{Spring 2025}
1 year ago
Monday, February 16, 2009
Good Morning
Good Morning! Olivia is definitely showing signs of improvement. The cultures for RSV and influenza are showing no signs of growth, which is good. The pulmonologist was in today and said she really thinks it's pneumonia. The urine culture showed that she has a urinary tract infection. The urine sample was collected using a collection bag which the doctors agree is fairly unreliable. They put in a catheter today to get a better sample to retest for a UTI. They are going to ween her steroids further today. They started her on 10 mg four times each day. Yesterday they went to three times daily, and today went down to twice daily. They think she is retaining fluids though, so they are starting her on Lasix today, a diuretic to help her get rid of some of the fluid. As far as her breathing is concerned, they are going to keep her right at where she is for right now. She is usually on 0.3 liters of oxygen at home. They have her on a mixture that is 40% oxygen at a pressure of 4 liters today. Still no idea when Olivia will be going home, but Joe and I guess is will be at least a few more days.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Short Update
Not much new to report. The were able to turn Olivia's oxygen down from 55% to 40% today and then begin reducing the pressure. She has tolerated the feedings well today so they have been able to increase her feeding rate from 6ml per hour to 18ml per hour.
Here are some pics of the poor kiddo all hooked up!
Olivia in the ER sporting the big oxygen mask and wrapped in an adult size gown.
Olivia was so hot she just wanted to sleep naked with no covers!
Snoozing with her pink blankey and nukie!
Happy Birthday Daddy!
Happy Birthday Daddy!
Today Joe celebrates another birthday in the hospital with Olivia. My mom is going to come up and sit with Olivia so Joe and I can go home and get clean clothes and go out for dinner for Joe's birthday.
Olivia is doing a little better today. She is very crabby today, but I would be too if I felt that yucky! Olivia is still on the high flow, but they are trying to decrease the amount of oxygen and if she tolerates that well they will begin decreasing the pressure. They also started feeding her a small amount today. They are feeding her 6ml per hour through her G-tube. That is on a pump so it is just a very slow feed. That amounts to only one ounce every 5 hours. If she tolerates that well with out spitting up then they will gradually increase those feedings. In addition to those things they have also started chest PT with Olivia today. They have a small pink rubber circle that they use to tap on her chest to help loosen the secretions so she can hopefully cough them up. I though she would hate this, but it is in fact the opposite! That was the calmest she's been all day. She actually fell asleep while they were doing it and woke up when the stopped. We still have no idea how long we'll be here, but at least it looks like she is beginning to show signs of improvement. We'll continue to update as we have new information to share.
Today Joe celebrates another birthday in the hospital with Olivia. My mom is going to come up and sit with Olivia so Joe and I can go home and get clean clothes and go out for dinner for Joe's birthday.
Olivia is doing a little better today. She is very crabby today, but I would be too if I felt that yucky! Olivia is still on the high flow, but they are trying to decrease the amount of oxygen and if she tolerates that well they will begin decreasing the pressure. They also started feeding her a small amount today. They are feeding her 6ml per hour through her G-tube. That is on a pump so it is just a very slow feed. That amounts to only one ounce every 5 hours. If she tolerates that well with out spitting up then they will gradually increase those feedings. In addition to those things they have also started chest PT with Olivia today. They have a small pink rubber circle that they use to tap on her chest to help loosen the secretions so she can hopefully cough them up. I though she would hate this, but it is in fact the opposite! That was the calmest she's been all day. She actually fell asleep while they were doing it and woke up when the stopped. We still have no idea how long we'll be here, but at least it looks like she is beginning to show signs of improvement. We'll continue to update as we have new information to share.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Happy Valentine's Day from the PICU
Happy Valentine's Day from the Kiefers! Another Valentine's Day and Birthday in the hospital! UGH!
Last night they tried to put Olivia on CPAP and BiPAP, but to say she didn't like them would be an extreme understatement. It was amazing the energy she came up with to fight those things! They then decided to put her on the High Flow, which is a mixture of air and oxygen blown in at a higher pressure. They also have her on IV antibiotics and steroids, both enhaled and IV.
They don't want her eating right now for fear that she will aspirate and do more damage. She hasn't eaten since 9:30 yesterday. We think she is getting hungry from the steroids they are giving her, but better to give her time to recover before pushing the eating thing.
Her rapid RSV test came back negative, but the longer culture for RSV and other infections won't be back until after Monday. Some doctors have said it's definately pneumonia, others said it's not pneumonia but they're unsure what, and this morning the doctor said it's most likely RSV. So for now, we don't know what she has, just that she still has a fever and a hard time breathing.
Last night they tried to put Olivia on CPAP and BiPAP, but to say she didn't like them would be an extreme understatement. It was amazing the energy she came up with to fight those things! They then decided to put her on the High Flow, which is a mixture of air and oxygen blown in at a higher pressure. They also have her on IV antibiotics and steroids, both enhaled and IV.
They don't want her eating right now for fear that she will aspirate and do more damage. She hasn't eaten since 9:30 yesterday. We think she is getting hungry from the steroids they are giving her, but better to give her time to recover before pushing the eating thing.
Her rapid RSV test came back negative, but the longer culture for RSV and other infections won't be back until after Monday. Some doctors have said it's definately pneumonia, others said it's not pneumonia but they're unsure what, and this morning the doctor said it's most likely RSV. So for now, we don't know what she has, just that she still has a fever and a hard time breathing.
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