raking leaves

Well, the rest of the night was uneventful.  This morning we were in the room when Dr. M and the PICU intensivist were making rounds.  Dr. M says that he is still very sick and they would like him to be improving more quickly, but if we can just maintain for the next 24-48 hours he would be happy.  Dr. M made the analogy (is that the right word?) that right now his care is like trying to rake leaves into a pile, but the breeze keeps blowing.  They've added more medications today - a hydrocortisone drip (another blood pressure med - he's currently on an epi drip, a nor-epi drip, and a milrinone drip).  He says his heart is "stiff"  the contractility is good, it just needs to relax so it can fill - then they can stop giving him the volume/fluid boluses.  They've changed his antibiotic to a stronger one - his white blood count is slowly creeping up.  They say they're just trying to stay ahead of things.  They're also adding some type of thyroid stimulant.  I've quit trying to understand everything.  I really think I'd be better off not knowing anything medical.  It just makes me more anxious.  I'm just trying today to look at the positives.  His urine output is still good.  His abdominal drains are draining quite a bit of fluid.  His blood pressure has remained stable and they've only had to give him two boluses of albumin today. I don't think he's had to get any blood today.  Thanks for the thoughts and prayers.  If you've tried to call in the past few days and I haven't answered, I'm sorry - I just can't talk about this stuff now.  It's just easier to type it out.  Love you all - jc