Heart of Beckett

UPDATE (3/7/2013)
Beckett has had a better day today. He continues to make progress towards recovery from this infection. The blood cultures they drew yesterday show he has E. coli. Now that they know the exact organism, they have put him on a more specific antibiotic. They appear optimistic that a course of antibiotics will be all he needs to kick this infection and get back on track with his recovery. They also have said today the problem with his right lung is a result of what appears to be pneumonia. His lung continues to open up and looks better today than yesterday.
When my mom and I entered the room this morning they said Beckett had developed a fever. They gave him Tylenol and put cold compresses on his head and within an hour it had returned to normal. He did not have a fever the rest of the day. He also had very loose stools, which is not normal for him. They sent them to the lab just to make sure he didn’t have a stomach virus, but we haven’t heard results of that yet. This was before they new about the E. coli, so they think the fever and diarrhea are a result of that.
It is part of the NICU protocol to do a spinal tap when a baby develops sepsis (infection in the blood), so Beckett will be having that done either tomorrow or Saturday. They are planning for tomorrow morning, but it depends on the level of his blood thinners, as it needs to be within a safe range.
Beckett still has his PICC line, which is such a blessing now that he has continuous fluids running. It is possible that it would need to get pulled soon should the risks outweigh the benefits with him having an infection. Also, they are no longer able to draw blood from it, so they are back to poking him for labs. We pray they are able to get it working again, as this happened on Sunday and there is a medication they can put in the line to help open it. We are not sure if they will try this again or just get blood by sticking him.
Beckett has been making progress in the right direction. So much so that they are talking extubation in the morning! Hallelujah! We want him back off the vent, and HE wants back off the vent. The respiratory therapist was joking with him tonight and put his fingers around the tube and said, “Now Beckett, this is how you do it”. While we do not encourage self-extubation, we can’t wait for him to have that tube out of his mouth!
One of the hardest things for me about Beckett needing to be re-intubated, was that he no longer had on clothes. I know this sounds silly, but I was so sad, especially when I came in on Tuesday and his feet were so cold. I just had to at least put on his little puppy slippers. Then yesterday he peed all over those, so I put on his monkey booties that go all the way up to his knees (Beckett has little chicken legs). I just felt like he would be more comfortable if he were at least allowed to have on clothes. I did not say anything, but rather tried to keep him covered with a blanket so he wouldn’t be cold. Then today his nurse pulled out an outfit and put it part of the way on (his arms were left out since he has IVs in both). This made me feel so much better. Thank you Kendall!
Tonight when we left he looked so comfortable while he slept. He is back to moving in the right direction and we are so grateful. God keeps showing us he is alongside us in this journey, all the while going before us to prepare the way for Beckett’s healing. We cling to his promises. My great Aunt Sarah always has the same answer when asked how she is doing. Her reply is always, “I’m pressing on”. By God’s grace we are PRESSING ON!

Psalm 91:15 & 16
“When he calls to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”

— with Jonathan Rupp at St. Vincent Women’s Hospital.