Just when we think we’ve figured most of it out and found a groove we can easily weave in and out of, we’re reminded that life isn’t about staying in one groove. Good or bad we are going to get nudged, or shoved, out of that groove at some point, maybe multiple points, along the way.
We are not in some major medical crisis, and for that I am so, so grateful. But this is quite possibly the sickest Logan that we have ever experienced.
As always, I am not expecting that everyone wants to follow every step of life with us, but this always helps me process, share and maintain perspective on all that life is at times. And in the middle of it all my perspective is usually different than when I have a chance to look back on how things played out.
Logan has been sick since last Thursday. His upper respiratory infections usually start with some sneezing, a runny nose, coughing and possibly an ear infection. Rarely fever and typically treated with saline, suction and an antibiotic if needed.
This time it started with elevated temps and a thicker than usual cough.
He slept most of the day on Thursday, after ‘coughing up’ most of his breakfast. We decided to maybe get a jump on things and for the first time in his 10 years of life I took him to an Urgent Care. My hope was that if he had a raging ear infection or flu we could get started on treatments quickly.
Ears looked fine, lungs sounded fine and the flu swab was negative. Suggestion from there was to go to ED since we couldn’t pinpoint the origin of fever. We decided it was probably just the start of something we could handle and we would follow up with his pediatrician the next day.
Once we got to his peds office he seemed to perk up. Isn’t that how it always goes? Another flu test and an exam to check all the usuals. Lungs sounded fine, ears looked fine and the flu swab was negative. We did some suction and coughing and he sounded better. We figured it was the start of the type of upper respiratory infections we are used to and went home with a prescription, a clear plan and confidence in that plan.
Once we got home he seemed exhausted, although he had not done too much other than sleep since he got up the day before. I laid him down for a nap and he didn’t really get up until the next day when we decided his fevers, lethargy and oxygen levels were enough to warrant a trip to Levine.
While his O2 sats were not super low and his chest X-ray was essentially clear, they decided that staying overnight for some oxygen support would be a good plan.
Again, we had a clear plan and confidence in that plan.
Overnight he did well and didn’t really need the oxygen much. The next morning he spiked a fever (the highest we had seen so far), but it responded well to ibuprofen and we felt confident that we could handle everything else at home.
Once we got home he pretty much slept...and slept and slept. His O2 levels were good throughout the day as Miss Kim checked them and he only had slightly elevated temps at times. Not even enough to give ibuprofen. But by Monday night it was hard to get him to wake up and stay awake and in checking his oxygen saturation, even when we had him basically sitting up, we couldn’t get his numbers out of the high 70s.
We decided it was best to head back to Levine. I was nervous to drive Logan myself with him in his chair all the way to the hospital, not able to really keep an eye on him. So Fred got us there and checked in before he headed back home - somewhere around 2:30am. Sweet Freddie slept through the entire process of us getting out of the house and our wonderful neighbor (Kerry) stayed there in case he woke up.
From there this all has seemed super crazy. Once in the ED they maxed out the nasal cannula O2 and just couldn’t keep him in a range that was acceptable. They put him on high flow O2 and began the bloodwork, repeat chest X-ray and urine sample to try and figure out what is going on.
We’ve been up and down on O2 since, but luckily all the other blood test results appear to be normal. Even after a 3rd chest X-ray, his lungs still look pretty good.
Overnight it got a little crazy as his oxygen levels wouldn’t really stay stable and so O2 was adjusted. We actually got a little rest last night though which was a bonus for us both!
So here we are. Close to a week since all the craziness started. The team came in this morning with some answers and a plan. The viral panel showed metapneumovirus - which they related to RSV seen in little ones. In most of us, this would just look like a cold.
So the plan for now is that we don’t need to add any additional medications, but we will continue with oxygen support, add some respiratory therapies and have as our goal to keep him out of the PICU. They mentioned that this can be kind of hard on the lungs and even after he goes home he may have some respiratory issues.
But for now we have a clear plan and we have confidence in that plan.
As Fred and I love to say - make a plan and work the plan. But….I have to keep in mind that sometimes plans need to change. Or at the very least have flexibility for alterations.
Oh the complexities of a child like sweet Logan. When the team came in he was having a mild seizure, so at least we get to keep that in the mix. 🙄
We’re also getting his wheelchair up here (thanks Papa!) so we can get him sitting up a couple of times a day.
Thankfully he is tolerating his feedings well, wetting diapers well and sleeping very peacefully when he sleeps. He has a gnarly cough that doesn’t move stuff super well, but hopefully we will be able to figure out ways to help him with that also.
There are no thank you’s that cover how grateful we are for the prayers, calls, food (thank you Becky!), sweet messages, dog care (thank you Debbie!) and every offer for everything else (to help with Freddie, to hang with me). All of it. I can only hope that should any of you find yourself in a similar situation, you feel the love and support that we feel. And my prayer is that we can offer that back to you someday.
So for now we work the current plan. We pray for healing as well as patience during the process. And we keep our eyes on all that exists for which we can be eternally grateful - like peaceful sleep, hot coffee, great O2 levels, quiet overnight nurses, the best husband, the greatest kiddos and a rock star support system.
