One Step Forward, One Step Back

At least it isn't two steps back. . . .

Jordan really is trying to give everyone a lot of premature grey hairs. Saturday morning she was moved out of the PICU onto the floor, even though it looked like the pneumonia had spread over to the left lung a little bit. But, she was doing well. On Saturday afternoon she was doing so well we were talking about going home this afternoon -- which frankly seemed a little too early & optimistic to me, but hey, anything to be outta here.

Then this morning she kinda crashed. So, she's on high flow oxygen (it forces air into her lungs -- active rather than passive) at 50% oxygen right now (room air is 21% oxygen). It's nice, in a way, because it's humidified, so she's not dried out like a cactus anymore. Even the nurses here have taken to calling her "juicy Jordan" -- an old name for us at home! Boy does she have a lot to cough up! Bleck -- funny (peculiar) how I don't even notice or think about how gross that must sound to most people.

The good news: no barfing, diarrhea, or constipation -- go blenderized diet!!! (and she's almost entirely weaned off her Zantac for reflux -- even more amazing for how sick she is). Her heart rate is up a little bit over normal, but her blood pressure is normal & her heart itself is doing well & doesn't seem to be affected from the pneumonia. Her respirations are in the normal range. Her morning x-ray over the last few days hasn't gotten any worse (or any better, but that's okay, too). And, her blood gases just came back perfectly normal -- which was the key to keeping her out of the PICU (which would definitely be 2 steps back). It's probably a viral pneumonia because her white blood cells are a normal 14.8, and there aren't any other signs of infection going on. In fact, her labs are shockingly normal.

So, now she's a little over-hydrated, so we're stopping feeds (hey, she just isn't barfing them up like expected) & getting her back on some IV fluids & getting a dose of Lasix to help ward off fluid retention. Maybe that will help her heart rate a little (even though her BP is fine).

Devon is on his way to Edmonton for the first part of the week, then down to the Spokane/Chewelah area for Wednesday & Thursday, home for a couple of days, & then back to Edmonton again at the beginning of next week for 4 more days there. We certainly are going to keep busy for the next two weeks. Avery is having fun with sleepovers at nana Noma's & tonight nana Noma is sleeping over at Avery's house (easier to get to school in the morning that way). I was able to take off on both Saturday & Sunday afternoons, and will take off Monday afternoon as well, while leaving Jordan in the most capable of nursing hands (we have our favorite hospital nurse on, so I don't mind leaving her for the afternoon).

Thanks for all of your thoughts & prayers.