Tuesday, April 27

The pulmonologist visited Andrew yesterday, and Andrew was laboring and working very hard to breathe. They call it retracking when he's breathing so hard that his ribs are showing. The doctor decreased his pressures and rates on his ventilator. Andrew's carbon dioxide levels were elevated as well, and they're still high today. They were back in the 70s. We also received the results of a culture that was done on his trach. It showed that he has two bacteria growing that are from his acid reflux. So, his acid reflux is getting into his lungs and he's aspirating. We were hoping that they might be able to perform a procedure that would extend his g-tube to help relieve the reflux. The pediatric surgeon told us that he's too small for this procedure. Our last choice is to perform another surgery called a nissen. We've exhausted every option because we don't want our boy to go through another surgery, but we have to get the nissen done to help his lungs. The nissen is when they wrap the stomach around the esophagus, so the reflux can't go up. The surgery is scheduled for tomorrow at 4:00.

The girls had their 4 month checkup, and they did great. Adelaide is almost 10lbs and is in the 90 percentile. Mattie is almost 8lbs and in the 19 percentile. They did really great with their shots too. They're tough kids.

Praise
The girls great checkup.
Andrew's great doctors and nurses.
Meals, meals, and meals. You continue to support us, and we are so thankful.
Our friends from church and our neighbors, who helped us with our yard.

Prayer
For a successful surgery.
That this would finally help Andrew's lungs.
A speedy recovery and a move to Our Children's House.
Skilled hands for the surgeon.