The Tunnel

This morning when we called in to the PICU at 7am Hunter had not been Extubated (literally what it sounds like), the tube had not been removed. We planned to come and see him after the procedure was completed so we were sort of waiting for the call as they told us it would be "sometime this morning". At around 11am we got the call. Hunters tube had been removed and he was breathing on his own! What a relief. We jumped in the car and scrambled to get there as fast as we could as we couldn't wait to see what he looked like without his surgical tape mustache. When we arrived Dr. King was there, what a great human who doesn't just see his patients as "subjects", I know this as he walked to our sons bedside and talked him referring to him as "sweetheart"...literally. The cardiologist who calls the cardiac patient sweetheart. He said that when they removed the tube that Hunters heart rate elevated very quickly but he recovered nicely and was doing really well. They placed the nasal oxygen tubes in this nose supplying him with hardly any oxygen, just a kicker. It's just a little help to get his lungs back to capacity as he is so young.

We just hung around and talked to Nurse Nathan who was a wealth of knowledge and very helpful. As the day wore on Hunter began to wake up more and more, he was coming out of the morphine haze and was becoming very alert. His eyes were wide open as we talked to him and he looked around as if he was curious about all that was going on around him. His noise maker changed from "heart beat" to "birds chirping" and he looked around curiously. The biggest relief was how much he loved the binky. He was nuts for it and when he had it he sucked hard on it...this was so good to see as we worried about the possible aversion to feeding that the ventilator can cause. The nurses will begin to feed him Megan's milk orally tonight or tomorrow, it all depends on his little tummy and some other tests come back positively.

The other amazing part of today was the fact that he is so vocal and expressive. We can tell that there is a bit of discomfort occassionally by the looks on this face, his brow beating and his voice! He can cry! Most babies vocal chords are somewhat compromised by the tube and it takes a day or two, not Hunter. He squeeks so softly then lets you know when you are getting on his nerves, so nice to hear (and to know). As we sat there the minutes and hours flew by...we were so excited by this as progress and good news make time fly. He was hiccuping and sneezing, peeing and pooping...all such regular every day occurances that we take for granted. It so amazing how beautiful he is without that damn tube. We had such a hard time leaving today but we know he needs his rest and not constant stimulation. Progress.

This morning I was pulling up different youtube videos of trains for Stella's enjoyment (she loves Thomas the Train). As we were watching these trains go through tunnels I felt like we were on the track with the train. We started this adventure in the light, having an idea of where we were going but unsure what lie ahead. As we entered the dark tunnel we were scared and anxious. As we now feel our way through the darkness we are still unsure but the path is clearer and we can at least see the faint light at the end...as we struggle to keep ourselves moving and progressing the light is getting larger and brighter...we can see it and we can feel it.

Tonight we got a call from the Nurse who said that they plan to remove the main arterial line in his right arm tomorrow, this means that we can hold him tomorrow!

Mid blog-post update: 8:30PM We just got a call from Brooke who is visiting Hunter tonight to read him a story, she told us that they are removing the arterial NOW! We are off to hold him and snuggle him now...we don't want to waste minute! Papa is on his way to hold down the fort while Stella sleeps...like I said, the light is close.