First Night at Home

My Big Brother Kaden was very excited to have the whole family home. He went to school today so he could show them the picture of us together.
My Big Sister Cydne also had to go to school, and think she is going to be a good big sister. Both have been very helpful to Mom and Dad. I kept Mom and Dad up quite a bit last night, so Grandma and Grandpa Patridge are helping out today.

Home Sweet Home

Everybody knows where babies come from
Thanks for the sign Grandma and Grandpa Ratliff
I came home to a heroes welcome. And it is I that should be thanking all of you, my heroes for supporting me and my family every step of the way. I am so thankful for all the family and friends. Grandma and Grandpa Patridge came down with my big sis to help us get home. And Grandma and Grandpa Ratliff help decorate the house and bring Olive Garden for a late lunch. The neighbors Jen and Casey Finley mowed our yard, helped decorate, and kept my big bro occupied today. Mom and Dad say they have been gone so long, it seemed like somebody elses house when they walked in our house.

P.S. Dad finally found little Fisher, after looking for him several times. Dad left them a bag of goodies, some snacks, few apples, some lunch vouchers, some support, and contact information. Little Fisher, is doing good. In fact, the doctors expect him to be moved out to the floor possibly as early as tomorrow. He is already off the ventilator and losing tubes as quickly as I did. The doctors say he is progressing very well and ahead of schedule.

ALL CLEAR!!

My chest X-ray was ALL CLEAR, so I will be heading home in about 3 hours. I think Mom and Dad are VERY VERY Nervous about being sent home so early, and they will probably watch me all day and all night long. They are watching a video on CPR and have been informed of all the things to watch for once we get home. Mom got me all dressed up in my first outfit for the ride home. Its seems pretty fitting for me to be going home on this the Lords day, as I feel I have been blessed with so many prayers from so many people. I cannot and my Mom and Dad cannot ever thank you all for your support. I will continue to update with pictures and daily information.



Love Always,

Madox Alan Ratliff

Check Please

Dad told me that Grandma B always said a healthy baby sleeps with his arms above their head.

I woke up to bright lights this morning with Dad taking pictures of me. Then Dr. Gandhi came in this morning and took out my stitches, does that guy ever take a day off. I was able to keep my oxygen levels up all night long CHECK! They were a little concerned about my feeding because it had dipped yesterday, but I had a good showing last night to get my 24 hour total to about 14 oz. which satisfied my feeding requirements CHECK! One more CHECK and I could be getting my ticket home, they say it takes a lot longer by car than by helicopter. I guess I will be finding out soon.

Silent Night

Dr. Gandhi turned off my monitors, because Mom and Dad were paying too much attention to them and not to me. They are still checking my oxygen levels every few hours. For now my levels are good and the nasal canula is gone. Mom and Dad are very nervous without all my bells and whistles. I'm hoping for a good night of sleep, but I have a feeling Mom and Dad will be taking shifts watching over me all night long. The excitement for our Saturday evening was I went #1 on Mom and my entire bed. Not a bad aim, I got my noodle, afgan, baby blanket and crib sheet all with one shot.


P.S. Fisher is still in the unit, which is a good sign 24 hours after surgery, however Dad has not been able to talk to his dad today to get any information.

One Step Back

I guess I am just tuckered out: pee, eat, poop, stop draining, all with no oxygen. My Oxygen levels started dropping, so I get my nasal canula back on. I just need to get some good rest. My nurse keeps pushing me to get off the oxygen. My lungs are staying clear so far with first X-ray and nurses and doctors keep listening to my lungs.
I can't wait to show everyone my scar.

Although I am back on the oxygen, they think I still might me heading home tomorrow or Monday. They may send me home on oxygen, but the nurse, Mom and Dad are trying to wean me off the oxygen. Just need my lungs to stay clear. Mom and Dad are pretty nervous about going home with me on oxygen, so were hoping to get rid of that today or tonight.

