TRIP TO THE E.R.

What a night already...and it's only 3 am! We just returned from the E.R. and now I am staying up to watch his heart rate and oxygen level, because they are both all over the board.

Earlier today (around 6 p.m.), Max fell asleep in his swing and begin experiencing bradycardia (low heart rate) and continued that for hours. He dropped down even lower than his usual low, and that certainly caught my attention. His monitor was literally going off for a straight two hours with his heart rate sitting in the 50s. He drops to the 50s sometimes, but this time he actually was sitting on the lower end. I don't like seeing 50/51 for his heart rate. Finally I decided to call our doctor but because it was after hours, I talked to the on call nurse at Children's. After explaining Max's medical history (that's always quite simple - ha ha), I was referred to the on call cardiologist. Unfortunately this is the one cardiologist at Children's that does not know Maxwell. So I explained all of Max's issues relevant to the heart and everything that has happened post surgery (again quite a lengthy list of issues and procedures). She says to head to the ER just to make sure nothing has changed and that this ongoing cold/virus isn't impacting his heart.

I ask that the doctor call ahead so that we don't have to wait in the waiting room (too many germs!!!) and fortunately we were seen immediately. They hooked Max up to an EKG (the 12 leads on his chest) and monitored his rhythm. Everything appeared normal there. But they wanted to see what he is doing when he sleeps, so they put us in a private room and I was to encourage Maxwell to fall asleep. So we snuggled up on the bed together and I think Max was quite confused. He was looking at me, looking all around the room, playing with my hair...anything besides sleeping. Finally my lil' guy decided to doze off but it wasn't "heavy" sleep and he only "brady'd" a few times. After a few hours of this, I asked for us to go home and they agreed. However, as soon as I put him in his crib at home (literally - it happened immediately!!!) he started to brady like crazy and was sitting in the low 50s. Bugger!

I am supposed to talk with the cardiologist tomorrow morning and they are hoping they will have the halter results back from last week. The concern is if there is a blockage that is causing these low drops...or is this "just Maxwell" and all is well for now. Most likely this will be an issue we always will have to watch closely. He simply does not have a normal, healthy heart and it will probably never function as such.

Anyway, as I write this post, his alarm has started to slow down, so I think it is time for me to try and get some sleep...HOPEFULLY! I am so glad I had help here last night...it was sooo wonderful! Getting eight hours of sleep was a complete dream and allowed me to stay focused on Max's issues tonight. Good night!

*Thanks Eliz for joining us at the hospital...definitely made for a more enjoyable visit to have your company! :)