Hospital Life...Day 21 {Part 2}

Earlier today I wrote about an issue that came up with Peyton's leg.  You can read about that HERE.  This post is to update you on that situation.

Here is the original picture I posted:

That is what we woke up to this morning.  It did not look like that at all last night or through the night.  Anyone who saw her leg seemed shocked the overnight change.  An ultrasound was ordered and Ortho was contacted.  The felt that the splint could be removed.  In addition to this change in her leg, her x-ray from yesterday showed a new fracture.  How a fracture happened with her leg in a splint for three weeks is beyond me, but it did happen.  The ultrasound revealed no DVTs {blood clots}, so that was good.  However, we are still concerned over the possibility of an infection in her leg.  After a couple of hours out of the splint, this is what her leg looked like:

Peyton is a high risk candidate for anesthesia and surgery, so our fear was that something surgical might need to be done - even if it was "simply" to drain it.  Fortunately, right now, it seems that that isn't going to be necessary although we certainly appreciate any and all prayers for this situation to resolve quickly.  We do not want any infection developing at all.

Nutritionally, the TPN appears to be helping, so that is a good thing.  Her labwork where that is concerned is trending in the right direction.  However, some labs came back from stool studies that were begun shortly after Peyton was admitted a few weeks ago.  One of the results showed a deficiency in her pancreatic function which could be contributing to her malabsorption issues.

The highest level of concern today has been for Peyton's leg.  It was ranking pretty high today.  We are still obviously concerned about the possibility of infection - how deep it goes - is it in the muscle?  the bone?  We're not sure about any of that just now so she is on a second IV antibiotic which should cover any type of infection.  Hopefully things will be looking much improved in the morning.  Because of all of today's issues, the doctors have increased Peyton's morphine dose and added in regularly scheduled Tylenol along with scheduled morphine doses every 3 hours.  It seems to be helping some.  She has to be in pain.  I don't know how she couldn't be!

Many thanks to friends of ours for providing dinner.  We appreciate the trip you made to the hospital with it when you knew Ron was up here with me rather than at home.  Thank you so much.  It was delicious!!

Thank you, also, to a group of "Christian lady" blogging friends who have been praying for us for so long, who sent these beautiful flowers to the hospital to brighten up Peyton's room.  They are beautiful and smell wonderful!

Thank you also to one of my blogging friends who created this sweet button for bloggers to add to their sidebars in support of Peyton.  I really appreciate this.  It's perfect!  {If you want the code, let me know!}

Hospital Life...Day 21

Today is Day 21.  Three weeks.  If you missed the Day 20 update, you can read that HERE.

I am writing this update early today because we could use some serious prayers for Peyton.  This morning when the resident came in, we pulled back the sheet to look at Peyton's leg.  Her thigh went from simply looking swollen and slightly red to looking like this:

She paged Ortho and an ultrasound was ordered.  She hasn't had the ultrasound as of yet, but hopefully she will soon.  The team just rounded.  The nurse had {per Ortho's instructions} removed the splint.  When the attending looked at her leg, her leg actually looked worse than what you see above.  This goes down to her knee.  It's hot to the touch.  Looking at the x-ray from yesterday, there is a large hematoma present but the concern right now is that there is infection settling in there.  Depending on what the results of the ultrasound are, she may also require an MRI which, of course, would require sedation.  That is a concern for her.  She is a high risk for surgery should that be necessary.  But, as my mother would always say, "Don't go borrowing trouble."  One thing at a time.  In the meantime, the doctor is going to start her on a second antibiotic to cover any sort of infection brewing.

As we wait for an ultrasound, please say some prayers for her that this isn't anything major that would require surgery.  It may even be that it just needs drained, but that's still a risk.  I wanted to post this now so we could get all of Peyton's prayer warriors going with this in mind this morning.

Thank you so much.  We appreciate it and I will update later when we know more.  

{The follow up to this post can be found HERE.}

Hospital Life...Day 20

Today is Day 20.  In case you missed yesterday's update, you can check that out HERE.

There is not a lot of news to report today.  Peyton is about the same as yesterday.  She continues on her IV antibiotics for a possible infection. 

Peyton was supposed to have her right femur x-rayed tomorrow, but it was done today instead.  Had Peyton gone home from the hospital 19 days ago, tomorrow would have been her 3-week follow up with Ortho for the fracture to check on it's healing.  Her thigh and knee are still quite swollen.  If there is a difference in size {for the better}, it is not much at all.  I'm no radiologist, but I saw the x-ray on the portable machine.  Ouch!!  Poor Peyton.  Just looking at her leg makes me want to cry.  It's so swollen and she has got to be in a lot of pain.  She is still in the newest splint, and I assume that will continue for a while.  Just for my peace of mind, I would want her to!  When she had the tibia fracture back in February, she got to a point in the three weeks her leg was splinted where she would move her leg around as much as she was able.  That isn't happening this time around.  That is a little worrisome to me.

There is still no talk of a date to go home, as things still need to be sorted out with her labs, TPN, pain management, and so on before that can happen.  To be honest, I have fears about going home.  We will have her admitted to the hospice care program, so that will be helpful, but it also puts us in a new season of Peyton's life.  When I see how Peyton is today, I see a pretty sick child.  I see an improved version of the girl laying in that bed a couple weeks ago, but nothing has changed with what's going on on the inside - the underlying condition.

I try my best to not worry about the things I shouldn't worry about - whether it is with Peyton or things on the outside world.  I am trying my best to only be concerned with today, but then things creep into my mind....like who is the next attending going to be and when will the change happen.  Will they be as familiar with Peyton as they need to be?  Have they been with her before?  Again, I get ahead of myself by worrying about these things, but still I worry.

Tomorrow we wrap up three weeks in the hospital.  Thank you again to everyone for their kindness, support, prayers, etc.  We truly appreciate it!!

Keep up the prayers!!

Hospital Life...Day 19

Today is Day 19.  If you missed the Day 18 update, you can catch up HERE.

Last night, Peyton's heart rate began to rise a bit.  It was concerning to find it back in the 130s-150s.  It was higher than it has been lately once again this morning.  She also didn't quite look "herself" yesterday.  Ok, well, that could be said for the past 19 days, but considering how she's been the past few days, yesterday was a negative change.  I thought her eyes maybe looked more purple or sunken.  She was a bit more irritable and wanted nothing to do with smiling for anyone today.  Her temperature had also been a little higher than it had been both yesterday and today.

When the doctors rounded, they decided that it would be a good idea to get a chest xray.  I don't know what that showed officially.  They also drew some blood and did a urine culture.  Her white count was up a bit.  Rather than take any chances with Peyton, they began some IV antibiotics.

A couple of the nurses on the floor gave Peyton a "spa" treatment when they were cleaning her up today.  One decided that the ties from one of the yellow disposable gowns that they wear when going into rooms on contact precautions {as they do in Peyton's room} would make good pigtail ties.  They also gave a pedicure to match her manicure from the other day.  I thought that was so sweet of them.

Aside from what seems to be some kind of new infection brewing, it's been a quiet day.  Ron and Moira came up this afternoon as did one of Peyton's home nurses.  I think it's a "tired" day all the way around.  I took a nap late this afternoon.  I feel marginally better now.

We shall see what tomorrow brings.