Going Wireless

Dr. G stopped in today and was very impressed with my eating. He was supposed to buy the nurse lunch that got me off oxygen, I'm not sure who is getting the credit for that. They only got 6ml of stuff out of my lungs in the last 24 hours, so he said I could lose the chest tube. And as you can tell their are no tubes and wires currently attached. After about 15 minutes of pulling the tube and leads and enough tape to wrap a mummy, I am finally free. Now Mom and Dad can move more than 2 feet from my bed.
I was a little upset when they pulled off all the tape, but Mom comforted me quickly. And the most shocking news of the day came when Dr. G. said I will be getting a chest X-ray today and tomorrow and if they are both clear, I will be discharged Sunday or possibly Monday. He said the minimal amount of fluid was clear and I was tolerating the formula very well. Uncle Ken said I have to hurry up and get out of St. Louis because everytime he comes to visit me the Cardinals lose. Well I have to pick Mom and Dad up off the floor now, because they were so shocked by this recent information. Everyone just keep there fingers crossed for my next two chest X-rays and I'll be seeing everyone real soon.

All Systems Go

Dad and I got to spend some alone time together, at the step down unit parents are allowed to do pretty much anything they would do at home. They get to feed me, burp me, give me medicine, change my diaper, help put leads on to my monitors, and change my bandages. Mom has been doing this all day while Dad rested, but tonight Mom rest and Dad gets his turn. He finally got to hold me for about an hour as we watched the Cardinals lose. Today I kicked out my last IV line, so they changed my Ancef IV to Keflex orally. I had been fussy quite a bit tonight and Dad found out why as he burped me I threw up all over with some pink color. The Keflex upset my stomach. As Dad cleaned me up, he called the nurse in for backup. Dad was changing my bandages, as I did a #2 in my diaper and the nurse had to lend a helping hand because I was making messes quicker than Dad could clean up. Hopefully, Dad and I will be awake in another 2 hours as they have me on a pretty strick time table for feedings. I think I can almost mark feeding off my list, just need to get chest tube out.

1 down 2 to go

They lowered my oxygen to 1/32, but I can't count that high, so I just decided to remove one then both of the prongs to my oxygen canula. It's been over an hour with no oxygen at all, and I'm hangin in the 90's, Dad says that is pretty good.

The food situation is a breeze, this portagen is some pretty good stuff (although Mom says it kind of stinks), and Mom is feeding me earlier than scheduled. As for Mom and Dad, they had Imo's pizza delivered, which is about the time I decided to ditch my oxygen canula. Still borderline with my drainage, but I have all weekend to work on that.

P.S. Fisher has made it through his surgery and his dad said he is doing well. Dad and Uncle Ken were a little worried because he moved beds and couldn't find his family. His mom still needs to rest, but we newborns know how Moms are when we need them.

I wanna be a "ROCK STAR"

I have to keep watch around here, it seems like everytime I take a nap they are poking me or sticking tubes or lines or something in here. It seems like everyone wants to see or hold me. In due time they will all get their chance. For now, we ask for close relatives and friends only. The only problem is my room only holds 5 to 6 people and Mom and Dad take up two spaces. So please be sure to check with Mom, Dad, or Grandparents before coming up Saturday or Sunday, because we are booking up fast. Unfortunately, no little visitors for a while, because my lung problem makes me very suceptible to infection which could be a very big problem for me.
Here I am all snuggled up in a blanket one of the nurses Mom makes for all the patients on this floor. Dr. Gandhi says I have three things to take care of before I am able to come home. 1. I have to get off my oxygen. 2. I need the chest tube out so the drainage needs to get clear or stop all together. 3. I need to keep on eating.

P.S. Still no word from Fisher's family. I am going to send Dad out to see if he can find them.

