My safari friends

Hudson is having a wonderful memorial day weekend just resting and healing. He has had a couple of additions to his room. Aunt Angela came in town from California and brought him Jojo the chimp. Jojo is adorable and loves spending most of his time sitting on Leo the lion. Then came Allie the alligator. Allie was delivered by Ms. Alicia...her and Ms. Marilyn wanted Hudson to have an alligator..and Allie quickly fit in and bonded with Jeffrey the giraffe. And sweet Logan (Alicia's youngest son)sent Mr. Hudson 2 little frogs which are just chillin with all the animals. Hudson loves all his animal friends and can't wait to get them home in his playroom!! Thank you everyone for all your ongoing support, thoughts, prayers, sweet cards and words of encouragement!!

1 month old

This week has been Hudson's best week yet!!! He has been very comfortable this week. His labwork and chest xray look much improved showing that he has cleared the infection and on the mend. He is no longer on IV narcotics and they are weaning his oral narcotics as well. They are continuing the aggressive breathing treatments and repositioning him every couple of hours. He is such a happy boy..he is more awake now and loves to stare at his toys mommy has hung on his bed. Physical and occupational therapy come a couple of times a week and mommy works with him daily. He is still intubated (on the ventilator), but they have weaned him down to minimal support and he is doing most of the work himself now. This weekend he will just rest and continue to heal. He is scheduled for a MRI Tuesday to evaluate his left pulmonary artery..if neccessary they will precede with a cardiac catherization. AND...they are planning on extubating him late next week when he goes back to the OR for another bronchoscopy. There is light at the end of the tunnel!!!

Resting

Things have been pretty calm the past couple of days. Hudson has been resting and recovering from his infection since friday and since he is finally stable they have decided to not go back into the OR today. Mommy and Daddy are very happy with this decision. They have become more aggressive on his breathing treatments as well as the IV antibiotics and feeds. He is finally back to full feeds through his feeding tube and his labwork is gradually improving showing that the antibiotics are starting to work. All his cultures are final and the good news is that he does not have MRSA..he just has MSSA (staph infection). He looks a lot more comfortable today since his swelling has come down quite a bit and he continues to pee and poop!!! The next step is to have a cardiac catherization and another bronchoscopy thursday. His cardiothoracic surgeon feels that he may need something done to his left pulmonary artery...this artery is small and was originally wrapped around his trachea so they will possible put a stent in thursday if neccessary. The bronchoscopy will show us how things are healing in the trachea/airway and will help guide the surgeons and ICU team what their next step will be with the airway reconstruction...

Just Resting

Hudson has finally had a couple of restful days. Since friday he has been heavily sedated to give his body a chance to fight off the infection he has in his airway. He is continuing with breathing treatments, IV antibiotics and steroids as well as steroid/antibiotic drops directly into the trachea to treat the bacterial tracheitis. They scheduled another rigid bronchoscopy in OR Tuesday, but this is tentative on how he is doing...He finally got started back on foods and is trying out laying on his belly for the first time...He likes his belly!! He has had several visitors this weekend and had a special delivery from his Great Aunt Darlene....a friend for Jeffrey...Leo the lion!

I am soooo tough!

Hudson has had a rough couple of days. The past couple of days Hudson has been having trouble with his oxygen saturation. Yesterday he had a bedside bronchoscopy with minimal improvement and last night he had some pretty low oxygen levels...so they did labs and cultured some sputum and diagnosed a bacterial pneumonia. He has been started on 2 powerful IV antibiotics to try and knock out the infection. Today, he had a rigid bronchoscopy in the OR with the ENT surgeon and they had a lot of trouble visualizing much because he was dropping his oxygen levels too low. They were concerned for his heart and stopped the procedure. They were able to clean out some pus plugs and have ordered steroids and some other meds for the tracheal swelling...they are also putting drops down the ventilator tube to prevent infection within the tube. He is currently heavily sedated and paralyzed so that he can remain comfortable through the night. The plan is for Dr. Forbess (the chief) to do another bedside bronchoscopy in the morning to try and clean out deeper within the airway..Right now we are all just taking things one day at a time.

