He's Awake!

I'm so happy to report our little champ is still fighting through! He is a tough cookie, I tell ya. "No wussy white boy here" as our nurse put it the other night! :) I like her. Thanks Teresa. I like hearing things from their perspective and experience. He is tough!

Paxton woke up Sunday night, thankfully while Dave and I were there, and we were so happy to see that he was not in pain! He was very still and cautious at first, only moving his eyes to see us, then as he grew more aware and confident he tried to move his head a little bit. This was a stark difference from how he reacted when he woke up Thursday night. His sats did not spiral down and he even seemed a little at peace. I swear I saw attempts at smiles! It was so cute to see him move his tongue in his mouth a bit and realize, "I think that awful tube is gone!' So Paxton is doing great. 

He is off the paralytic now but still receiving some morphine and other sedatives, when needed.  He is on lots of antibiotics to kill whatever the infection is, and receiving his 4th blood transfusion today. For some reason his red blood cells disappear fast! Probably due to his pulmonary hypertension, and how hard his heart is working to pump blood to his lungs and body. Since he came off the oscillator breathing machine on Sunday and went back to a new type of ventilator, he has been breathing very fast and hard. The drs. don't know why but are at a loss for continuing to try and bring it down. His numbers are okay and sedatives don't help his breathing relax so they have decided not to worry about it until his numbers are affected. (When I say numbers I mean heartrate, respiratory rate, blood pressure - which has been high, CO2, and oxygen saturation.)  He had great awake time with us Sunday night and even more yesterday. Dave and I are excited to say we think he's turned a corner...but don't want to jinx him! 

Flashback: As Dave and I were pulling out last Wednesday to go give Paxton his blessing, there was a huge double rainbow right over our neighborhood. We definitely took that as a sign for better things to come. Well Sunday night as we left the hospital, there was another bright, beautiful double rainbow over PCMC. We wanted to believe that these were all signs of Paxton turning a corner, again, better things to come. 

Monday afternoon Paxton had his first trach change. We were both really nervous and couldn't believe how flawless it went! Paxton's numbers stayed great, and he really did okay. It was scary to see them take the old one out, see the bare "stoma" (hole), and wait the few longest seconds until the other one was placed back in properly and the ventilator re-hooked. Ah! And he did it! I kept waiting for all the alarms to go off and was so excited when I realized he was going to be just fine! We do have the best doctors and nurses and specialists up there at PCMC. 

Paxton's doctor who performed the tracheotomy, the fabulous Dr. Grimmer. 

Great nurse Catherine with Paxton's new rig.

Well after this charade, Paxton was very awake and breathing fast. But we had the neatest time together as I leaned over his bed and just sang to him while he kept squeezing my finger. Whatever anyone thought about him not being able to connect with us is so not even a question. We were connecting and bonding and both knew how much we love each other. 

One of our great primary nurses was there and kept hearing me say, "Oh, I just wish I could hold you!"  I couldn't believe it when she came back and said I get to hold Paxton! I was thrilled and we got to have 2 hours of cradle holding while I sang, rocked, and talked to Paxton. He would look at me for a minute, then close his eyes, then open, etc. He was very content and awake for three hours. I loved every second of it!!! Yippee! (No I can't hold back on the excitement of this one.)

I was so happy to hear that Dad got to hold him later last night as well, about 11pm-1am. Hey, we take it when we can get it!  We love you little, Paxton, and are so glad you are doing so much better.

Thank you all for your extra prayers on Saturday and Sunday, we know they helped Paxton recover.  He has another eye exam and possible surgery tonight, but Mom and Dad haven't decided about how they feel about giving 'consent' for that one just yet. Maybe too soon for us, or him! We will keep you posted. Thank you all so much. Much Love!