Broadband!

Hey, who turned on the high speed? I just discovered a new wireless network connection today for guests at Memorial Sloan-Kettering that hasn’t been on before. Ah, no more connecting over Bluetooth to my cell phone as a modem!

Ok, so there is more good news that you probably care more about than my high speed internet discovery. Eli’s BiPAP machine was turned down a notch today since he’s been doing well with his breathing. He also has his blood pressure more under control since we finally convinced them to let him get back on his normal cocktail of 3 blood pressure meds. That seemed to work. Imagine that.

So, assuming Eli does well with this lower pressure setting, we might be able to continue to wean him down over the next several days until he no longer needs it! One thing they think might be causing the wheezing is that there is a respiratory virus going around in the PICU and maybe he caught something. They did a nasal swab, but it takes 4-5 DAYS for it to show if he’s clear or not. Meanwhile, everyone coming into the room has to put on a mask and robe in case he is contagious. Makes it pretty miserable in this room since wearing a mask is the pits. I thought it was going to be 24 hours, but when the Doctor said 5 days, I couldn’t help but complain. 🙂 Didn’t do me any good in regards to taking off the garb, but I felt a little better. I draw the line at sleeping with this stuff on.

So, we are just staying the course and trying to get him up and around as much as possible. He doesn’t like it when we make him walk, but it helps to get the “junk” out of his throat and to help make him cough when we do the Chest PTs. The nurses are calling it his “massage”. I think that sounds better than his “beatings” which is what I call it. 🙂 Regardless of what it is called, he doesn’t like it. However, yelling requires taking a big breath, so we are happy with yelling as well.

He has started talking significantly more today than yesterday. That’s a good sign that he is feeling better, because when he reads a book and doesn’t answer a question, you know he’s not feeling well. Today when he was reading a book with Lacey and I, he was definitely participating more.

Sorry I didn’t update yesterday, I was tired and there really wasn’t much to say. Not much happened. Hopefully we’ll get through this weekend and start to have conversations about going home next week. We’re not sure when that is going to be possible, but we’re obviously all gunning for as soon as it is safe to do so!

From New York City