Two Steps forward and One Step Back

I ate real well last night, Dad poked in 72ml at 6am. But now the drainage from my chest tube turned cloudy and they say I have Chylous Pleural Effusion, which means I am draining fat or triglycerides out through my chest tube. They will watch me closely, and Iwill have to eat a special low-triglyceride formula called Portagen. Nine days old and I am already on a diet. This will probably delay my arrival home, but still thinking earyly next week if my drainage clears or stops. Dad had a long night, so hopefully he will put up some pics of me later today after he takes a nap.


P.S. Haven't heard anything from Fisher's family yet, but we will continue to pray for him all day.

Still Eating

I put Dad on KP duty for the night, while I sent Mom to the Hotel next door for some rest. The Hotel is actually attached to the Hospital and the nurses say they can call their room for an emergency and they could be here in 5 minutes. But if anyone saw Mom sprinting Monday, they would know she could make it in under 3 minutes. Of course, its only fair to scare the beegeebees out of Dad as well. I had another bout of arrhythmias after the first bottle he gave me. The doctors came in and checked me out and said they will watch me closely, but for Dad not to worry. I did eat 55ml at both of the last 2 feedings, and they are trying to decrease my oxygen. I've been doing fine on 1/16 of a liter of oxygen, but not quite able to tolerate 1/32 of a liter . I keep setting off my bells and whistles, which is why Dad is sending out this eary morning blog. Keep in touch.

Eatin Good

I thought our goal was 45ml every 3 hours, but Dr. Gandhi said that was the minimum amount to eat. So my last two feedings I have put down 68ml and 62ml, I'll show them I dont' need any NG tube. Mom and Dad got another meal from Applebees thanks to their good friends Chris and Erika from Columbia Missouri. Dad says they are Mizzou fans, but their OK anyway. Hopefully they can get Mom to stay with them at the Parkway Hotel tonight so she can get some good rest. Especially since they have given up their suite in the waiting room. One of them will stay in the room with me tonight, so I will get some good rest tonight. If anyone is heading this way, be sure to let them know I am very fragile and shouldn't have any little visitors (My Little Bro Kaden won't even be able to see me this weekend).

P.S. Fisher's dad is getting some insulin brought to him today and his Mom is on her way here tonight. Mom and Dad showed him where the Ronald McDonald Family Room was located, so he has access to free laundry, shower and toiletries, and the internet to do his school work.

On The Move

Here I am all nice and comfy in my bassinet on wheels to go to 7 West, which is a step down unit from the ICU. Sorry about taking so long to give an update, but the morning was spent trying to eat and getting an ultrasound of my chest. I had some fluid in my right lung and they had to put a drainage tube to allow it to drain. Then to make sure everything was placed properly I needed a chest X-ray. In the middle of all of this Mom had to pump and they took out my Art. Line, which bled like crazy, it took 40 minutes for it to clot off. Minor drama for Mom and Dad and very exhausting for me.
I finally made it into my room, luckily no NG tube yet. As long as I keep eating 45ml every 3 hours, I won't get one. I am still on a little oxygen, but they think once my lungs get dry I should be able to get off that. Above, Mom gets to hold me again, my heart is still beating in rhythym. Right now I just need to eat, for now out of a bottle, but soon from Mom. Get my strength up and my stitches out and I could be heading home by the beginning of next week.

NOT FOR LONG

As you can tell by the photo they took my nasal canula out , but NOT FOR LONG because my oxygen levels keep falling without it. They will continue to leave it on for now, but wlll keep tying to remove.
NOT FOR LONG and Mom and Dad will be holding me all day, but for now Mom's gentle touch is very comforting. NOT FOR LONG and I will be heading out to 7 West on the floor, possibly as early as today. NOT FOR LONG the doctor said if I don't eat 45ml every 3 hours, then I will be getting a NG tube. I do have fluid in the right side of my lungs, they will keep watching it and if it doesn't clear up, they will go in and suck it out with a needle. Still progressing well, just a couple of minor setbacks is what the doctor said. So NOT FOR LONG before I will be coming home and seeing everyone. Mom and Dad will let everyone know when as soon as they know.

