Another update....

We think they have things under control. Nate was moved to the PICU and the doctors there were all over his case. They found out he was given too big of a dose of morphine and it made him comatose. They were able to give him a drug that reversed the effects and he woke right up. His blood tests were coming back a little off but this afternoon he is doing good, except in a lot of pain from the chest tube. Apparently he is very sensitive to morphine. The chest tube is doing it's job. So far the drainage is equivalent to 2 pop cans full of fluid and pus. They tell us that is a good thing, that as long as the pneumonia is raging his immune system is making fluid to try to fight it. They also had to put an NG tube in to suck out all of the fluid from his stomach. His bowels aren't working right now and they don't want his stomach filling up with acid and making him throw up. The kids always called him our tube baby.... if they could see him now. He always holds the tube to his oxygen. The nurses were worried that he would try to pull the tubes out but we told them it's more like a security blanket and he just holds it. Sure enough... that's all he does. He still is critical. But his awesome nurse told us that he is going to do just fine, that his body is fighting the way it should be and he thinks Nate will be back up in a regular room by morning. I know all of the prayers are making a difference because we had one sick little boy on our hands. The doctors and nurses have been terrific. I am so grateful we are here. The chest tube is causing him a lot of pain, he moans and moans and I wish there was something more I could do for him, but I am grateful that we live in a time and a place that they are able to do what they have done for him.

It's easy to get scared and afraid. But sitting in PICU and seeing so many others suffering in so many more horrible ways, it makes you step back and count your blessings. I noticed a guy that I thought looked familiar. I noticed he kept looking at Thayne too. Thayne finally noticed him and knew that he was a guy that worked for him at his last company. We had heard there was a shooting in our town. A boy had walked into a house, shot the kid in the head and then went out and killed himself. The boy that got shot is his 13 year old stepson. They are waiting.... he is missing too much of his brain and they are waiting to see if there is any activity and then have to decide to take him off life support. Another little 4 month old was taken off life support after the mother's boyfriend shook him. So many senseless things happen in life. So much pain. While it is hard to watch my little man suffer, I know that he is loved and adored and taken care of. The true pain is watching these people suffer when it was so needless. I can't imagine!!! I am tired of waiting, when the outcome seems to be health in the end. What horror it would be to know you are waiting for the end to come. I am so grateful for what we have, and even grateful to go through the trials because in them we all learn. As bad as it is, everytime we have had a health crisis with Nathaniel I have watched my family grow in so many ways.

I know that many have been praying for him. I wish I could thank each of your personally. But I want you to know that we have felt the prayers. When it gets hard we are lifted and comforted. What a blessing it is to have so many wonderful people be part of our lives.

Here's Nate holding his tube.... and a close up of the chest tube.... modern medicine is just amazing!