12/16 1:30 pm

I have included a "Pre-Snow" picture so you can compare.  Do you think the news is blowing it out of proportion or do you think it is legit?  Time will tell. PS. The windows are so, so dirty.

Well, another one bites the dust. Big day today! The last chest tube came out.  WOW! Yipee!  Ethan has what look like four open bullet holes in his abdomen. They are covered with a dressing so they can continues to drain and heal. They are going to leave a gnarly scar.

Ethan has decided he is so warm that he just doesn't want a gown on.  Don't worry, we have made him decent so he is not exposing everyone. I noticed this morning he kept tugging at it.  Finally I asked him if he wanted it off.  He shook his head yes.

At rounds today, the plan is to slowly wean him off of the vent and switch him over to oral medications.  The vent is delivering an inhaled medication to help with his lung pressures, and because he has been able to take an oral form in his feeding tube, they are trying to do a slow switcharoonie (medical term I'm sure). Once he is extubated, this will help support his lungs and try to keep his heart happy.

There will be slow changes over the next few days so I have to be patient. I am doing physical therapy stretches on Ethan as much as possible so that when he is ready to be extubated, he can start therapy to  walk.  He has a lot of muscle wasting so he is going to have to gain strength and build muscle.  I know that will be frustrating for him.

I vow to be the biggest and most annoying cheerleader for him.  My experience with cheering is mostly with animals, and in the form of giving them food when they do good things.  I will probably take that approach with Ethan to.  "Good job Ethan, here's an apple slice"(we have to continue with our healthy diet for the best outcome with this special new heart).  We will see how that works.  I will add that to my book of parenting tips if it is successful.   

The people at the security desk actually know me now.  I get my pass updated every day.  They now let me skip lines and have priority.  That is kind of nice. 

The big gossip heard on every floor, by everyone, is the Covid vaccine.  I heard people talking on the elevator, in the lobby, in the café and even as the elevator doors opened on one of the floors and the staff members were discussing it.  Most of the staff is excited to get it.  I have heard some horror stories from March and April regarding how badly they were hit with Covid and how devastating it really was. I have heard a few people complaining that they "had" to get it as a work requirement.  They are scared because it is so new.

Ethan is sleeping his way through this afternoon just healing away.  I hope it continues.