Not what we were hoping.

Asking for prayers tonight. Blake and I are currently in an ambulance on our way to Riley with daddy right behind us. Last night after only 5 hours home Blake began to vomit. We quickly called Riley and they told us it could be a common GI bug or a GI problem caused from constipation post-op. We waited it out then after a long sleepless night and many more times of Blake throwing up we called again. They sent us to deaconess for rehydration and to get checked out. After a fluid bonus, labs, a KUB (xray of his belly) and a chest X-ray everything came back normal other than some constipation noted on the kuB. The plan was to send us home on miralax.....however Zach and I just felt that something was not right. So before discharge we requested a CT of Blake's head be done- and then it all went downhill from there. Blake is being admitted to Riley's children's hospital- again- for enlarged ventricles of the brain. Again we believe his revised shunt is not working properly. This is a very hard time especially after believing we were in the clear. Positive thoughts and prayers sent our way are much needed at this time! Thanks for all the support and we will try and keep everyone posted.

Flashback

Some things never change!

Home is where the heart is

In 8 days Blake has had two surgeries, a PICC line placement which was changed 4 times, 2 CT scans, 2 ultrasounds, a couple X-rays, he was on pretty much strict bed rest for 4 days (do you know how hard it is to keep a two year old in bed that long?!).

So happy to say though that it's all over this time and we are going home a lot earlier than our doctors expected! Maybe now we can get a solid good nights rest!!

Eat, Drink, and Get Stronger.

Blake's been working hard here at Riley for the past few days to make up for being in bed for a week. Blake is definitely weaker than usual and it will take time and stretches but he has already showed much improvement just within 24 hours!
As he recovers from surgery we will focus on eating....which he has absolutely NO problem with!






Drinking...which he is currently lacking- boy just has no thirst since we were admitted.



And get stronger with physical therapy.....which as you can see we are working extra hard on!

Surgery is over- recovery begins.

This morning bright and early we got up, stomach in knots to take our son yet to another surgery. We trust the doctors here at Riley, and know he is in wonderfully capable hands but it surely doesn't make things any easier. Blake was such a trooper before surgery this morning. We are those parents, that are always there, right by his side, prolly in the way- and yes I am that Mother that when they offered that I could jump in bed with him to ride to OR, I didn't think twice. So four feet in the air, I jumped on in to his crib and away we went daddy in tow taking pictures all the way.




















Surgery lasted a little over 2 hours. It was excruciating waiting, not knowing, playing all the scenarios of what could happen in your head. When Dr. Ackerman finally came out and told us his surgery went exactly 'text book' no surprises and they should be calling us back anytime. It was like a huge weight lifted off my shoulders and that twisting feeling in my gut....lightened....it didn't fully go away until I saw our sweet boy! Blake's ventricular shunt is now draining the excess fluid on his brain directly into his bloodstream, as the end of the shunt is located in the right atrium of his heart rather than into his belly and so far no problems. Blood pressure is good, oxygen and heart rate is good, and he is resting well. We will however, just like the first shunt be very observant in watching closely for signs of infection, malfunctions, and bleeding.

We are continuing out our 7 day treatment of antibiotics and he will stay on the neuro unit to watch for any neurological changes. (With the shunt being in his brain they must always watch for any change in behavior, tiredness, or motor abilities). So far so good. Our little miracle baby is still just as miraculous as ever as our little boy!

Yet another surgery.

We are here at Riley just preparing for Blake's surgery number....oh lord, who knows, they're all getting fuzzy and running together at this point. I think it's 11.

Blake is scheduled to have surgery tomorrow at 7:30. They are replacing his shunt, however because all cultures of the fluid in Blake's stomach have been negative for infection they don't believe some sort of virus that caused Blake to hold fluid into his abdomen causing the severe distention. They believe that his shunt didn't necessarily malfunction but rather as he has grown his stomach can no longer tolerate the amount of fluid draining from his shunt.

So what does that mean? Dr. Ackerman, his neurosurgeon, believe Blake's stomach is no longer a viable option for the shunt to drain to, so instead of placing the end catheter in his belly they are placing it into his right atrium of his heart to be absorbed into the blood stream. They will have a general surgeon, neurosurgeon in the operating room.

He had an ultrasound this morning and he still has some fluid in his belly, we are still uncertain if they plan on draining the rest in surgery or not. Which would entail sticking a needle into the area and aspirating the fluid out.

We are looking forward to Blake being able move a little more freely after this surgery, but with every surgery, especially one involving his shunt and heart always make us nervous. We will be trying to update everyone once he is out of surgery and in recovery.


Blake was able to make an escape from his room today. A trip to ultrasound in his fancy Riley's red wagon. He loved every second of his freedom he was given!








Gotta have our blanket everywhere we go!

Mothers Day Hospital Style!

So not exactly how I wanted to spend my 3rd Mother's Day. I've now spent two of the three at Riley hospital in Indy. My first Mother's Day Blake measured 13 inches and weighed 1lb 13 oz....this Mother's Day he is 33in and weighs 21lbs 8oz. That Mother's Day I couldn't hold my baby and today I've loved on him as much as possible!

But one thing that has not changed my day was spent loving whole heartedly the three most amazing men I know....Zach, Blake and Conor Hargis! What a lucky girl I am to have so many loves of my life!