We are now on the 15th floor which means I now live in room 19 of the West Tower at Texas Children’s Hospital. It’s set up so parents have to stay with their children.
Being on a new floor, we now have a new set of doctors. I love that Texas Children’s Hospital is able to help Arabella. What I don’t like is that TCH is a teaching hospital which means I have to deal with many different doctors every day. Oh well, so long as we get her well.
The new cardiologist is starting Arabella on Viagra. Remember that the main reason Viagra is marketed to the world is actually just a side effect of the real reason it was created for. It actually reduces the pressures in the pulmonary arteries – perfect for our princess. This should help her overall pulmonary function which will hopefully get us off of the oxygen! I have wondered why she wasn’t on any meds before, but now she will be.
The cardiologist said she is going to talk to scheduling about re-scheduling Miss Bella’s surgery. She is hoping it can be before the 4 to 6 weeks that the other cardiologist told me. I expressed my concerns about taking her home and keeping her healthy for that period of time – not that I want to stay here! Another one of the doctors, a cardiologist fellow (maybe?), said that keeping her here in a hospital environment isn’t necessarily good for protecting her from viruses either. I agree. So, we’ll see what the surgeons say. The attending said that since this is an elective surgery (!!! elective to who?) they want her as healthy as possible. I have had time to think through the “elective surgery” comment. It is elective in that she isn’t going in as an emergency, but we are choosing when to have this done.
They have stopped her TPN. She is going to be able to start nippling her feeds today. They want her to take 45 to 75 cc’s. Anything she doesn’t take in 15 minutes will be put down her NG tube. When she was eating, we were lucky to get 60 cc’s into her. We’ll see how she does. She has wanted to eat for a couple of days now, so I’m hopeful she’ll take to it again.
There is nothing as constant as change! :) We are stopping her Viagra. They looked at it and decided that she is over circulating enough, they don’t need to add insult to injury.
In other news, she ate 55 cc’s in 10 minutes! And no vomiting! Good news!
2nd feeding – 40, 5 down the tube.
They just turned off her oxygen. So far, so good.
3rd feeding – 35, 10 down the tube. She was tired and gasping.
3 comments:
Hey Turpin's... I have been concerned about your family for a few weeks now, and never hear any news updates from mom and dad, so I am grateful that you have this blog, and that inspiration helped me to think to look here to see how things are going. I want to know what is happening so that our prayers can become more specific, but hate to burden you with unnecessary questioning in such a hectic time... so the blog is perfect! Thanks for updating it regularly!
Please know that I am beyond happy to help with the girls. I am happy to help get Becca to and from school, or take the girls each day for as much time as needed. I am even happy to come to your home each day if that would help. I can have them work on school as my girls work on theirs. Please let our family help too. I would be happy to bring dinner by anytime, I just need to be sure that someone will be home, or if I can just leave something in the fridge. I will be dropping by some bags of clothes this afternoon. I will leave them by the back door.
On a spiritual note... Pres. Spencer W. Kimball said "The righteous woman’s strength and influence today can be tenfold what it might be in more tranquil times" I believe this is so true, and I know that Shelly is a superb example of this. These are not tranquil times for your family, and I know that because of your faith you are being supported with that added strength.
Aidan has been asking Heavenly Father to help Arabella get out of the sick factory! I love the sweet nature of children. :)
I hope you have a better day, that you get news of a surgery date, and that they will do it sooner than the proposed 4-6 weeks!
Love you guys!
Marissa & her sutherclan
Funny that a hospital isn't really a good place to be if you want to stay healthy. I remember when the doctors sent Michael home from the hospital because it wasn't great for him to be there with me. I love you Shelly and family. We prayer for Arabella daily and even Michael folds his arms for them. This staying at the hospital should transfer as university credit toward a nursing degree!
Hang in there little Bella! Christopher prayed three times for your heart to get better in the same prayer and they say third time is the charm right?!?!? We love you guys!
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