Kasey Layne 9-29-12

I am pleased to report that today was....UNEVENTFUL!

Yes, it's too bad that he didn't get his ventilator out today. Yes, it's too bad that his lungs aren't totally cleared up and healthy enough to breathe on their own quite yet.

But it is wonderful that nothing new creeped up, he is in good spirits, constantly signing that he's hungry and thirsty and asking when he and I are outta here. He was even more alert today. The nurse said he is the best patient ever because most kids at his age who are on a vent have to be heavily sedated because they aren't compliant and are always yanking at their tubes. But they just tell him stuff and he listens to them. He is being so good for them. Usually he gives his nurses some heck. He really is filled with some supernatural peace and understanding beyond belief.

They had to give him two more units of blood today and fingers crossed that will be the last of his blood bank withdrawals. He listened to some music on his beloved IPOD today and his toes were a tappin'! He coughed up lots of yucky stuff today and the day nurse said his lungs sound better than they have since he got to the ICU. They take a chest xray every morning at 5:30 so hopefully tomorrow's will reveal that his productive coughing today means extubation tomorrow. They have cultured every possible excretion and so far no bacteria have grown. His fever seems to be dropping and as of tonight we can call it a low-grade fever. I like the sound of that!

He is still getting breathing treatments and every 4 hours his bed shakes, rattles, and rolls like the old hotel beds that required a quarter. That is to help loosen the secretions in his lungs to clear them out.

I required a little "mommy time-out" today as the reality of the last 3 days just hit me like a rock this morning. So when hubby and son got here today, they took me to lunch at RockBottom Brewery and then for a stroll along the 16th street mall while my mom and brother hung out with Kasey. Today was my brother's 23rd birthday so we got him a Zach Galifianakis T and a chicken that lays candy eggs :) It was good for a much needed laugh. I was in need of some off-color humor! I may need a few more mental health hours before our stay here is over. Tonight, I am grateful to all of you for your prayers and support. I very much prefer to be the one on the giving end but your support is a humbling reminder that God blesses us on the other side of the equation too.

Lots of love to you from the Christensen's.