Post Op Day 3

With each passing day, things are getting better. It's nice. Frankie was more awake today, even though the breathing tube is still in. He hates it! Well, as he should! Today he gave daddy "fives", "ones" and "knucks". Amazing! Our baby is in there! It brought tears to my eyes. Frankie also did a lot of reaching today and trying to talk. Breaks my heart that he makes facial expressions that we know so well but we can't hear a peep. Hurts our hearts. Also, he kept pointing at me. I kept telling him as soon as that tube is out and they say okay, I will hold you! For as long as you'll let me! Ohh how we long for that smile! 

Frankie's day went pretty well. Uneventful which is nice. Very nice. He passed his ERT this morning but they wanted to give him 24 more hours of lasixs to rid some more fluid retention to help with his respiratory rate. We have been calming him just by talking to him instead of giving him a bolus of sedation meds if we can. He mellows easily but also startles easily. He doesn't want any clothes or blankets on him but his temp was getting low and he felt cool to the touch so we kept sneaking a blanket on but leaving his feet out because that's the one thing he did not want covered. 

Frankie got much needed rest today thanks to his awesome nurse Dustin and his awesome respiratory therapist John. They're a hoot! Not to mention, it's nice for Joe do have "dude" talk! 

So the plan after rounds tonight is to do another ERT and extubate in the morning! Frankie will more than likely need supplemental O2 just until his body makes the final adjustments. After extubation, surgery will talk about starting him on SLOW feedings. Not right away but probably at night. We shall see. We think Frankie will be a much happier camper after the tube is out. He keeps trying to roll over on to his belly to sleep (that's what he's used to) but he can't because of the breathing tube. 

Continue the prayers, love and support! They work! Thank you all, from the bottom of our hearts! 

                     Resting today.