Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!

I am caught up and actually posting on the day of, yay!! And today is a BRAND NEW day!

I got to the hospital at 7:30 this morning and met our new nurse who had Titus swaddled and comfy as a bug! It was immediate relief even though his breathing tube was still in...

Within just a few minutes of arriving we got news that they were going to stop the Fentanyl drip completely now AND remove the breathing tube!! PRAISE!!! He seems to have his pain managed by a combination of Dex and bolused Tylenol and if it seems that he is in any pain they will bolus morphine as needed.

Then a few minutes later, we got more good news! They will be taking the RA line, catheter, and both chest tubes out as well! HALLELUJAH!!!

Could they top this?? Oh yes, yes they could!! I get to hold my little man and he can get some milk in his belly if all his labs come back good this afternoon! Oh how empty my arms have felt the last couple days...so happy inside!

So the current list of what is still connected:

1. Milrinone: A vasodilator that assists with the contracting of the heart and prevents overworking the heart muscle by creating less resistance in the arteries (lowers BP).

2. Epinephrine: Assists with the squeeze of the heart muscle while he is recovering.

3. Dexmedetomidine: His new med for light sedation. This low dose keeps him calm so he doesnt pull any lines out, but it does not manage pain like Fentanyl so they have put him on tylenol for the moment and if it appears that he is in any pain, they will bolus morphine as needed. 

4. PICC line: the central access for all meds, antibiotics, TPN to be delivered.

5. Heparin: Blood thinner that prevents clotting around the artificial tube they inserted in his heart. This will be weaned off before we go home and will be replaced with a daily aspirin.

6. Ancef: An antibiotic given for 48 hours post surgery to prevent infection. 

7. Pepsid: To protect his gut while he is not getting feeds. This will continue until he is fully fed at breast. 

8. Heart monitor leads: Monitors the heart rate.

9. Tylenol: This is his pain management, much preferred to morphine.  We hope he continues to prove he is a strong little man and does not end up needing any morphine at all!

10. Bumex: Diuretic to get excess fluid out of his system.

11. Pulse Oximeter: Measures % delivery of oxygen to his tissues.

The team has been stopping by periodically throughout the day and has mentioned that they are going to start weaning the Epinephrine, Heparin, and Dex overnight. He is no longer going to get Ancef since it has been 48 hours since surgery and they are switching the diuretic from Bumex to Lasix. Once he is off all the meds and on his own, we can remove the arterial line from his leg and the PICC line from his chest!

Each line and medicine that is taken off means we are one step closer to being moved to the step down unit and then GOING HOME!

Thank the Lord for such a BIG and GLORIOUS day for Titus !!!

Last photo before removal of all the accessories...

Our nurse board in our room...we change the verse daily. 

Back in my arms, resting of course!