A Great Day!

Today has been a great day. The best day since being in Cincinnati for sure! Carter is doing exceptionally well. He has reached his goal feedings, his lipids and TPN were turned off yesterday afternoon and he is only requiring extra fluids at night. This means Carter only has two tubes! We have gone from six to two and hope to be going home with just one. Carter is doing so well that the Doctor gave us a pass from the hospital for four hours. Some of Brandon's family came to visit today and we all went to the park and out to eat. Carter loved every minute of it! As soon as we got in the car he started clapping and smiling and the only time he stopped was when he got a little hot at the park. Carter does not handle heat well, he get's dehydrated very easy. We really have to watch him outside. When we got back to the hospital Carter giggled himself to sleep. It was absolutely the sweetest thing. I think he realized he was going to be ok and he would be getting out of the hospital.

The Doctor's said today that as long as Carter continues to do as well as he is doing that we may get to go home MONDAY! They are going to cut his replacement fluids in half tonight and see how he does tomorrow. We are praying he will stay hydrated and we will be able to go home without the PICC line. Carter has developed an infection/abcess around his feeding tube although it is in a spot where it can drain on it's own. He is currently on antibiotics and as long as it continues to drain, he does not spike a fever and can maintain his weight we will be all set. They called our home healthcare agency today to make sure we will have all of our supplies waiting on us when we get home. All of Carter's future care will take place at Cincinnati Chilren's and John's Hopkins. They are talking with Carter's Doctors at home to make sure they are on board to help coordinate his care. We are extremely happy by Carter's progress and we are praying he will continue to thrive. Carter still has a long way to go, but we are for sure getting there! Please pray Carter will stay hydrated and will no longer need his PICC line. Please pray for him to maintain his weight and for his body to have the strength to fight off the infection. Thank you all so much for your unconditional prayers. Carter would not be where he is today without them!

Passed out!