PICC line

Tuesday morning we were presented with a request for a PICC line.  This is an IV that is a more permanent and stable IV that would enter a typical IV site but runs through the vein to the vena cava (next to the heart).  Scary huh?  A need for a PICC line arises because the nutrients they give the baby irritate the IV and destroy the site.  A lot of activity from the baby can also run down an IV sight (Aidan is definitely active).  So, instead of being a human pin cushion a PICC line is inserted by a specially trained nurse.  Kevin and I decided to allow them to insert the PICC so that they had a solid line to give him his antibiotics, nutrients, etc.

We said goodbye to Aidan at 4:00 in the afternoon and hoped to see him again by 8:30.  Well, Kev went to check on the little guy but they weren't done with the line yet so he came back and we watched a movie.  By 9:30/10:00 I decided to call the NICU since we hadn't heard from them yet but they said they were still working on him.  Can I tell you how stressed we were and how grateful we were for having a computer that played DVD's.

By 11:00 we marched down to the NICU; we weren't waiting any longer.  Walking in I was a mess and was trying my best to keep the tears in and not be frustrated with the nurses.  We sat down next to his incubator and asked the nurse for an update.  She informed us that they were unsuccessful.  Unsuccessful?  They just had our baby for hours for nothing?

They explained that they were able to insert the line but they couldn't get it into the vena cava just the way they wanted it (they're very particular about it) so they had to insert a regular IV.  All of that stress for nothing. 

But, they did have good news that he digested his little meal and had a bowl movement.  (We've been working on getting his digestive system working properly.)  Nice to have a little good news.  Maybe this meant he wouldn't be in the hospital long and wouldn't need the PICC line anyways.  Let's hope.