We need more time

Hudson ended up going in for his bronchoscopy around 1:45 this afternoon and they were in and out pretty quick. He came back out of the OR still intubated. The scope showed that his right main stem bronchus (the branch from windpipe/trachea to right lung) still needs a lot more healing. Curently, the plan is to keep him intubated for possibly another 1-2 months. He needs time to grow tissue and make this airway nice and stiff so it won't collapse. They are adding another bronchodilator to his breathing treatment regimen as well as do a flexible bronchoscopy twice a week her in his ICU room to clean out the secretions he continues to build up on that right side. They will just try to keep him as comfortable as possible with drugs..uugghh...until he can safely be extubated. I know he is going to pull through, his little body just needs more time!!! He is soo tough...he has been through a lot. One day mommy will have him in her arms....only time will tell when that day will be....

On Stand By For Operating Room

Today we are just waiting to see when a cardiac anesthisiogist is available to head to the OR. Hopefully, later this afternoon Hudson will have another bronchoscopy and possible extubation..they will put him on high flow oxygen and see if he is strong enough..healed enough to keep his airway open without the assistance of the ventilator. He has been a little figity through the night and this morning since they stopped his food around 2 am..so mommy is just trying to keep him calm....mommy is tired! This could be a big day! More to come as I know more throughout the day:)

It's Monday

This morning was a little hectic for Hudson. He started off the day a little upset and spitting up/choking quite a bit...which is no fun! His abdomen was xrayed to check the placement of his feeding tube and it had moved a little.. so that was repositioned and hopefully he won't be as uncomfortable! Also, he has been collecting a decent amount of fluid in his face and neck so they decided to order an ultrasound to rule out any obstruction/mass/congestion etc. Ultrasound came back negative for anything unexpected so that is good news!! The swelling should resolve with time... The plan is to go back into the OR sometime this week whenever the ENT physician/intensivist and cardiothoracic surgeon can all coordinate their schedules to try and extubate little guy and do another bronchoscopy as well... They are not sure how well he will do off the ventilator since he is still requiring quite a bit of support from the ventilator but the only way to find out is to try...so there is a big chance he will have to be reintubated. We are all optimistic and are praying that he will be strong enough to breath on his own with the help of either vapotherm or some other form of high flow oxygen. Mommy and Daddy are keeping our fingers crossed! We would love to pick our sweet boy up and just love on him!! Somedays are more frustrating than others but we are hanging in there!! We just want him to get better and be more comfortable and right now we are all just taking it one day at a time:)

A little bumpy

This weekend has been a little bumpy for Mr. Hudson. Yesterday he had a pretty rough day. They adjusted some settings on his ventilator to try and prepare for taking him off the ventilator, but he was not ready. He spent all day yesterday in severe respiratory distress and they finally readjusted him back to a mode that gave him more assistance breathing for now. His biggest problem right now is his airway. The right bronchi (branch into lungs) is extremely narrow and he is having a lot of problems getting secretions out of the right side as well as fully expanding the right lung without quite a bit of ventilatory support. Therefore, I don't think we will be considering extubating (taking him off ventilator) him tomorrow as originally planned. Right now they are going to gradually tweek his ventilator and give him more time. He was pretty swollen yesterday as well and they readjusted his diuretics and he seems a lot more comfortable!! He had his sweet little eyes open this morning...and yesterday they were pretty much swollen shut. He's hanging tough though! Mommy has been letting him listen to baby Einstein and Jim Brickman lullabys and he seems pretty content at the moment!

I think I can...

Early this morning, Hudson went back to OR for another broncoscopy to reassess the healing of his trachea/bronchi. Dr. Forbess (cardiothoracic surgeon) and Dr. Lee (ENT) both felt that the airway looked good but the right bronchi (the side that was very narrow that was widened) was still quite swollen and was catching a lot of secretions so they cleaned it out and want to leave him on the ventilator a couple of more days until his lungs are a bit stronger. They assess his lungs by pressures, etc on the ventilator as well as physical exertion with breathing and all seem to be improving....it's just taking sometime. He is off the continuous drip of narcotics and now just on methadone and valium...so snoozing quite a bit!! Each day he has had a couple of hours of alertness where he and mommy practice his sucking with his green paci...and he is loving that!! They are maximizing his calorie intake so that he can be as strong as possible for breathing on his own..so he may be quite the chunker when we leave here...but that's just more loving for mommy and daddy! The latest plan is to go back into the OR on Monday to try and extubate him if they feel he is ready...that way he can be extubated under a controlled environment and they will have the ENT physician on hand with the scope equipment if neccessary...that way if he needs to be reintubated it can be done with as little trauma as possible.....wonderful idea!!

