I might as well make it official

I've been working on a new blog this week, and I am hereby officially redirecting this blog to:

http://itsnotnothing.wordpress.com/

Isaac Update 07122009 0719

We had an uneventful night. Isaac opened his eyes for a few moments again and went back to sleep. He peed a lot and lost a bit of weight, though he has a long way to go before he has returned to the nine pounds he was when I brought him in. Prayer requests for this morning: -Isaac's blood sugar is too low, so his ketogenic diet TPN is being discontinued by the intentivist and he'll be put on regular diet TPN as soon as the TPN is ready. (TPN is IV nutrition, and the ketogenic diet is a low carb diet used to manage some metabolic diseases among other things). -There is much debate over how to manage Isaac's needs - should they treat him like a regular cardiac kid or like Danny. How much sugar does he need? How much fat and protein? What supplements? Please pray that God will grant the doctors much wisdom in this area. EAch doctor has his own way, and when they argue, they stress me out. -Isaac's lactate levels have risen back to around 7. Its been steadily rising from 4.9 since yesterday afternoon. Normal is around 2. Danny was pretty much never below 7. The rise in Isaac's could have to do with the blood sugar issues. Or the fluid overload. or something else entirely. Please pray that the lactate levels go back own. Other than that, it's another day of watching and waiting and fine tuning treatment according to Isaac's needs.

Isaac Update 07112009 2019

Today was eventful in a good way. Isaac is no longer on epinephrine! His lactate level is 4.7, which is still high (normal is less than 2), but Danny's lactate level was never lower than 7. That is one of several things that show that Isaac is different than Danny. Even if he has the same thing, he's much less severely affected.

I had my emotional breakdown this morning. We all knew it would come, and it did. I'm sure that it won't be the last one either, but the first is usually the worst. However, I was rescued from my pity-party by my husband and a old friend from the Little Light House - both of whom God used to speak peace to my heart and to calm my fears and ease my frustrations. God gave them both the ability to see though my foolish concerns and speak wisdom to me. In spite of it all, God is good, and He continues to bless us in the circumstances that we are in.

I don't understand His purpose in all of this, but I'm going to choose to trust Him anyway. Danny taught us that God is sovereign and faithful and true. Each of our other boys has lessons for us. I'm sure Isaac is going to teach us plenty.

edited to add: I am realizing that I need to tell you all that the perceived infection (if it existed) is probably going away with the broad-spectrum antibiotic that Isaac's on and the prayers. The cultures aren't growing anything. And he's peeing much better, though he is still puffy. He has a way to go in that area.

Isaac Update 07112009 0652

The night was uneventful. There was a tiny bit of weaning of medication. And some lab work. And a transfusion. And some sleeping. That was about it. We saw some old friends, too.

Please continue to pray for
-Isaac's blood pressure to remain consistent as the medications are very slowly weaned
-Isaac to be able to rest well today
-our other boys to have a wonderful day with Mimi and Popsy
-Jon and I as we move beyond shock and disbelief that this has happened, and because waiting is hard.

Isaac Update 07102009 2041

Well, it was the uneventful day we were hoping for. There's not much going on this evening except meds and labs and more waiting on labs and such.

Isaac is now warmed up to 96.8 degrees F. His color looks good, his output is now appropriate and he got a visit from Drew today. Drew had a lovely birthday and finished it off with a visit to Isaac.

Isaac Update 07102009 1014

Isaac's labs show that he may have an infection brewing. Please pray.

Isaac Update 07102009 0622

It's another day of waiting. And today we get to warm him up. Isaac's body temperature has been kept at about 92 degrees F for the past couple of days to protect his brain and organs from the effects of the hypoxic event he suffered while he was being resuscitated. All of his blood gases are looking about the same (normal ph with elevated lactate and slightly low bicarb). His kidney function has improved a bit, but there is still a lot of room for more improvement. He hasn't has more wiggly moments, but he has rested nicely this past night.