CafeAlex: Saturday Morning

Alex was more awake over the past 24 hours. However he still has not had any food since Sunday.

The Internal Medicine doctors have decided Alex needs to be feed through a tube up his nose.

On the better side, his lungs have cleared up. The docotors feel his pneumonia is clearing up. More than once Alex has pulled off his head bandage. Here Dale has to reapply it.

Last night around 4 AM he woke up and realized he had needles in the arms, a catheter, his head rapped, something clipped to his finger and both legs wrapped with something squeezing them to increase circulation. He let out a very BIG yell. Both RNs came running and I said, 'He is awake.'

Now we have to figure out how to keep him from pulling everything off. They considered restraints, we suggested some type of homemade sleeve, but the decided on 'boxing gloves'. Soon they went. The RN was very pleased with his work until 2 seconds later Alex had one off, had tossed it across the room and was proceeding to try and remove the wrapping from his head.

Okay back to last night. From 4 AM to 5:10 I am by his bedding trying to get him not to pull any thing off. He falls asleep. Sure enough 15 minutes later the nurses are in to 'turn him'. Alex gets

He is showing some signs of bedsores and inactivity.

Okay I get him settled back down and 10 minutes later it is time for 'vitals'. Once again he gets wakened. Again becomes agitated (mostly because I think he does not understand he can go 'potty' while still in bed.) So now we have got him back asleep a little after 6 AM. 6:15 it is the respiratory nurse. 'We have to give Alex his treatment." So now they hold a mask over his nose and mouth for 7-8 minutes and pump O2 and drugs into him.

Okay not so bad. I lay down to go to sleep (they have a chair with a pull out cot.) and Alex screams out again. Okay I am up. He is trying to pull stuff off and I think needs to go potty.

7:15 his Doctor (Joe David Bowers, who also happens also to go to my church.) tells me they need to put a feeding tube down Alex's nose. We give him more drugs, take a few more vitals, and now Marycke arrives... just in time to see them shoving a tube up his nose. 3 nurse and Marycke held his hands, legs and head, as the tube is inserted. Looking good, looking goods, BAM! Alex breaks the grasp of someone and yanks the tube back out.

Okay more staff is called and we go for attempt number two. Let's just say it did not work. Marycke was thankful I was not shooting video. The tube started down, there some screaming, some coughing and then lots a blood was spit across the bed and onto the doctor. Guess that says enough that they decided no to do the tube for now.

Marycke is with him now so I can come home, shower, check email and write some new posts. Then I am going back over. Grandpa was on his way up as I left. We have had several visitors and appreciate each and every one. Still, remember to call Marycke first. we are not sure what we will be doing to the boy.

Prognosis, we will be there 3-4 more days. The Dialantin and Phenobarbital are in good therapeutic ranges. However he is still have seizures that never manifest to the 'outside'. The EEG is seeing the activity. Marycke is noticing a few changes in his eye pattern. But a good Mom seems always to be able to do that.

Thanks again. Not sure when I can post again so here are some pictures and even some videos.

Neal

This video shows Alex waking up and me telling him he would have to ‘wait five’ before removing anything from his body.