2 weeks old

Sweet boy is 2 weeks old today! Mommy and Hudson had a very nice morning together! He was awake all morning. He got to listen to the music therapist play the guitar and sing Mary had a little lamb and twinkle, twinkle little star. We had lots of mommy and Hudson time with the pacifier and now he is sleeping soundly. He is still weaning off narcotics and plan is to do another bronchoscopy friday to assess his trachea before stopping the ventilator. Once the ventilator is pulled, he will be put on a continuous flow of oxygen through his nose. Will know more throughout the day..

Beads of Courage

This is the necklace mommy has worn to support her tough little boy since the day of surgery. Beads of courage is a unique program that represents sweet Hudson's challenging and courageous journey while receiving care for his respiratory and cardiac condition. His collection of beads symbolizes his courage and honors milestones he has achieved through the management of his condition. Every time he gets any kind of test done, poked for an IV, surgery, repiratory visit, etc..he gets a different colored bead to represent what he has overcome each day. Mommy is so proud to wear the necklace!!

1 week from surgery

Today is Hudson's week anniversary from his surgery...and he is doing fantastic! Last night they removed his IV's in his left hand and right arm so his hands and arms are IV free for now...very nice to see more tubing removed! His echocardiogram looked good yesterday so he is now off all the heart meds. They are gradually weaning narcotics and the ventilator and plan to be off the ventilator at some point thursday! WOW!!! We have come so far since this time last week...and it feels so good!! He is trying not to throw too many temper tantrums..but with the Blank/Reeves gene pool he has been given he just can't help it every once in a while...and man does he have some strength in those little legs. I guess a little feisty is a good thing..he will keep daddy and I on our toes! Daddy had to go out of town for the next 2 days so Hudson and mommy are going to have a sleepover and get some good bonding time in:) Thank you everyone for your continuous love, support, thoughts and prayers...it truly makes all the difference!

13 Days Old

The past 24 hours we have made more progress. Last night around 6 pm Mr. Hudson got his feeding tube put back in and started feeding again...and despite all the days without food he is only down to 8 lbs 2 oz....so he has only lost a couple of ounces. He had a good night's sleep to prepare for is big morning today. Today he has already had all his chest tubes/drains and foley catheter removed so he should be much more comfortable. He was xrayed and later today will have a echocardiogram of his heart. They are starting him on methadone to try to gradually wean down his pain medication he has been on the past 13 days...woohoo! They have also cut his lasix (the diuretic) down to every 12 hours so hopefully his potassium levels will balance out...once he doesn't need potassium replacment he will hopefully get his central lines pulled (IV access). He still has a central line in place as well as 2 peripheral IV lines in place and remains on the ventilator, but will hopefully be taken off the ventilator towards the end of the week. Once he is off the ventilator he will get a nasal cannula (oxygen directly through the nose). Mommy lotioned him up nicely and he is currently peacefully resting! Sweet boy is still hanging tough! We are sooo very proud of him and are counting down the days until we can wrap our arms around his precious little body and give him unconditional mommy and daddy love!

My cute toesies

Last night while I was snoozing my mom and dad rubbed lotion all over me, loved on me and took pictures of my cute toesies.

1st Mother's Day

Hudson made his mommy so happy this morning...he took his first pacifier and seemed to really enjoy it :) He got his dressing over his incision taken off and had one of the lines to his heart pulled where they left access for the pacemaker if needed. He is still getting weaned off meds one at a time and seems to be responding very well! They are considering removing his foley catheter later today if urine output remains steady....and we are waiting to see surgeon to confirm when feeding will resume.. Things seem to be moving right along which makes each day a wonderful day for mommy and daddy....

