then you just punch really fast like this….

Well what is there to say about today?  We came home early last night from the hospital (yes both Stacy and I!) and worked on getting things ready for Greyson’s homecoming.  Then we got up and hit it pretty hard again today.  I even mowed the lawn which was actually enjoyable since it was such a beautiful day.  I think we are pretty much ready, I have a few things I’ll finish up tomorrow or monday night.  Right now the plan is that Stacy will not return home until she brings the child with her.  Of course I’m going to go over and help make sure that happens as well ;). 

We gave Greyson a bath, did his trach care, gave him his medicines, started his feeds, and played with him.  That about sums up the day.  Not very exciting so I’ll tell you a funny thing that keeps happening.  It’s slightly technical (which accounts for why it keeps happening) so I appologize if I lose you.  OK so it has to do with Greyson’s ventilator settings.  Every day when I come in I check them to see if there has been any changes.  Well every day I come in to find his pressure support (which should be 14) changed higher.  When I ask about it I am always told that it is right, or that they lowered it down to 14.  But usually it is set at 19.  Where does the confusion come?  Well it all has to do with how the ventilator works.  With this ventilator you set the pressure support number and that number is added to whatever the Peep is which gives you your pressure support number.  What seems to be happening is that people read in the order that the pressure support should be 14 and then come in and see the pressure support number reading 9 (which is correct, 9 plus 5 which is Greyson’s peep,  is 14).  They think that they need to turn it up since the order is for 14 and it reads 9 so they do.  Then I come along and ask about it and they turn it back down.  One day last week I came in and it was reading 19 (which is a pressure support of 24!!)  What we think happened is someone thought you subtracted the peep from the pressure support but we are not sure.  After inquiring about it all week we are starting to suspect that it may be the Dr. who is doing it.  This is not based on any evidence, but the RT’s are always running around yelling “WHO CHANGED THIS!!!”  It’s really kind of funny especially since it keeps happening.  The only down side is it means for awhile when we are not there Greyson is getting more support than he needs, but at least we check it once a day and get it back where it is supposed to be. 

So after all that when I asked about it today (it was up to 19, or 14 with a peep of 5) the RT went and clarified with the Dr. and came back and turned him down to 12 (7 with a peep of 5) so this is the lowest he’s been.  He is also back down to 28 percent oxygen which is good.  So he is doing great.  We are continuing to pray for the remaining nursing shifts we need to cover as well as that his blood gasses will be good so the pulmonary specialist won’t put the breaks on his homecoming.  Again Lord willing he’s coming home on Thursday!!