4/20

Well not to much has been going on since my last post, hence the lack of updates. Dawson had a pretty quiet Saturday, moderately low oxygen levels and a sleeeeepy day. I did find his ticklish spot...right below the ribs! and he got a bath, but again, not to crazy. The heat lamp came back because his bili (jaundice) levels were creeping back up there.

Sunday he had an okay day, levels were a bit higher but he was maintaining well. By the time I checked in agian wtih the night nurse, he was up to 80% and the blood gases were getting worse (these check how the oxygen is being tolerated by the body. Shows cell and platetlet counts). This was around 11pm. I called again when I got up to pump around 1:30 am and he was up to 100% oxygen (BAD!) and still was receiving poor blood gases. The nurse and I were both getting frusterated, because it seems that Dawson was not happy, but they could not figure out why. Needless to say I did not sleep well, and checked in again around 4am. He was back down to 80% and the gases were improving. They did a chest Xray and while there was not a drastic improvement from last week, it helped them make some minor changes that could help my lil guy out.

This morning Sarah (our favorite nurse) was back so I called her this morning. Dawson was slowly weaning back down on the oxygen and Dr. Karna was going to do other Xrays to keep a close eye on him. They were also bringing in another infection specialist. To me, this was redundent because all of Dawson's cultures were coming back negative, so I didn't understand why they couldn't move on. Turns out, Dawson was showing all signs of an infection..without the infection. They still came back negative today, but they did decide to pull Dawson's belly IV lines and go with IV's in his hands. A little bit more invasive, but the lines in the belly were no longer giving them the results they needed. Dawson will have these for approx 48 hours until they can make sure an infection doesn't show up now with the belly lines being moved. Then we can proceed to the picc line. YAY! This will basically be 1 central IV line for everything except oxygen and food. Unfortunately, Dawson is considered to be in critical condition again, but at least they are getting somewhere today.

They also did a blood transfusion and removed the heat lamp again today. They are back to 12 hours on...12 hours off. By 4:00 today when we visited, Dawson was back down to 30% oxygen and sleeping. His eyes are thisclose to opening, we cannnnnot wait! The Dr.s feel that they have a better hang on why Dawson is having these unstable episodes, 1 in part to the breathing tube movement. Unfortunately they are having to introduce some sedatives, because Dawson just wiggles too much and the tube then gets moved out of place. We are also back on restricted touching, we can just hold his hand, bottom or cup his legs so he feels cuddled. No stroking or tickling, because it makes him to excited. If these episodes continue, we may have to do a short course of steroids to help him out a bit. But for today, he was restful, and did the best with Ryan, myself and Sarah were at his bedside. Dr. Karna joked that none of us were going to be allowed to go home, and I am unsure how I feel about Dawson picking a girlfriend so soon =)

Dear Lord, we thank you for the time you have granted us so far with our precious son, and we pray for his continued growth and development. Please help his lungs continue to grow strong, and help him grow into a strong man of God. I am begging you to grant me more time with my baby, and keep my family strong, in both health and faith.

Amen.

I want to take a small moment to say a quick thanks. In a discussion late last week, I let it slip that I was starting to let my faith slide, not able to understand why God picked my son, and how He could let him be so sick. I was assured that my son is a blessing, which of course I knew. But I did not even think that maybe God did this because he knew Dawson was meant to be, and knew my body was sick. So rather than keep Dawson around the infection, God brought him to me early, and in the hands of the best of the best. Thank you for both the reality check, and helping me realize the God always has a master plan, and while I may not always agree or understand, it is what is best. Please continue to pray for our sweet baby, as we have already seen what a miracle Dawson is, and what prayer is doing for us.