Monday, April 6, 2009

Down With Settings and Up with Pudding

We had a few changes today--we moved Dakin's pressure support and PEEP settings down on his ventilator. I couldn't tell you what the pressure support does, but the PEEP helps keep his lungs open when he breathes out. Moving them down is good--it's a movement toward possible vent weanings and coming off the vent for a little bit (what? dare we hope??).

He did well with it today--didn't seem lethargic or crabby. Tonight, however, he is not keeping his oxygen saturation up at the beautiful 98-100% where he usually is--he's sitting 96-ish. So I'm running a Xopenex treatment in the hopes of bringing his sats up. We'll have to see. It usually takes him a few days to adjust.

He is doing better with eating (I'm not sure if I blogged about the hunger strike that he's had going on: he decided it was way more fun to spit his food out than to swallow it), and by better I mean that he's at least taking solids again. We had pulled them and let him concentrate on the liquids since he gets his caloric necessities from his milk. But he happily--and without a fight--ate a cup of pudding for dinner. Hurrah. I'm tired.

8 comments:

Ashley said...

Yay Dakin!!! So glad you are doing so well!

Junior said...

way to go Dakin, such great news

Amanda said...

Great job little man!

Victoria Strong said...

Yeah for Dakin, and yeah for Mommy and Daddy!!! Hope you all have a great day tomorrow.

Josie said...

Hope he continues to do well!

April said...

I'm so glad his fever is gone! HOORAY for lower vent settings! That is so exciting!

Kimberley said...

Devon I don't presume to know anything about SMARD, but I do know that when we are getting ready to trial vent dependant kids with SMA (vent dependant usually from a bad illness) we bump the pressures down through the day only!! The pressures go back up at night so that the child can get a better rest. This day time weaning of pressures continues until short stints off of support are tolerated! Just wanted to put this out there. I am assuming of course that the goal would be to have him off the vent through the day and back on at night and when he is sick!?!

Glad to hear he is doing so well!

Greek Goddess said...

We rejoice in the small triumphs. Hurray and happy thoughts from your friends in CA.