Arterial line closed, drainage increases

The arterial line in Riley's groin came out early afternoon. It has continued to drain since surgery, and since they had a back-up arterial line in his left wrist, they decided it was better to close it up. An arterial line is sewed into the skin to assure that it remains in the artery. The nurse said that she would need to apply strong pressure to the area for about 15 minutes and then wrap it with "pressure tape" to try and get the drainage to stop.

He has been experiencing an irregular heart rhythm--it was first noticed around 3 am. They've been monitoring it since then, but as of now, no one seems too worried. We feel it's one of those things that no one is worried about just yet and are hoping that it will regulate itself. But it could turn into something bigger if his body isn't able to get the rhythm back to normal.

Drainage from his right lung has increased. The respiratory therapist has been in to see him and they want us to encourage him to cough and work his lungs a bit. He was even sitting up for a few minutes earlier, but it really wiped him out. We think this might be the first sign of a chylous (the torn lymph node, which then leaks lymph fluid into his body instead of into his lymph system). With a chylous, he cannot process fatty acids, and we won't know for sure if that is the problem until he starts eating food with fat. So far he's had nothing but apple juice, although he keeps asking for chocolate milk.

Overall, I can hardly believe how agreeable Riley has been though all of this so far. I ask him how he's doing and he says, "fine." He is truly incredible and I feel so fortunate to know him. That is one of the things that bothered me in the beginning when he first came out of surgery. The nurses don't know Riley. He's just another case, another baby having heart surgery. But he really is an amazing little person.