Today was a good day except for one thing.....Thomas had a bloody stool.
Best case scenario is that it was caused from all of the bleeding from surgery, or from the heparin he is currently receiving.
Worst case scenario is NEC- necrotizing enterocolitis. His xray looked good, his belly is soft, and his lactic acid level is still decreasing, so hopefully this is not the case! It is concerning though since his white cell count and CRP were elevated this morning. To be safe, Flagyl was added in addition to his Vancomycin and Gentamicin (antibiotics), and he will remain NPO (nothing by mouth- but he's never been fed by mouth!) Pediatric surgery came by for a consult and they think he looks good too. They will be following his xrays and labwork and keeping a close eye on things. We would really appreciate prayers in regards to this!
We did get some good news today....Thomas will probably get his chest closed in the next few days if he continues to do well! Yay!!
Another great thing is that we have basically weaned off of Epi! Now just on Dopamine and Milrinone. They keep Epi going at a minimal rate just so its ready to go if they need it before the close the chest :)
We have been so blessed by the excellent care Thomas is receiving here at Egleston. Our nurses and doctors are all wonderful!
Everyone keeps asking if we are going home for Thanksgiving....no, we are not. We are going to be very content to be sitting in the CICU with Thomas.....we have so much to be thankful for!!!
So happy for all of the good news for Mr. Thomas! Will be in prayer for the latest concerns. Hope you guys enjoy your first Thanksgiving as a family of 3 despite spending it in the hospital. God continues to prove Himself over and over again. Stephanie King
ReplyDeleteWishing all three of you a quiet,healing and restful thanksgiving day! Am so happy for all the good progress, Thomas is quite a little man ! OOXXOOXX Anne
ReplyDeleteWhat a day of rejoicing and gratitude for you tomorrow - I am so glad to hear he's had an overall good day and will continue to trust that the Lord will stomp out these fires as they pop up. Go Thomas!!
ReplyDeleteStil praying hard for you and little
ReplyDeleteThomas!
Love, Jen and Joey
Glad to hear all is still going relatively well! What a wonderful Thanksgiving tomorrow will be for ya'll and for all of us out here rooting for Thomas! Praying for no more bloody poo and a decreasing WBC! Thomas just didn't want ya'll getting too relaxed, he wants to keep things interesting! Can't wait to see pics of him with his chest all closed up and his eyes opened up!
ReplyDeleteLots of love
MER
No NEC...No NEC...No NEC for Thomas (Gracie cheering for Thomas). Hopefully it was just from the oozing during the surgery, I mean it had to come out right? Thats what our prayers (& cheers are for)!!! That & his blood work looks better in the am so you can get another good sigh. Good sighs are always great!! Just wondering, how much time they let you guys stay with little man? I know you said that they kick you out for a while after "his rounds", but do you guys get to see him most of the time? I hope so. Glad for the good nurses & docs & continuity of care you seem to be getting for Thomas. I know that always gave me a great sense of relief when Garrett had consistency of care in our month & a half in the NICU. I think I cried just as much leaving our two favorite nurses as I did about finally getting to bring my baby home. I can remember one of them giving me the blanket that was under him one night when we left & that small gesture made me feel so comforted, that I took his "dirty" blanket home every night & slept with it. I could smell him & it also helped my milk production while pumping. If I smelled him my body just seemed to pour the milk out :) I hope tomorrow is your best day yet & I hope Thomas continues to show the doctors & all of us what he's made of...He's one tough little peanut. Wishing you both a wonderful Thanksgiving with your little guy.
ReplyDeleteMuch love & prayers~~~The Boone Family
Continued prayers for Thomas and the two of you.
ReplyDeleteI pray you have more wonderful news tomorrow.
Cynthia (Cindy) Howard
The Behm- "3"-- GOD is listening to the prayers of his people-- MAY we be found faithful till Thomas is healed- I love u and praying for u everyday-- I am thankful for 3 Behm's this year-- TRUSTING in HIM!!!!! HUGS!!
ReplyDeleteSo joyful to hear Thomas is exceeding expectations in so many ways! We will continue to pray for continued progress and look forward to more good news! Some of life's worst experiences bring us face to face with the best of God's love as well as the beautiful side of humanity. These challenges also give us instant perspective of what truly matters and what does not. Both are reasons for thanksgiving. :) Hope yours is full of much love and many blessings. Go Thomas! ~ Kristin Scott & family
ReplyDeleteI just want to thank you for all the updates, especially with the specifics. I too am a nerd, and while pediatrics is not my main area, I am trying to stay ahead. Mostly, thanks you for the specific prayer requests. With these, I feel like I am helping, if only from a distance. Loving and praying for you all!!
ReplyDeleteHome is where your family is, and right now thats CICU. This is a very good Thanksgiving! As you said, you have much to be thankful for, and you can be thankful there with or without turkey. So glad to hear increasingly good news with your updates. Blessings to you all...
ReplyDeleteCouldn't imagine you being anywhere else then next to your little bundle. Even though with all the strugggles this will be your best Thanksgiving because you have Thomas and you have your new family. No better feeling then being a mom and dad. When he is able to have kisses give him one from his Aunt Sue.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving Behm family!! Giving thanks today that you have had a relatively smooth course thus far and praying for continued improvement!!!
ReplyDeletehappy Thanksgiving! So glad to hear Thomas is making so much progress! Xo Sarah E
ReplyDeletewe're continuing to pray for you guys- hopefully the stool issue is just a teeny bump in the road and will be quickly resolved.
ReplyDeleteHappy First Thanksgiving as a family of 3!
mary m.
Happy Thanksgiving TJ, Melissa and Thomas! I am praying for you all and thankful for any an all good news for you today!
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