After the breathing tube was removed, he hardly stirred and quite comfortably (as much as one can be with major head and brain surgery) went back to sleep. They've been alternating morphine and tylenol to help with pain bouts. This morning, we removed the catheter and then a little while later we removed his arterial line in his hand. They're planning on removing his central line (the one that goes into his neck into his main artery) and so they reinstalled an IV, but were still down two lines - which is how we begin to count progress towards moving onward and out of the hospital (that and all of his blood, gas, sodium, etc. levels).
At his doctor's orders, we're rotating him every two hours from side to side. He doesn't actually like to lay on his side at home and will work and wiggle himself over on to his back if left to his own will. But we've got the luxury of pillows and blankets to help stabilize him - although it is a little awkward given he's also at a bit of an angle. We deduced that we could, using the small blanket underneath him, slide him from left to right in the crib (or up and down) avoiding to picking it up too much. He's still quite tender and sore and extra moving is not his favorite thing. In fact he expressed some displeasure by having some de-saturation spells this morning as we were moving him. Between the moving, crying, and his newly rounded head, we discovered he tended to drop his chin too far, making it difficult for him to get adequate oxygen.
While I'd prefer to be in our own room (as opposed to the PICU and in practically the middle of the floor) I have to say how grateful I really am for our positions. When his numbers start dropping between the lights and buzzers and our nurse, we become immediately surrounded by a whole team of about 10-12 people. It's amazing and awesome to experience. In fact it was one of the Respiratory Technicians who discovered that by raising his jaw bone up a bit, his color and air flow improve dramatically. Let's hear it for the highly trained and talented people up here!!
They've also begun feedings, although only clear liquid at this point through his feeding tube - and at a pretty slow rate. And we're monitoring that closely as well.
Also, we are suspecting that he's awake (at least for some of the time). Unfortunately between the general surgery swelling, the extra fluid swelling, and potentially taking off the bandage early swelling, he can't open his eyes as that area is soooo swollen!! Besides the movements he's making, he's starting vocalizing with Shawn and me and repeating back some of the sounds we're making. They've considered giving him something for what one of the doctors affectionately refers to as the 'Michelin Man' look. But based on the understanding that we would expect his eyes to be swollen for a couple of days after a surgery of this magnitude and the fact that his urine outputs remain within expected ranges, we're electing to not give him that particular drug right now.
We're trying to find our battery charger (I could have SWORN I packed it) but otherwise we'll have to get creative on that front - so no pictures today.
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