RSV

Although there have been some bumps over the past 24 hours, overall things are looking up for our little guy! Everett was able to keep his oxygen levels up so he has been able to stay off any extra oxygen.  We keep monitoring his oxygen saturation levels and they appear to be better today than they were yesterday.  The doctors continue to say that his lungs are sounding less wheezy and crackly (one of the three doctors said he thought that crackle was now gone).  He is still taking in more breathes per minute than normal and shows signs of some labored breathing, but all the doctors say he is looking much better than when we were in the ER a few days ago. 

Some of his lab results came back today and it revealed that he tested positive for RSV, which is a highly contagious virus.  There are a lot of people sick around our school and in older kids/adults RSV just appears as a common cold.  However, for young babies, like our little Everett, RSV can lead to more serious conditions like bronchiolitis which can lead to hospitalization.  This is something we now know all too well. 

I'm so thankful we came to the hospital so Everett could be monitored and treated properly.  He's been getting breathing treatments through a nebulizer every fours and has been getting IV fluids to prevent dehydration (this was especially important in the beginning when he had diarrhea).  

 Going through all this while living in Korea has had its challenges, but I feel like Everett has gotten solid care at the Samsung Medical Center in Seoul.   Their international clinic has bent over backwards to make sure we understand what is going on and to help us through all the processes/procedures Everett has needed.  SMC is also a teaching hospital, so we have two residents that have been working directly with Everett and then once a day "the Professor" (as they all call him) comes and checks out E and gives us his final conclusions.  I feel like they have been very attentive to his needs and quality in their care.

There have been a few bumps in the road, as I mentioned earlier....

• We got kicked out of our private room last night and moved into a room shared room with a four year old that cried way more than Everett.  
• The said four year old woke up a few times in the night with what Tom and I would predict were night terrors.  Out of no where he would start screaming, "Ohhhhhh--Maaaaaa! Ohhhhh----Ma!!!" (Oh-ma is mom in Korean).  I really mean screaming. 
• Tom had to go back to work this morning so it was just me and E all morning.  Normally this wouldn't be a big deal but it's hard to maneuver him with all the cords hanging from his legs. His left foot has an IV so it's strapped to a splint to keep it from coming out. The other foot has his oxygen sensor, which makes his toe glow like Rudolph all night.
• Additionally, they had to take more blood work and I had to pin him down while they stuck him.  Terrible. Terrible. Terrible feeling to go through that. 
• Mid-poopy diaper change the staff announced we were moving rooms again. It was great to move back to a private room, but there was little warning. So while I'm taking care of poopy pants this lady starts packing all my stuff up onto a cart and moving us whether I was ready or not!

Despite the bumps, all that matters is that Everett seems to be improving.  The doctor said we MAY get to go home tomorrow but then he said it may be Saturday...So, it seems like we're getting closer to E getting a clean bill of health!