CRAZY couple weeks

It has been a rough couple weeks around here. 

Zachary got pneumonia and spent all last week in the hospital.  The viral infection in his lungs was making it more difficult for him to breathe, and consequently, raising his heart rate significantly.  We could tell he felt altogether crummy, and last Monday about midnight, went to the hospital after we were having trouble keeping his blood properly oxygenated with the amount of oxygen we had been authorized to administer by his doctors.  Ended up in the Pediatric ICU around 4:00 a.m.

He got more O2 and higher vent settings to help him breathe better.  He got sicker for a couple days but by Thursday morning was feeling better.  Got to go home on Saturday, although he missed the March of Dimes walk, which was that morning.  (Team Zachary raised more than $4,100).  Although he's on the upswing we still have to give him oxygen 24/7, probably for a couple more weeks until he can maintain his sats on his own.  And we've had to suction his increased secretions more often.  Seems like we dodged a bullet though, as we've heard that lung infections can be life threatening for kids with BPD (the lung disease he has).

Unfortunately, his homecoming coincided with his day nurse going on vacation, so we had no day or night nurse for most of the following week.  Started taking its toll on us after a day or so.  Last night we had a nurse and finally got a full night's sleep for the first time since he got home.  Didn't want to get out of bed this morning, that's for sure. 

The illness has delayed the tube weaning, which was supposed to start the day he ended up in the hospital.  Looks like we won't start until the end of June or the beginning of July at the earliest.  His pediatrician and therapists want him to be in optimal health when the process begins, as he is expected to lose weight, which he really can't afford to lose since he still weighs less than 17 pounds. 

We're all looking forward to going to Florida in a couple weeks for the family reunion.  Hope he's ready for all the attention he's going to get!