P.S. I do have a new neighbor down the hall named Fisher Herzog born April 22 with the same thing I have Transposition of the Great Arteries and some other complications. His Dad was able to come down with him, but his Mom wasn't allowed to come yet because of a couple of problems she had during delivery. Hopefully she will make it down by tonight. His dad is a Senior in college and needs to do some papers online so he will be able to graduate. He is also Diabetic, and needs to get some medication orders transferred here, so my Dad is going to help him out today. But most importantly they want you all to pray for him, because his surgery is Friday morning and because of his other problems, he will be in OR for ~10-12 hours Dr. Gandhi said, so please pray for him as my family will be doing all day Friday.

Another Nite in the Master Suite

This is the chairs that pull out into a bed that dad slept on the first few nights. Basic Standard room.

Here is the upgraded master suite with two 5'6" couches that Dad's 6'3" frame fits so nicely on. Mom and Dad told me that they got a free massage yesterday and Dad might be joining the girls on spa day during Baseball Draft weekend. Mom loves the privacy as well as the public bathroom accomodations. I am going to have to hurry up and get better, because Mom says she is running out of Lysol disinfectant spray. I haven't had anymore arrythmia episodes. My lungs are a little wet slowing my oxygen exchange, so I will remain on a nasal canula for now. I need to eat more, so they won't have to give me a NG tube (feeding tube that goes up the nose and down to the stomach). Well we are all turning in for the night. I would like to thank everyone for comforting my Mom and Dad and keeping them occupied.

Keeping Them on Their Toes

OK, Dad didn't take the cool pictures where they opened up my dressings, so I could show ya all my stitches and when they took out my chest tube and my RA line. But the good news is Mom is able to hold me in her arms. Dr. Gandhi is still going to keep the pacemaker in, because he said he wants to be conservative. Mom said "you Conservative, I didn't think that was in your vocabulary". But it is a good thing he did because I started having some arrhythmias. The doctors said not to be too concerned and I still have the pacemaker to keep my heart in sinus rhythym. Unfortunately all this happened in mom's arms as the above pictures were taken, so she is a little shaken up at the moment. We will keep the information coming as soon as we know something. Love hearing from everybody.

Chow Time!

I am on to my second bottle, only 20ml each time but I have to start somewhere. They want me to eat a little more than that, so another day of work for me. I look all nice and peaceful in some of these pictures, but what you can't see or HEAR is the remodeling going on next door. Jackhammers are going and I can't rest, but the doctors said they want me to work and eat all day. Oh Yea, they took my Foley Catheter out this morning also. Stopped most my IVs. My Blood Pressure is staying up and my Potassium levels and Oxygen levels are looking good. They keep saying that I am progressing very well. I am soooo glad to hear from everyone and will keep the information coming as I progress.

Whoa!!

Still peeing, but actually just about catching up to my inputs. Doctors monitor Inputs and Outputs (I&Os). All liquids going in, which is mainly his IVs at this point, but will also include anything by mouth should equal anything coming out mainly pee and poop when he starts taking stuff by mouth. The Lasix drip and the Diuril they gave me made my outputs better (made me pee), but in doing so it made my potassium levels go down. So I got a Potassium IV to fix that. My Blood Pressure is staying up and the Dopamine drip was stopped this morning. The Lasix drip was also stopped. Yesterday the doctor wasn't sure when or if I would be getting a feeding tube. Hooray!! NO feeding tube up my nose instead I get breast milk, be it from a bottle it is still the best nutrition I could get. This was a surprise to me and Mom, I still can't be held but at least everything is going in the right direction.

Weeeee!

Dr. Gandhi says I am "peeing like a Champ". He Keeps decreasing my Dopamine drip and my Blood Pressure is still holding steady. Sorry the picture was slow to come, but Dad has been having a little problem with his technical devices. Had to find a USB cable to get new pics off the camera. We will continue to post any new information that we get. Please keep posting comments for Mom and Dad as they are getting stir crazy just sitting and waiting.