Baby Steps...Update 4/18/13

Sorry for the lack of updates.  We have been busy trying to take care of Carter and take care of ourselves.  We are still in the PICU.  Carter is still on the the strong medication that will require him to stay in the PICU until he is off of it.  The plan is to try and start weaning it this afternoon.  It will take days to wean him off of it.  They will provide him with other medications to help with the withdrawal process and we will increase all of his other medications to help with his sedation/pain issues.  The medication has worked so well that we are nervous for them to take him off of it.  We know it eventually has to be done, but it has been so nice to see him actually resting.  The goal is for him to be able to be weaned off of it and use other medications that will keep him sedated and still allow him to be transferred to the Urology floor.  The PICU Doctor's along with Carter's Urologist all agree that Carter's care will be taken better care of on the Urology floor.  They are extremely experienced with Carter's condition and know all kinds of tricks to manage his care.  They also agree that Carter has to stay completely still for the surgery to be a success and will do whatever it takes to keep him still. 

From a surgery aspect Carter is doing great.  We are slowly making baby steps in the right direction.  His incisions are starting to heal.  We have started feeding him through his J-tube and he is already tolerating his goal feeds.  This has been a HUGE relief!  Our main concern with the surgery was Carter's intestinal failure issues.  They have done no further testing for Carter's blood clot.  There is no treatment they can provide Carter right now for it, so it is pointless to put him through any tests.  Carter's last chest x-ray showed that the pneumonia has improved.  He is still on oxygen and probably will be until we are able to decrease some of his pain and sedation medications.  Overall Carter is doing really well.  We will see what the next 24 hours bring with decreasing the strong sedative.  Please continue to pray for him.  Your prayers and being heard and felt.   Carter still has a long road ahead of him, but we know God's got this.  As always... To Him be the Glory!

Carter loving on his friend, Garon.  Isn't this the sweetest picture?

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39