Dec 30, 2007 4:30 pm

Well, I am home for now because I had to check out of the RMH for 3 days. They make you check out for 3 days after being there for 30. I can't believe I was there for a whole month! I feel like it's my home and when I am at my real home I start to panic. I hope I can get back in on Tues when my 3 days are up. Thank you to Allison who is letting me use her apartment in Greenville while she is away so I don't have to be far from Liam.

When I am not at the hospital I have my mom sit with Liam so he isn't alone. But- I still want to be the one sitting there the whole time...

So my update today comes from my talks with the nurse and my mom-

Liam had to have a transfusion today... they went down again on his vent settings and he needed more O2 to keep that setting. so- back up they went and hopefully the blood will help. Liam still has the ileus in his bowel from the infection he had. They can't give him breast milk until that is gone.

Liam had a bad blood gas a bit ago and they went higher up on his vent... He tries to breath over the vent and he was very active which upsets his "gases" as well. So- they did a follow up gas and it was good. Whew... honestly- I am a nervous wreck.

Rylie is in Virginia at Liberty University for a middle school New Years bash with thousands of other Christians boys and girls. So- I'm home and she isn't even here. ;-( But- she is having a wonderful time.

The prayers for today:
That Liams lungs would grow strong and mighty!

That Liams ileus would clear up so he can start getting feedings. And they won't be real "feedings" He will start with 1 cc every 6 hours for the first week and then
s l o w l y start working in another cc.

That Liam would calm down. He moves alot and is getting agitated. I don't know if it's just his spunk or if it is irritation following surgery.


PRAISE:
Thank the Lord that He answered our prayers and allowed Liam to have a successful surgery and post op recovery!!

Dec 28, 2007 9:00 pm

Liam's surgery was a success!! The Dr. said everything went well and that his duct was wide open so it was a great thing to get it closed! His body pinked up in color by this afternoon. They also weaned down some on his vent settings which surprised me because all the Drs said to expect setbacks for the next 3 days following the surgery. Liam seemed to do really well. He is VERY sedated tho. I didn't see one flex of a muscle the entire day. He's really out of it right now. Which is difficult cuz he can be so active normally.

Praise:
Thanking the Lord for working through the hands of the Drs and nurses by giving him a successful surgery!

Prayer:
Pray that Liam would recover quickly from his surgery!

That Liam would progress fantastically well with his lungs and ventilator!

They will look at actually feeding him finally this next week if all goes well!! ;-)

Dec 27, 2007 10:00 pm

Liam has to have the PDA surgery (the duct above his heart) closed off tomorrow morning at around 7:30. It is a relatively non-invasive procedure but he is only 1 lb 14 oz. Once the duct is closed he will have to readjust to the new blood flow. That will take a few days. He also weaned off one vent and onto another today so his body will be making a few adjustments.

Prayer:
Please pray that his surgery will be an easy and uncomplicated one!!

Dec 26, 2007 8:45 am

It never seemed like Christmas this year. Even being home for Christmas Day was almost surreal. Thank you Ginny for our fantastic Christmas dinner! We would have been fine with sandwiches but you went above and beyond and made the day bettter for my family with your wonderful meal! You have blessed our family greatly!

Liam is doing pretty good. He has stayed at his vent settings for a few days now. The Lord has seen fit to take away Liams infection! He still has "markers" in his blood showing a "shift" but his blood has not grown any infection in days!!

This morning he has an echo to check out that pesky PDA. I have been praying mightily that God would close it without surgery. If they see it open today then Liam will have to have it surgically closed within this next week...

Praise: Liam's life this Christmas has been the best Christmas present for our family. We all fall more in love with him everytime we see him. We know the Lord has a purpose for him and pray that he will come home before his due date in March.

Prayer: That Liam's head would not suffer any more damage than what was shown at his last scan. No more fluid or cysts is the prayer!!

Pray Liam's lungs would grow stronger!

Pray for no PDA! If that is not God's will then we ask for prayer that his ligation surgery would go perfectly!



Here is an article done on our family for the RMH in Greenville: http://www.reflector.com/local/content/news/stories/2007/12/26/RonaldMcDonaldHouse.html

The local paper included a picture of my mom, Rylie and myself.