What are we trying to solve in the PICU?

A lot has been happening, jumping between floors and doctors at the hospital, so what is it we are really trying to solve in the PICU this week?

Current Issues we are addressing:

1. Lydia is and has been Tachypneic since her heart surgery.  She takes more than the average 40-60 breaths per minute that newborns should take.  This is why we need her to grow so she can get a handle on her breathing.  There is added difficulty for Lydia because she has upper airway issues that she also needs to grow into.  

2. Lydia has an Ectopic Heart Rhythm as of Saturday morning.  It's possible that an early heartbeat is coming from a premature atrial contraction, meaning the upper chambers of her heart are setting her rhythm instead of her sinus node, or natural pacemaker.  This can be treated with beta blockers but ICU docs aren't convinced this is an accurate diagnosis yet.  Other reasons for an Ectopic Heart Rhythm could include fever (no fever!), infection (blood cultures currently in lab), or it's not an uncommon thing for heart babies to have.

3. Weight gain, always weight gain.  If I could, I'd add protein powder to her breast milk.  Essentially we are already doing that by fortifying her breast milk with Enfamil and giving her the maximum amount of feeds she can handle.  I hope having lots of snuggles and her favorite ICU nurses around will make her feel like packing on the pounds this week.