Mommy Training

Today was a busy day for me. I spent a good hour this morning finishing up my training in how to care for Owen's new PICC line and Milrinone.  It's all very intimidating and I hope to have it figured out before we are discharged tomorrow.  I had to learn to program the infusion pump, how to manage the Milrinone bags and put it all together.  I have to prime the iv tubing, use lots of alcohol wipes for fifteen seconds here and there, wash hands, use gloves, wash hands again, touch this, don't ever touch this, wear a mask for this, and then we had to learn how to take care of his other catheter. 

Owen has a double lumen PICC line.  One catheter runs his Milrinone continuously and I change the bag every 72 hours.  I'll have to do the whole process of unplugging it each time I dress him... each time I disconnect him, I have to do the whole sterilization process again to avoid infection in his line. 

The other catheter isn't in use most of the time, but I have to keep it from clotting off.  So daily I have to do a Heparin flush and so the entire sanitation process continues.  I'm sure it will be like clockwork soon enough, but right now, it's totally scary.  I have been doing his Infusion changes today from one med to the next as we wrapped up his IVIG.  It's nice having the nurses walk me through it. 

Tonight I learned how to wrap it up for bath time.  He can't submerge it in water and we can't get the line wet, so we wrapped it in a diaper and used lots of tape and then a bag covered that.  I can also use Press and Seal wrap and was given a few other options.  Well find what works for us.

Owen is still visibly sore and has a tough time getting around.  They must have done a number on him in the cath lab.  We went to the playroom for a couple hours this afternoon.  I had to leave for an hour to go check into the Ronald McDonald House.  Our room was not at all what I expected... it's going to take some work to make it homey.  I am thinking a rug to cover up the carpet and some new bedding for the beds will be a start.  Tomorrow.

 

Tomorrow is tentatively our discharge date.  It's hard to believe Owen has been in the hospital for a week now... wow!!  Owen will have weekly cardio visits and PICC line dressing changes.. which I am dreading.  Thank you for your continued prayers and support.  Owen did get a few packages at the RMH but we haven't picked them up yet.. as well as several online LPCH cards which he LOVES!!!  Thank you everyone for your generosity.