Hospital Update and Pre-Father’s Day Fun

Good evening all… This is actually Gray taking over the blog… Just for tonight… I don’t want to disappoint the Miracle of the Heart fans out there so I will try and keep it brief and very visual (I’m more of a picture guys too).

Last night proved to be a long night for Maddie with pretty much no sleep.  Keegan was getting IV nutrition through his peripheral IV (PIV).  Kind of like the TPN at home but since it isn’t going through a central line, it’s a little weaker.  They call it PN… Anyway, the protocol for the PN through an IV is to check the site once an hour to make sure the IV is staying in place.  The alternative of the IV coming out of the vein would be filling the area under the skin with PN… and we really don’t want to go there with that kind of problem.  So the once an hour stirring of a kid that has been sleeping like a feather didn’t help… and it is really hard to sneak in and out of the room and not wake Maddie (only one or two recorded cases I’ve heard her admit to… and don’t ask about me… I sleep hard).

Just a few Pics from yesterday before I go much further… 

Maddie was kind enough to double up shift for overnight stay with Keegan so I could join my parents and Audrey in Frisco to run the 20^thDad Fest 5K.  We had to get Audrey up a little earlier than she was use to but I think she had a good time.  Pops and I ran and Oma was there to play photographer.  The event was held at Pizza Hut Park in Central Frisco (Home of the MLS Soccer Team FC Dallas).  The race was fun (and just like it sounds) very family oriented.  I would definitely go again.  Eveyone was just out to have a good time… and we did.  Dad and I started with me pushing the jogging stroller with Audrey for the first half.  We switched at the half way point and once the bottle neck cleared… we were off to the races.  I have to admit, my Dad has some wheels.  Happy Father’s Day Dad… Had a great time and so did Audrey.

I got Audrey back to Mamie and BD’s in time for lunch and some afternoon pool time… Always a hit.  I think we need to change her name from Lady Bug to Water Bug…

After to cleaning up and heading back to the hospital to relieve Maddie… the shift was mine.  Keegan and I had a pretty good afternoon.  After lunch we actually went for a very long walk around the hospital.  I was very glad for that.  I think the purpose was served because when we got back… we was extremely tired.  We actually played a game that Keegan loved.  I called it mystery elevator.  I let him pick a quiet bank of elevators and continue to pick the floor he wanted to see.  He loved it.  We would pop out and see the lobby, and then try another.  Endless fun.

As much as I need to try to make sure he takes it easy to he can heal and rest… I also need to really wear him out, so he can sleep, and heal.  Poor Keegan is just overly emotional (x100) and very tired (x1000). As Maddie had mentioned before, they had to hit him with a large stress dose of steroids for the surgery and he got another today.  I am sure that is not helping his anxious and frazzled state.  Poor Kid just doesn’t know what he really wants most of the time. Beyond that, we really didn’t have much today for him.  We drew another culture this morning.  Tomorrow will be the last.  We will then wait and if all of still negative by Wednesday then we should be good to go for the line placement.  So far yesterday’s is still negative, as is today’s…

Maddie was able to get away this afternoon to clean up and organize for tomorrow… I’m very proud of her.  She’ll be competing in her first Triathlon (well, not her first… but her 1^st in a very long time) tomorrow morning.  She’s been working very hard to round out her training on the bike and the swim.  She’s very solid on the running… and she’s getting more confident on the bike.  She’s trained the most on getting ready for the swim.  I think she’ll be fine but competing in water is just different and it will take ser some getting use to.  Anyway, the race is a 500M swim, 11mi bike, and a 5K run.  Should be a quick one… and I couldn’t be prouder of her trying.  This is really one of her passions.

Alright… well I think I have gone on long enough on tonight’s update… Talk with you all again soon… *(If I can cameo on the blog again after this… )*

Gray Harrison