Wednesday pm

Caroline is still in the weaning process and is on about 2 liters of oxygen today. The Pulmonologist did come by and had a long talk with me about Caroline & her restrictive lung disease. When Caroline came into the ER her CO2 levels were dangerously high, and he said they thought that they could have been high for some time. He thinks Caroline will benefit from a vent at night at home. She just doesn't have the ability to move air well enough not to have support, especially after this illness. Our plans are to continue to wean here off some of this O2 and get trained in the vent dept. I assured Caroline that the vent would fit in Aunt T's car and Sophie's room. That made her smile.

Wednesday am

Haven't seen RT this am and they haven't adjusted her settings-not sure what the hold up is but we're ready to move it! Caroline's working on some math worksheets. Feels good today. Nothing new to report until we see the Pulm. and RT. I'll post again after their visit.

Tuesday am

Caroline's up this am coloring her Square 1 Art project for school. It's nice to see her up. The RT and Pulm. just left and they're going to start trying to wean O2 and pressure support this am. She's trying to get used to the feeling--doesn't like it much but is not complaining-ALWAYS a trooper! They're going to let her be of the pressure support for four hours today because they don't want to push it. She's still on a good amount of O2 (3L) which the Pulm. hoped would have dropped yesterday. We're going to work on getting it down today. Her chest still sounds super junky but they assure me she sounds better and is moving air better. They put Caroline on Contact Precautions yesterday. The trach cx's came back so they thought it safest to gown/mask/glove it. They're calling this influenza (even though the rapid test came back negative and viral cultures weren't done) and pneumonia. We're taking it one day at a time. She's getting stronger and better every day.

Saw a wonderful movie today--Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs and spent a few hours at the mall. I got a new necklace and some red and black bracelets for the Falcons game tomorrow. Dance class started last night. I love it. It's just Chessa and me this year. I really love dancing! Hope everyone has a nice weekend. Peace out-- C

We love "normal"

Got a call from Neuro today and Caroline's brain MRI is normal! Thank God. We had an appt. with him on Friday and I mentioned Caroline's am headaches and he was concerned about increased intracranial pressure or another brain abnormality. Scared us to death. Now we'll go see the Opthal. to r/o anything eye related and will address this w/ the Pulm. because I'm thinking now maybe it's her CO2 levels due to her O2 requirement at night???? Just a guess. Speaking of O2, Caroline really has benefitted form her last expansion, is off O2 throughout the day and doing remarkably well! It's going to be a good year!

Caroline had a great first week back to school. This week she starts Target and Chorus and PREP classes at church. We're trying to get into a routine and so far she's doing great. Homework immediately after school is helping. She has to read for 20 minutes every night and that's going to be her biggest challenge--just getting still long enough to concentrate.

Tate's doing great. He's getting his stitches taken out today and has his meet and greet with his class tomorrow. He has a little separation anxiety right now which will make for an interesting first day at school, but I'll think he'll do great once he gets back into a routine. He really enjoyed school last year. We signed him up for baseball this fall and his first practice is Thursday!

First Day of School -- 4th Grade!

Caroline had a great first day back at school and she's really excited about the 4th grade. Her goal this school year is to make straight A's! Go Caroline!!