PICC is in!

Everything on Thursday went really well with Kyler's PICC line.

We got there at 9:00 am to get a huge dose of Factor before the procedure. They had to put in his Factor through an IV. They were going to use the same IV for the sedative, so it had to be a good one. Usually we use a butterfly needle to put in the Factor b/c it's a really tiny needle, but the Anesthesiologist doesn't like those needles, so they had to get a bigger needle to work.

He wasn't able to drink anything past 8:00 am, but he wouldn't take water when I tried over and over again to give it to him. He started crying at 8:45 b/c he was hungry, so he was pretty dehydrated. Dehydration = really bad veins.

The whole reason we're putting in the port is because of his already bad veins. It took 4 pokes and an hour to get the IV for his Factor in. Once that was in, he got his Factor and we went down to the out-patient surgery prep area.

The nurses & doctors explained everything, Kyler got some good drugs and we were able to kiss him as they rolled him in. 15 minutes later, he was done. Keith and I went to grab something to eat quick and when we came up, he was awake.

I held him while he drank some juice, water, & milk and ate some crackers. He was pretty cranky, but still wanted to impress the nurses. He counted for them and said "peas" (please) & "teek tu" (thank you) when they came by him. He also counted to 10 for him. When we get to 7, he always says 8 before I can say it. Then I say 9 and he says 10. They were amazed! My little flirt. They got a kick out of him.

After he was released, we had to go back to Hematology so the nurse could show us how to flush the PICC every day. We have to use a saline and Heparin flush every day until he gets the port. Then we'll still do the saline & Heparin, but we'll also put his Factor in through the PICC while the port is healing.

Overall it went well. Kyler didn't want Keith to hold him or to lay down, except during his procedure. That meant, I had a 25lb arm workout from 9:00 - 2:00, minus 11:30-12:00 for the procedure. My arms are SORE!!!

He's happy and it doesn't even bother him. The part of the PICC that sticks out is wrapped in a little ace bandage and he's wearing long sleeves so he doesn't poke at it. We tried short sleeves, but he wants to pull at the ace bandage and we don't want to risk anything.

Tomorrow is the Port surgery. Keith and I are both very anxious. We just want to get it over. We had a nurse come to our house yesterday to show us how to give Kyler Factor through the port. We did it and it went well. I feel like we're able to do anything for him now if something happens. This is a great feeling and we're almost done with all of this. It will be wonderful when his port is healed, the PICC is out and we're giving Kyler Factor on a weekly basis at home.

If you have a moment, please say a prayer that tomorrow's port surgery goes well. We'll be in the hospital until Wednesday afternoon, so I will update when we get home.