PICU

BAD NEWS!  Lolly is in the PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit).  Last night, she had a blood transfusion.  She needed the blood, but it added a lot of extra fluid that she didn't need (she's in kidney failure- extra fluid is a very bad thing), and it started to get into her lungs a bit.  When I left after 1:30 a.m. to take Sammi back to the apartment, Lolly's breathing was sounding quite labored.  She had been wheezing a lot, and was requiring frequent albuterol treatments to keep her sats up. 

I got back to the apartment and after feeding Sammi again, I got to bed about 2:30 a.m.  I got a call at 3:30 a.m. that there was a problem.  The doctor I spoke with was considering sending her to the ICU, but wanted to consult with a few people first.  She told me to try to sleep for a few minutes (ha!) and she'd call me back.  She called back a few minutes later, saying they were going to take her to the ICU.  The fluid in her lungs was concerning (seen on the x-ray) as well as her O2 sats.  She's also been having pretty constant fevers, so they started to worry about possible pneumonia.

I got here in record time (8 minutes flat!!!), and by the time I came in, Lolly was in the PICU with my mom (who is not a big fan of drama when she's on the night shift).  It was a little overwhelming when I walked in to a room full of people, all of them trying to help my little girl.  I took over for mom, and tried to hold Lolly's skinny little (but extremely strong!) arms down while they held a C-pap machine over her nose (since her oxygen cannula wasn't doing the trick before, they used the C-pap which gives oxygen AND pressure to help her breathe).  She was not a fan (to explain it in the mildest way possible).  Totally and completely freaking out would explain it a bit better.  Her sats were still in the 70's, so they tried the bi-pap (sp?), which gives air and pressure on both the inhale and exhale.  That didn't work, so they're bagging her, and her sats are in the high 90's (good!).  We are trying to avoid at all costs having to give her a breathing tube (intubation).  That would be a HUGE step backwards.

I was down with Lolly for about an hour and a half, which was exhausting (they tried to give her some mild sedatives, but they didn't seem to help one bit).  At least she has a LOT of fight in her.

I had to trade off with my mom (who had been taking care of Sammi in our old room) to nurse Sammi.  Mom is down there right now with Lolly, and I'm about to head back in.  As I was leaving, they were just starting dialysis.  We're hoping they'll be able to pull off a lot of the extra fluids and get her feeling better again (she had gotten very puffy). 

It's been a crazy roller coaster ride already, and it's only 7 a.m.  Ben is already on his way down from Idaho. 

Things are not that awesome today (but last night was great!).
Hoping things start to look up again!