Kessler Is Home

WARNING: If you don't like to see pictures of babies hooked up to medical machines, then don't look below. (Ashley's note)
------------------------------------------------------------





The last four days have taught us a lot and given us perspective as to just how blessed we are. When you first find out you're having a kid, everyone asks if you want a boy or a girl. The clichéd answer is, "So long as it's a healthy baby." I avoided saying that, though it was true. You envision your life with a baby and the baby growing just how you did and how a lot of others have. But you also realize that things don't always go how you envision them. We know several parents who've had children with debilitating ailments from skin disease to brain tumors. After these past four days, I can say, "I can imagine what that would be like," but that's all it would be, imagining. There was never really a moment where I thought there was a likely chance for long-term issues resulting from Kessler's sickness. For that, I'm thankful.

Last Sunday night, Kessler came down with a minor cold, or so we thought. He became more congested to the point he was having trouble breathing by Thursday night. Friday morning, we took him to the doc where his oxygen saturation was found to be low. Off to Baptist Hospital we went where they did a chest x-ray, a deep nasal suction, and a couple other tests. They said it was RSV, a respiratory infection that is risky for infants, and admitted Kessler for monitoring. Later that day, his breathing worsened and his oxygen saturation briefly dipped to 55%. A cannula was then placed in his nose to provide a steady stream of O_2.

After a few apneic spells, the doctors thought it best for him to move to an area of more acute care where he could be monitored closely. This also would help a concerned mother rest more easily.

His thick congestion continued to make it difficult for him to breathe throughout the night. So much of the guy's energy had to be focused on breathing that he was unable to sleep or eat. To get him some energy, they had to start an IV in his little arm. You'll see the heavy duty wrap and medicine cup to keep him from ripping out the IV.

Friday night was his roughest night. He had trouble sleeping and didn't eat for almost 24 hours. As a parent, you're toeing the line of trusting God and worrying. I laid in the room the whole night, most of the time praying for him to calm and get some rest and for some of his congestion to clear. His stomach was empty. He was exhausted. Yet he couldn't rest, because he couldn't breathe. For a four or five hour stretch he would spit out his pacifier, cry, and fight to breathe through the thick mucous. I would get up and dip his pacifier in some sucrose and put it back in his mouth to soothe him. This worked for a bit until he got worked up again because of the congestion. Every 45 minutes the nurse would come in to deep suction his nose; running a plastic tube down each nostril to help clear the junk. Let's just say Kessler didn't like that too much. But, it helped. And gradually he got better. He got a little rest. We were able to hold him. Saturday, we moved to a regular Pediatric room. He was in better shape, but still needed oxygen and the IV and was still having trouble eating. Sunday came around. He rested more. He ate. He breathed. They stopped the deep suction. He ate some more. And slept some more. And breathed easier. And so did his parents. Around 6pm Sunday night, the feisty boy decided he didn't want the cannula in his nostrils any longer. So I watched his oxygen saturation level and it remained at 100%! He had no fever. He had turned the corner. Ash had stepped out to get a snack and I called her to celebrate. This was the best news we had gotten in quite some time, and somewhat unexpected as well.

The medical staff monitored him for another 18 hours and he maintained his solid vital stats. Now, we're home and he's gone from a taped-up, medicine-cup-on-hand, IV-in-vein, hard-to-breathe, uncomfortable little boy to a cute, colla-poppin' little boy more like the Kessler you see below.

Thank you for your prayers and concern. An easy-breathing Kessler just spent the last 2 hours asleep on my chest - one of the best feelings in the world.