Day 11

So far Hudson's second Saturday has gone well. He underwent surgery this morning and they successfully closed his chest with no complications. He is still sedated, but will open his eyes every once in a while just to see what's going on. The remainder of the day will hopefully be a day of peaceful rest for him while the medical team carefully adjusts his medications. They hope to pull some lines tomorrow as well as start back the feeding tube. Mommy and daddy hope to be able to start giving him a pacifier tomorrow as well. Sweet boy tries to suck with his lips and we so badly would like for him to be able to have a paci!! Dr. Forbess (the surgeon) feels that he will be on the ventilator for another week...but each day is another day closer!!! Hudson is doing soo good and we are so proud of him!

I Love My Mommy

Sweet boy opened his eyes all afternoon friday and was a bit wiggly...had a good evening though. Got the swelling down enough to close his chest this am...waiting on surgeon to arrive. Night nurse had to put the arm restraints on because he is a smart little booger and tries to grab all the tubes...but he is peacefully resting awaiting the surgical team...

My mommy and daddy

Team Hudson

Julie and Todd Reeves

Daddy's favorite picture

Future Aggie and Fuzz the bear

Day 9

Last night was another quite, peaceful night for Mr. Hudson. So far, everything has remained stable and they are currently still adjusting lasix (diuretic) levels to find a happy medium to reduce his swelling enough to be able to close his chest tomorrow morning. They started him on electrolytes and lipids last night and discontinued his paralytic drug this morning. Todd is making sure I use my inside voice because we don't want to overstimulate him today. We bought him some new booties and socks last night so he can have a new wardrobe and despite all his tubes, he still is the cutest thing we have ever laid our eyes on! Hopefully later today he will open his sweet little eyes and Daddy and Mommy can tell him how much we love him and how proud we are of him!! He is currently still having sweet dreams. More to come throughout the day!!!

Jeffrey the Giraffe

My mom brought Jeffrey to my room to help take good care of me.

Day 8

Last night was a good night. Hudson had sweet dreams all night. He was taken off the pacemaker around 6 pm last night and his heart has been in sinus rythym and working on its own since...yeah!! Blood pressure/oxygen saturation as well as heart rate all remaining stable so far! And all of his lab values are remaining within normal limits and his urine output as well as blood loss is all within normal range as well so things are looking good! Surgical team came by this morning and have increased his lasix to bring down his fluid retention/swelling in order to prepare to close his chest. They are planning on trying to close at earliest tomorrow, but most likely not until Saturday 5/8/10. He will remain paralyzed until his chest cavity is closed and they plan to keep him intubated for 7 more days. They feel that the tubing is acting as a stent holding his trahcea open so that there is less tension on the suture lines where they did the slide tracheoplasty and corrected his narrow trachea. More good news to come!!!! My little fighter!

My tough little cookie

Day 7

Hudson is such a trooper!! He is on post operative day 1 and is hanging in there. His cardiothoracic surgeon had all excellent things to say about surgery! He felt that surgery went better than expected and Hudson made it through the night with no major complications. We had been told there was a chance they would need to go back into the OR and that did not happen so we are extremely thankful!! He still has his chest cavity open today due to swelling and they are managing his heart with a pacemaker due to swelling as well, but overall it is so far a quite day. The next 48 hours are very important so please keep him in all your prayers!!

Day 1-6

Hudson David Reeves was welcomed into this world on 4/28/2010 at 3:09 am and weighed 8 lb 4 oz and was 20 1/2 inches long.

Hudson was quickly evaluated and intubated and transferred to Children's cardiovascular intensive care unit where he was diagnosed with Tetralogy of fallot and pulmonary atresia on echocardiogram.

After being evaluated further, Hudson continued to have respiratory problems and was sent for a CT scan which lead the cardiothoracic surgeon to diagnose Hudson with extensive airway problems within the lower repiratory tract involving his trachea/bronchi.

After a couple of days of critical care and being in and out of sedation and intubated, Hudson bravely went into surgery on 5/4/10 for 9 hours.

Hudson's New Room

4/28/10 3:17pm

Hudson's First Saturday