Pleural effusion

We've had a good day so far. Benjamin is a little more alert but hasn't been allowed to eat anything b/c he has a pleural effusion, which is excess fluid in his chest cavity. They're giving him extra Lasix (diuretic) to try and get rid of it. He will be getting another chest x-ray in a couple of hours to determine its status. If it's worse or not getting much better, they will have to give him a chest tube to get it out. This pleural effusion was most likely caused because earlier today (or yesterday), they were unable to give him his Lasix b/c it would lower his blood pressure, which was already too low. So there was most likely a fluid build-up, and this is where it chose to collect. It's not the worse thing; it would just be one more hole to heal.

His pacemaker has been turned down a little bit to allow his heart to help more, but he still has a complete heart block.

His chest drainage tubes are doing well. They may be removed today. Our nurse said that the older children who have this surgery say that the chest tubes hurt the most, so once they're removed, he should be in less pain and be more comfortable.

I know all of this seems a bit overwhelming, but I am trying to remember what my online friend Amy told me about being in the hospital (her son Zach had heart surgery in July):

Ray and I had a "motto" that we could never get too excited about any news we received about Zach, nor could we get too disappointed. This came from learning how quickly things can change, and how differently a "team" of medical professionals can assess something. Your team will most likely give you contradicting information at times, but know it is a process that is fluid depending on how Benjamin is doing. They will eventually all get on the same page, but that sometimes takes a day. . .maybe even two. Remember it really is a good thing to have many people assessing how Benjamin is doing. ..you get better care with more eyes assessing different things. Just try and be patient as it is so hard to sometimes watch and wait.

So we are trying to remember that as we watch and wait. It is very easy to get your hopes up by some news, or to get discouraged by opposing news.

Here are some *adorable* pictures.

Getting a bottle yesterday

Much more alert today! He is focusing more on toys. Here is one of his favorites from Namma's house. (It was also Andrew's favorite.) Its name is "Ladybug." We're quite original around here.

"I'll be excited enough for both of us..."



Oh my goodness. I. Love. This. Picture.



Asleep. Less than a minute later. Just like a baby. A sedated one. :)

A few minutes ago (it's taken me awhile to get this post completed) they came and did his chest x-ray. I wasn't in here (pumping duty calls...) but Matthew said it was not fun. They had to place Benjamin on a board, and he was not a happy boy. He was wiggling and grunting as is his nature when he's uncomfortable. But he evidently wore himself out b/c he's sleeping peacefully right now. As you can tell below:

**Update**

While I was uploading the last two pictures, the doctor came in and said that the chest x-ray did not look good and that it, in fact, looks to be worse. So they are going to line up a chest tube to be inserted soon. Sigh. All of this is here to help him and get him better. It's just so much for his little body. Good thing it's not too much for our big God!