We are not in some major medical crisis, and for that I am so, so grateful. But this is quite possibly the sickest Logan that we have ever experienced.
As always, I am not expecting that everyone wants to follow every step of life with us, but this always helps me process, share and maintain perspective on all that life is at times. And in the middle of it all my perspective is usually different than when I have a chance to look back on how things played out.
Logan has been sick since last Thursday. His upper respiratory infections usually start with some sneezing, a runny nose, coughing and possibly an ear infection. Rarely fever and typically treated with saline, suction and an antibiotic if needed.
This time it started with elevated temps and a thicker than usual cough.
He slept most of the day on Thursday, after ‘coughing up’ most of his breakfast. We decided to maybe get a jump on things and for the first time in his 10 years of life I took him to an Urgent Care. My hope was that if he had a raging ear infection or flu we could get started on treatments quickly.
Ears looked fine, lungs sounded fine and the flu swab was negative. Suggestion from there was to go to ED since we couldn’t pinpoint the origin of fever. We decided it was probably just the start of something we could handle and we would follow up with his pediatrician the next day.
Once we got to his peds office he seemed to perk up. Isn’t that how it always goes? Another flu test and an exam to check all the usuals. Lungs sounded fine, ears looked fine and the flu swab was negative. We did some suction and coughing and he sounded better. We figured it was the start of the type of upper respiratory infections we are used to and went home with a prescription, a clear plan and confidence in that plan.
Once we got home he seemed exhausted, although he had not done too much other than sleep since he got up the day before. I laid him down for a nap and he didn’t really get up until the next day when we decided his fevers, lethargy and oxygen levels were enough to warrant a trip to Levine.
While his O2 sats were not super low and his chest X-ray was essentially clear, they decided that staying overnight for some oxygen support would be a good plan.
Again, we had a clear plan and confidence in that plan.
Overnight he did well and didn’t really need the oxygen much. The next morning he spiked a fever (the highest we had seen so far), but it responded well to ibuprofen and we felt confident that we could handle everything else at home.
Once we got home he pretty much slept...and slept and slept. His O2 levels were good throughout the day as Miss Kim checked them and he only had slightly elevated temps at times. Not even enough to give ibuprofen. But by Monday night it was hard to get him to wake up and stay awake and in checking his oxygen saturation, even when we had him basically sitting up, we couldn’t get his numbers out of the high 70s.
We decided it was best to head back to Levine. I was nervous to drive Logan myself with him in his chair all the way to the hospital, not able to really keep an eye on him. So Fred got us there and checked in before he headed back home - somewhere around 2:30am. Sweet Freddie slept through the entire process of us getting out of the house and our wonderful neighbor (Kerry) stayed there in case he woke up.
From there this all has seemed super crazy. Once in the ED they maxed out the nasal cannula O2 and just couldn’t keep him in a range that was acceptable. They put him on high flow O2 and began the bloodwork, repeat chest X-ray and urine sample to try and figure out what is going on.
We’ve been up and down on O2 since, but luckily all the other blood test results appear to be normal. Even after a 3rd chest X-ray, his lungs still look pretty good.
Overnight it got a little crazy as his oxygen levels wouldn’t really stay stable and so O2 was adjusted. We actually got a little rest last night though which was a bonus for us both!
So here we are. Close to a week since all the craziness started. The team came in this morning with some answers and a plan. The viral panel showed metapneumovirus - which they related to RSV seen in little ones. In most of us, this would just look like a cold.
So the plan for now is that we don’t need to add any additional medications, but we will continue with oxygen support, add some respiratory therapies and have as our goal to keep him out of the PICU. They mentioned that this can be kind of hard on the lungs and even after he goes home he may have some respiratory issues.
But for now we have a clear plan and we have confidence in that plan.
As Fred and I love to say - make a plan and work the plan. But….I have to keep in mind that sometimes plans need to change. Or at the very least have flexibility for alterations.
Oh the complexities of a child like sweet Logan. When the team came in he was having a mild seizure, so at least we get to keep that in the mix. 🙄
We’re also getting his wheelchair up here (thanks Papa!) so we can get him sitting up a couple of times a day.
Thankfully he is tolerating his feedings well, wetting diapers well and sleeping very peacefully when he sleeps. He has a gnarly cough that doesn’t move stuff super well, but hopefully we will be able to figure out ways to help him with that also.
There are no thank you’s that cover how grateful we are for the prayers, calls, food (thank you Becky!), sweet messages, dog care (thank you Debbie!) and every offer for everything else (to help with Freddie, to hang with me). All of it. I can only hope that should any of you find yourself in a similar situation, you feel the love and support that we feel. And my prayer is that we can offer that back to you someday.
So for now we work the current plan. We pray for healing as well as patience during the process. And we keep our eyes on all that exists for which we can be eternally grateful - like peaceful sleep, hot coffee, great O2 levels, quiet overnight nurses, the best husband, the greatest kiddos and a rock star support system.
1 comment:
Thinking about you and praying for y’all!
Post a Comment