New Normal

After her surgery, we had to learn what "normal" was going to mean for us.  We were told at the time that it was likely Audrey would have her trach and feeding tube for about a year.  During this time the doctors could do sclerotherapy more aggressively everywhere and not have to worry about compromising her airway.

My husband and I had to be trained to trach care of a baby with a trach.  Thankfully Audrey only needed her trach "just in case" - she didn't NEED it to breathe like most trach patients do. She didn't have to constantly be attached to machines.  She didn't need any medication when she got home.

She did need to be on machines that monitored her oxygen and heartbeat while she slept.  She also had a machine that kept moisture going through her trach so it wouldn't get clogged. 

We had to learn to suction her trach to keep it from getting clogged with mucus- this sounds worse than it is.  To me it was no worse than blowing her nose. We had to learn how to change and take care of her trach and feeding tube.  We had to learn to feed her by her G-tube.

I had no idea what we were going to do when we got home. The doctors said Audrey HAD to be with someone trained to take care of a baby with a trach.  We lived so far from Riley - no one could come down and get trained.  This caused a lot of stress.  We did fight a little bit with the hospital on this issue.  We felt there HAD to be some place close to home where other willing people at home could be trained to care for Audrey.  Eventually the hospital worked it so that a local home medical service could train people at home to care for Audrey.  If this wouldn't have happened, I wouldn't have been able to return to work.  God's hand showed up again here.  My baby sitter without hesitation volunteered without being asked to get trained so she could continue watching my girls.  Dorris is an amazing woman.  God is good.

Adjusting to a new noraml - Audrey, Addison, & Hannah