right now.
I'll update you more later today!
It's sunny here today so I'm going to try to take her for a walk outside in the stroller if they'll let me. I think it will do us both good. I think Brian, Zachary and Miss B are going to try to go to the beach today.
As for the Portagen... she drinks it better at night than during the day - I think just because she's sleepy at night so she doesn't really notice the taste, but during the day I can barely get her to drinnk an ounce of it. It's going to be a long 6 weeks on this nasty stuff.
I will have her 24 hour urine specimin results about 1:00 today and will post what they show. Thank you for continuing to pray about this. This is our biggest obstacle right now.
I'll update you more later today!
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