no luck with new PICC today

They tried to get a new PICC line in Riley today, as his is over a month old now. Unfortunately, his history of being a tough stick is still an issue and after 4 attempts, the decided to call it quits. So he is keeping his old PICC line for now (in his thumb) and will likely be talking with us about doing a Broviac soon. This is a surgically inserted central line that would be in his chest area. Oh, the PICC line attempts also caused a not so snazzy new hair-do...they tried to put one in his head, which meant they had to shave an area above his ear. Poor thing. The top of his head is nearly bald because that hair literally washed off the other night, and now a REALLY bad strip on ONE side. I laughed and said that they needn't quit their day jobs for hairdressing anytime soon.

He got to eat a little bit more food today, 8mL every 4 hours, although that schedule kind of got a little messed up due to the PICC line work. He was VERY aware of my presence today during two visits though. Gotta love that. He heard me talking outside his room the first time and started "spitting" as I call it, until I went in to see him. The other time, he just lit up when I walked up to his bed and started fussing till I picked him up. Oh how tough is it to be me huh? :o)

I am very happy to say that the bag I put on after his bath last night made it through the ENTIRE night without leaking and is STILL hanging in there. Gonna leave it till sometime tomorrow. Don't want to leave it too long to where the wafer starts wearing away and eating at his skin in the middle (this can be hard to see with everything attached). Those hateful bags. All the medical technology in the world ostomy patients are left to deal with glorified ziploc bags that stick to big band-aids...seriously?!

My other little man, Travis, has become an absolute reading machine! And he is doing SO well on his schoolwork. he gets his first report card in a few days. Can't wait to see it. He LOVES his math work. LOVES it. It is always the first homework he wants to work on. He didn't get that from me! And Jay has to go out of town Monday, so I think I'll get my first taste of cub scouts Monday night. That should be fun.

Work is going ok. My coworkers keep me preoccupied for the most part and I had so many emails to read to catch up, that I've been busy doing that. Everyone I work with is aware of Riley's situation and that has made things easier, since I get asked how he's doing not "where's the baby" or things like that. Other people around the hospital that see me alot ask questions or say things like "oh you had the baby, how is everything" and I just answer "fine" and try to put on a convincing smile. I learned at the OB's office that if you answer truthfully that the person asking will just get all uncomfortable and it's just easier for me to not get into it.

By the way...still LOVING Riley being here at home. I SOOO wish he didn't have to go back to Duke. Our whole family has enjoyed him being here, but for me, having lived in the world of Duke's NICU for almost an entire month...I can say,without a doubt that his going back to Duke is gonna be miserable. He's a FACE and a NAME here to everyone that treats him. The nurses are ALL about some Mommy taking care of Riley which of course makes ME very happy! :o) They ASK questions about him, like his mannerisms and what he likes and dislikes and what is normal or not normal for him. They consider more than JUST a bunch of numbers on a piece of paper. He is MORE than just a bunch of numbers. And so far, they have done a real good job recognizing that. All of THAT has been what is so great having him here. The close proximity to our house is of course icing on the cake, and the fact I can pop in to see him during the day, but the way WE are treated in regards to him is BEST.