Monday update - May 6th

There is not much news to report today.  It was a relatively uneventful day for Theo.  He is still very swollen, and his bowels have not started working yet, but his comfort level, blood pressure and urine output all improved today.  Our main prayer request continues to be for his bowels to work.  We're praying that they are simply taking their time, and that there is not an obstruction.


Updates:
- Comfort: Theo seems much more comfortable today, with his heart rate in the 80-90 range.
- Blood pressure: After so much effort to get his blood pressure up yesterday (from 70s/50s), he is now at a great level with blood pressures in the 110s/70s.  Should keep his kidney happy!
- Kidney: His creatinine has ticked up a bit over the last few days, which we're all hoping is a byproduct of the medications and all that he has been through.  We're praying for his creatinine to trend back down tomorrow.
- Infection: The Infectious Disease team believes that the Pseudomonas bacteria causing his peritonitis is sensitive to the antibiotic that he has been on for 6 days now.  They stopped giving Theo the gentamicin, which is the antibiotic that is toxic to the kidneys.  Hooray!
- Swelling: Theo's belly is massive and shiny from being so stretched.  It is measuring the biggest that it has been yet (and yes, his abdominal girth is measured with a tape measure). We're praying for the bowels to move so his stomach can become less distended.
- Fever: Theo was not fevered at all today.  He even had another blood transfusion and handled it fine.  We're so thankful for normal temperatures for a full day!
- Bowels: As we learned on Friday when the surgeon re-opened Theo, they found a kink in his small bowel.  We are PRAYING that it is now straight after the surgeon unkinked it.  But because he has not had any gas or stools yet, the surgeon wanted to get a series of x-rays today to rule out bowel obstruction.  Unfortunately, the x-rays were not conclusive.  The bowels are somewhat enlarged, but it is not clear if it is the result of bowel obstruction or ileus (decreased bowel activity, which is very common following abdominal surgery.)  We are happy to know that several doctors and nurses heard bowel sounds today, but we are still praying that there is no permanent obstruction that would require further intervention.

We're still hanging in there.  Nick would admit to becoming impatient, and I can understand his feelings.  We spend each day hoping that the next hour will be better, and that we'll see a major breakthrough.  It's hard to see your child on a ventilator, sedated, and lacking in the energy and life that you have grown accustomed to seeing in him.   Nick sent me a note that Rick Warren posted today, though, that said "Grief Exhausts.  Grace Energizes.  Isaiah 40:31."  While we are sad and hate to see Theo suffering from such a serious complication, I know we feel energized by the grace of God.

My aunt sent me a note that said one of her friends pictures Jesus holding Theo in his arms.  I've been picturing that since I read it, and it's given me so much comfort.  We've told Theo multiple times that he is so loved and that there are so many people praying for him.  I think he knows that he is very loved.  Thank you for your continued prayers and support.