Could this sound like a TV show??? Today brought us two wonderful doctors. Actually, I met the pulmonary dr. yesterday and then today. He was so patient and spent time answer my gazillon questions. Also, the cardiologist spent time with me understanding the heart with diagrams and telling me why all these things are ok for Annabel right now. I use to be a major worrier, but somehow with Annabel I can only worry about what is the here and now. I guess being a senior citizen raising a baby there is only so much room left in this brain for storing information.
Her heart is fine for now. He said her VSD is large BUT because of some tissue that is acting like scar tissue to help lessen the hole the blood passing through is not causing her problems at this time. To make this short, I will mention quickly that all 4 valves are abnormal, heart is large, and aorta enlarged. I have all the numbers and medical terms. In short, Annabel is doing ok concerning her heart. They will watch her closely and monitor her progress. He doesn't believe that any of these oxygen levels are being caused by her heart. I am so thankful that I don't have to be faced with making any decisions that I have prayed I would not have to make.
I had some questions concerning her CPAP that I was able to ask today. Annabel has scarring on her left eye. She sleeps with her eyes open slightly and therefore this caused the drying and the scarring. My concern is that this air blowing right by her eyes all during the night will cause further damage. He verified that this would and we will have to keep her eyes very moist now throughout the day as well as night. Not a big deal but I don't want it to affect her vision. This is one thing that we have hope that she will continue to see well.
The other issue is that she has sinced seemed even gassier(is this a word)? Her tummy fills full of air. Yes, in fact this will cause her to have more gas due to the air being forced in while sleeping. Again, not a life threatening issue we will just have to deal with.
The plan was if all went well and she did good on the CPAP we may go home tomorrow. This meant that she had to tolerate the new level for the CPAP. Last night the level was not good enough and she needed 5 liters of oxygen fairly early in the evening. The doctors this morning wanted to up her level on the CPAP to 8 at bedtime. We could tell when Annabel was getting tired for her nap that her level began to decrease and by the time she was falling asleep she was getting lower than they wanted. So respiratory came and set the level to 8. She was ok for a short nap but I do think the added pressure made her restless.
Annabel decided to roll out the welcome mat for her sister Tara's arrival. She began vomitting and having bloody loose stools. We had been clear of any stools since yesterday around noon. YUCK! She did have a hard time going to sleep due to her tummy troubles but is now asleep.
They have set the CPAP at 8 and with 3 liters of oxygen. This is where we are now and I am going to try to get some sleep. My plans were to let Tara have the night and I sleep somewhere else(here in the hosp) but with Annabel not feeling so well I am going to stay here close by. They key to getting out of this place is that she be successful with the CPAP. I would love to go home tomorrow and sleep in my bed but only if we are going home to as few alarms as can be.
God continues to watch over Annabel. He brings wonderful people into our lives. He took away the doubt about our cardiologist at home by bringing this new cardiology doctor that just happened to know him. I am grateful for the peace that my heart feels concerning this matter.
In light of all Annabel's issue they pale in comparision to what Kathleen is about to face with her baby, Stellan, Jonah and so many others out there that are in desperate need of our prayers.
