The Burlingames

Whoohoo!!! Eli’s chest tube came out today. Hallelujah!! We are so excited. This is one step closer to being able to go home. Some of his blood levels need to become more stable and we need to get his rash figured out (he all of the sudden broke out in hives or a rash in random places on his body) before we can go home. Today the doctor said it could be a couple more days (which means it could be 2 days or it could be 5 days, who knows). I’m just so excited that the tube came out, it means we are so close to being able to go home.

He is getting better at taking his medication. The sticker chart is a GREAT incentive for him, he really enjoys being able to put a sticker on his chart after taking his medication, going for a walk, eating some food, etc. Today he asked to put a sticker on the chart (we were just watching a movie, he hadn’t done anything to ‘earn’ a sticker), I asked ‘what for?’. His response, ‘I don’t know. Cuz I’m cute!’. How could anyone resist that?!?! ;-)

I had to laugh at how squirrely he was today. He was just so full of energy, it was a definite change from his previous behavior. I was just shocked and amazed! We did lots of walking, playing, talking, giggling, and smiling today. Oh it was a great day!! Very much needed for my heart, I was feeling really sad this morning so to have such a wonderful afternoon with Eli and Noah was great for me.

Prayer Request:

• Pray the doctors figure out what is causing his rash, once this is stabilized and taken care of, we should be able to go home. They won’t send us home until they can figure out what is causing the rash.
• Pray that he will continue to improve on taking his medication.
• Pray the fluid on his lungs will not return at all (we don’t want the chest tube to go back in).
• Pray for us, pray that we can remain patient and not get overly anxious with the possibility of coming home soon.

Thank you so much for all your love, prayers and support!!! You are all a sweet blessing to us.

Today they stopped the suction on Eli’s chest tube and tomorrow they’ll do an X-ray to see if there is any build-up of fluid in his chest. If there is no build-up of fluid, they are going to discuss taking out the chest tube. Pray, pray, pray that there is NO fluid build-up and that they can take out the tube tomorrow!!

We are still in the hospital but making some good progress. The doctors are optimistic that the chest tube could be coming out soon (1-3 days – but could be longer). Once the tube is out, we’ll get to go home within a few days after that. Yay!

Chest tube – The drainage seems to be slowing down, which means it is starting to dry up. This is GREAT!!!!!!! Eli has been up and moving around a lot these last 2 days, the doctors have told us he needs to walk a minimum of 5 times a day. We’ve been pushing him to go further for longer.The more he moves around the more fluid drains out.

Meds – The medicine taking has gotten a tiny bit better. We are still having to ‘force’ most of them in his mouth but he isn’t spitting out as much as before.

Incentive – His incentive for doing so well with taking his medicine, going for walks, listening to us/nurses/doctors have been putting stickers on a sticker chart. I’m wondering if this is something we’ll have to continue doing at home, if so, we’ll get stickers.

Please keep praying! We are so ready for life to resume to ‘normal’ (aka – everyone at home).

That’s what we’re taking today, baby steps. Baby steps are much better than peddling backwards.

Eli took a turn for the best yesterday evening. After the additional chest tube went in, some fluid came out and he took a nap, he was doing SO much better. Dave said last night he was so chipper when he woke up from his catnap, he ate a bunch of food and got up and moved around.

Today he’s gone for several walks and wagon rides. He found a kid’s sized shopping cart and LOVES to push that around. He has eaten a bunch of food and has watched several movies already today. In between each walk, he likes to sit in the chair and rest, before going out for walks again.

We are so thankful he is doing so much better. They have officially put the ‘step down’ label on his chart. Meaning – they don’t need to take his vitals as often as before and can leave him alone for longer periods of time. Whoohoo!!! Praise God!!!