one step forward - two steps back

Well -- it's been a pretty rough day for Tyler. He's been restless all day, can't sleep, can't rest and is back on the ventilator for support.

His blood pressure is running a bit too high and his patience is running a bit too low.

He's received a couple doses of I.V. Ativan to try to get him to rest but he won't allow the drug to let him sleep longer than five or ten minutes.

Poor little guy -- he's breaking my heart. He knows that I'm supposed to fix him but I can't this time.

I wish I had a magic pill to make him all better.

a rough night

We gotta take the bad with the good.

Yesterday Tyler was making small progress. The C.P.A.P. setting and the oxygen levels were turned down cause he was doing well.

During the night -- he started having a tough time so settings had to be increased.

I'm leaving for the hospital soon so I'll update more after I get to see him.

Tyler has turned a corner

As Craig and I came into Tyler's hospital room this morning -- we were greeted by one of Tyler's many physicians.

Either I'm getting older or these doctors are getting younger.

Anyway -- Tyler not only has severe lung disease but he has the lungs of an 80-year-old man.

We knew that.

Tyler's lungs have the capacity of an old man who has C.O.P.D. or severe emphysema.

Many of the physicians were talking late last night and early this morning and have come to the conclusion that Tyler has 'turned a corner.' They feel the worst of his illness is behind him and the road to recovery has begun.

Many of them honestly didn't believe that he would survive this episode of asthma. His oxygenation in his blood stream was a bit too low for awhile so, of course, we're concerned about more brain loss.

The settings on the airway assistance have been decreased again and they hope to have him off all breathing assistance within the week.

Early talk of being discharged from the hospital have begun and they are wanting to put Tyler is a rehab facility for about two weeks or so to give him some physical therapy. This will help him regain his strength and stamina. However, Tyler isn't a good candidate for rehab. He simply needs to come home. He doesn't tolerate anyone else taking care of him. He needs us.

We'll care for him at home just like we have in the past. He does much better with mom than he does with anyone else.

The photo shown above was taken a few years back while at the park feeding the ducks.

I'll post some new photos as soon as I can get some.

Saturday, May 9, 2009

My plan is to post some of the photos we have of Tyler that are my favorites. This photo was taken November 2003 as he was taking a quick nap on the couch in the front room.

Today doesn't bring much more news. The ventilator that Tyler has been on for the past 10-days was turned to a CPAP mode yesterday which requires him to do all the breathing on his own with just a bit of oxygen help.

After more than 24-hours of this -- he got a bit tired. The plan is to put him back on the ventilator tonight, give him a sedative to help him sleep and rest himself for another tough day tomorrow.

This evening when Craig and I walked into the room Tyler just looked at his dad and started to cry. His crying was his way of telling him that he wanted Craig to fix everything and make it better. Following a neck and shoulder massage Tyler relaxed a bit and started to fall back asleep.

I'll post more tomorrow after he rests for the night.

Tyler's Update

As many of you know by now -- Tyler was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) the end of April.

He had a severe asthma attack that Craig and I couldn't manage at home. We took him to the Emergency Room were he was quickly evaluated then admitted.

During the first few hours he was sedated with anti-anxiety medications to try to get his lungs to relax enough to move air. This attempt was unsuccessful so he had to be placed into a drug-induced coma using paralyzing drugs, pain relievers, anti-anxiety meds and others. It took extremely high doses of medications to get him to relax but it finally happened after about 36-hours of trying. In addition, he was placed on a ventilator because he was completely paralyzed.

Fast-forward to today -- Saturday, May 9, 2009 -- and Tyler has been off the coma-inducing drugs for nearly three days. Because of the high amount of drugs in his system -- he is responding slowly.

In the picture posted above you can see that Craig is reading Tyler his favorite story books while he rests quietly.

Tyler is responding appropriately with works he knows from the book and is giving Craig kisses on the cheek.

It's still a long road ahead for Tyler but like Craig and I have always said:

"If Tyler has the strength to get through this illness -- then we have the strength to get through it with him."

Please bookmark this site and I will post updates every evening to let everyone know how Tyler's progress is moving.

Tyler was dangerously close to not making it through this illness. His energy level is very low and his stamina is slight. Unfortunately he's still not out of the woods just yet but Craig and I remain hopeful.

Big Red / Little Red

I always thought it was very special to have a red-headed, curly-haired daughter. Now our family was blessed again with the addition of yet another pretty baby girl.

Christi will share her secrets of red, curly hair and the importance of sunscreen to ward off the freckles.

I like freckles.

Bernie's Little Red Wagon

What do you do with the little red wagon from your youth?

Well, you could throw it in the dumpster. You could give it to a charitable cause. You could give it to your children. Then to your grand-children.

Or -- you could leave it in the backyard playhouse where your daughter left it stand for the last time more than 15-years ago. The rain will come and dampen the wagon turning the bottom into rust. The sun will shine causing the paint to fade. And the heat will endure causing the tires to crumble.

But, still there it sits.

Then, two little kitties come along and discover the joy of a little red wagon. They don't care about rust, faded color or flat tires.

They only care about a secret hide-out. Someplace to sit and watch the bugs fly by and the birds land in the trees.

Remember we are under the influence of Leo so all the lions, lionesses, and simply domestic kitties are feeling the need to roar their little roars.

So as Bernie sits in her newly-claimed little red wagon and roars -- she lets everyone in the neighborhood know that she is the boss.