I just wanted to quick update and say that we are home! Carmen still has pneumonia and will have a few more rough days. I convinced the doctor that we can do everything at home and didn’t need to stay in the hospital! Carmen cried a few times from being poked and prodded. She hasn’t cried in months and months. We can take care of her at home far more comfortably.
Carmen is taking both Azithromycin and Ciprofloxacin for the pneumonia. Hopefully her lungs will clear up quickly.
While in the hospital, I asked the doctor to order a Cough Assist machine for Carmen and hopefully we will get one soon. It would be very helpful to get some of the gunk out of Carmen’s lungs and throat and into her mouth so we can suction it out. Thanks to Julie for all of the information!
Speaking of suctioning, we try to suction the thick saliva out of Carmen but that is no small task as she clamps her teeth and refuses to open her mouth! If we do get the suction catheter in her mouth, she bites the tube and won’t let go! We’ve tried going down her nose instead but nothing ever comes out of there. Anyone else have this problem with suctioning?
Dave is sick, blah! He is going to the doctor today. NY Grandpa is here to help and I am SO thankful for him!
Big thanks to MiYoung for the snacks, books and magazines and dinner last night! Did that chocolate bread have rum in it? Very yummy! Thanks to Karen for Moby Dick’s chicken in the hospital and for taking Lauren yesterday. And to Monica the Magnificent- we are so grateful to have you in our lives. Thank you for watching Lauren for 12 hours on Wednesday!
Thank you for all your prayers! Please keep praying as Carmen isn’t back to normal quite yet. Dave could certainly use some prayers too. He looks like a truck ran over him!
Still sending prayers from KC! For ALL of you..Janet
Hi there, Well, I am glad you are home and I will be praying for Carmen and Dave. God bless. In Christ, Joe
Cipro is the medication I was telling you about that Elise is usually put on when she’s sick. Do you use a catheter to suction Carmen’s mouth? We use the thin tubes (size 10F) for Elise’s mouth. We have these other things called nasal aspirators that we use for Elise’s nose (we do have to deep suction her too but we use something different for that). I will mail you out a little package with the different things so you can try them. I hope that Carmen continues to feel better. Love, Laurie (Elise’s mommy)
Thank you for the update I have been praying for Carmen.
I’m so sorry to hear that Carmen & Dave are sick but I’m glad you got to bring Carmen home (instead of staying at the hospital for strangers to do for your little one what you can do at home) where she will be more comfortable. As always, your in my prayers. Rikki.
So glad Carmen is home! We’ll be praying for all of you (even you, Dave, lol). God bless,
SO GLAD CAREMEN IS HOME!!!!! We will continue to pray for her. Will be praying Dave get better soon too. Say hi to Doug for me! We miss you all.
Just a side note. Bob’s mom fell last night and broke her hip in the nursing home. She will need an operation. Have to wait for the coumadin levels to come down before they can operate. Not sure what they will do, either a pin or replacement yet. There are many issues with her health. The operation is going to be very risky. Please pray.
Glad you made it home. I am sure Carmen is much more comfy with you all than in a hospital. William does the same antics with suctioning as Carmen. I use little suckers up his nose (nasal aspirators) and induce a cough that way and then suction what he coughs up. Sometimes, I have to deep suction down his nose too but try to avoid it if I can. Keeping you in our prayers. Oralea
Are you deep suctioning her when you go down her nose? If you’re not getting anything, you may not be going far enough. My son has major oral aversion and wouldn’t let us suction his mouth either.
Still praying for Carmen, and will pray for Dave too!
I guess NY Grandpa hasn’t been in his basement home for awhile – - (a family joke!). As much as he loves his “home,” we have been happy to have Carmen out of the hospital for so long. And – we are very happy she is home now!
Lana,
PLEASE make Dave and NY Grandpa take lots of Airborne, vitamin C w/ zinc, gallons of fluids, and even (for Dave) Ensure – -
I don’t want any of you sick next week!!!
oh i am SOOOO glad Carmen is home. I was worried.
Cough Assist is super awesome, but just make sure that she is well hydrated when you use it. Otherwise, it can do badness.
Do you guys have a Vest as well?
So glad Carmen is home. I hope she starts feeling better soon and her daddy too!
Thinking of you all,
Monica Gettleman
Danielle,
Yes, we have the Vest! It is the best machine ever.
Glad things are looking up! http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/liz2008
I haven’t done suctioning for awhile, but we used to use an airway , a semi-rigid device you slip between her teeth and over her tongue, then slip the suction cath through the opening. She would bite down on the rigid tube, but it allows the catheter to get thru. If they don’t use those anymore, do they use nasal trumpets?
We’re home, too. So sorry to hear Carmen and Amelia are in the same position. Amelia’s about the same, but we all agreed that she would get the same care at home that she was getting at the hospital. Amelia is like a pit bull with that suction catheter, too. Sometimes I lift my finger off of the hole and it makes a loud noise as the spit goes down the tube. The noise startles Amelia, and she quits biting down. I love our cough assist. You will be amazed at the amount of snot it sucks out of her sinuses.