Mid February Update

Well.....

Where to begin--oh yes! Zachary's PICC line caused a bit of a scare on the 9th, and was removed. Due to the simple fact that he needs all the calories he can get Dr.Sullivan placed his central line that evening. The line can handle more calories and is suppose to be more stable. He HATES this line! It comes out of the center of his chest with two LONG tubes attached. One tube is strictly for blood draws, and the other is for his TPN each night. He pulls at the line and itches at the site daily. This is quite uncomfortable for him, but we have to give it the full six weeks. The care for this line is not much more than the PICC, but it is at his heart and you can see the tube through his skin---I have to admit it is a little creepy!

Last Wednesday we almost lost the central line. Zachary has tugged so hard on the line that the "cuff" that secures the line internally to his skin was almost out. The stitches are holding, but we just pray that he doesn't pull to hard and lose the line. The main problem with him pulling the line is he could bleed out. The second problem is that it would mean he would use his third of the four times you can insert a central line safely. He isn't sleeping well and we(I) am up throughout the night with Zach. He wants his mommy to hold him, and that is what I do. Sometimes for hours on end. Trying to convince an almost three-year old that he needs to leave a tube in his body can be hard at 2am.


In addition to the new central line Zachary has nursing care during the week. He has forty hours a week of medical care and we LOVE having the nurses. The gift that the nurses have given our family is huge. Brenda and Sheila both have help give a little sense of normalcy back to our family, and Dominic and Garrett love the difference.

Thanks again for all your prayers and support. We will know which direction we are heading with all of this "STUFF" at the end of March.