Monday, February 4, 2008

So far So good :)

Extubation was a success so far. It was quick and hopefully painless. He had recieved morphine a while prior to keep him calm. His oxygen saturations are staying up in the 90's so there is no need for additional oxygen. There is a question of whether he will be able to clear his own muccous or not because of the part of the brain that is damaged. Charlie is the calmest he has been all day -low heartrate, low BP. So far the mucous hasn't been an issue and he's been breathing on his own for about 60 minutes!!! He does seem less aggitated but I don't know if that is related to the extra sedation or not. We are still waiting for physical therapy to come by and fit him with balls for him to grab so his hands don't clamp down so hard and boots to make his feet flex.

13 comments:

Shorty said...

Good news. Hopefully it keeps coming.

Anonymous said...

Great to hear some good news again! Thanks for letting all of us know. Sending continued good thoughts and prayers your way....

On a lighter note--we have a fish named Charlie so Joey has gotten a little confused sometimes wondering why the fish is in the hospital??!?

Meghan said...

charlie is a champ (and not the dog who eats everything) and he's working so dang hard. i am thrilled he's been breathing so well. small steps for a small man. we'll just let him take it slow. he is so awesome and i am so proud of him and love him so much. i am glad he is getting a chance to chill out for awhile. i hope you guys get a chance to chill out for awhile too. love you so much.

Anonymous said...

That is such great news! You guys are all such troopers and Charlie seems like quite the fighter.

This is just all hitting so close to home for us because Abby will be 9 months old on Thursday so I have been checking up on Charlie as often as I can.

I bet he will be so much more comfortable now and hopefully he'll progress even quicker now.

Anonymous said...

I will continue to pray for all of you. I have followed the Herrin Family for almost 2 years. My oldest child has had serious health problems her entire life. She was only suppose to live to be 5 and she just celebrated her 30th birthday! God is Great.

Along the way, someone shared a poem with me and I carried it with me each and everywhere I went. Finally it disintegrated in my purse and I had to search to find another. I did that and I want to share it with you.






How God Chooses Special Mothers



Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressures and a couple by habit.
This year, nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of handicapped children. Did you ever wonder how mothers of handicapped children are chosen?

Somehow I visualize God hovering over earth selecting His instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As He observes, He instructs His angels to make notes in a giant ledger.

"Armstrong, Beth, son. Patron saint, Matthew."

"Forrest, Margorie, daughter, Patron saint, Cecelia."

"Rudledge, Carrie, twins, Patron saint...give her Gerard. He's used to profanity."

Finally, He passes a name to an angel and smiles, "Give her a handicapped child." The angel is curious. "Why this one, God? She's so happy."

"Exactly," smiles God. "Could I give a handicapped child a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel."

"But has she patience?" asks the angel.

"I don't want her to have too much patience or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wears off, she'll handle it. I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence that is so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has his own world. She has to make it live in her world and that's not going to be easy."

"But, Lord, I don't think she even believes in you."

God smiles. "No matter. I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just enough selfishness."

The angel gasps, "Selfishness? Is that a virtue?"

God nods, "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she'll never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take for granted a 'spoken word." She will never consider a 'step' ordinary. When her child says 'Momma' for the first time she will be present at a miracle and know it! When she describes a tree or a sunset to her blind child, she will see it as few people ever see my creations. I will permit her to see clearly the things I see...ignorance, cruelty, prejudice...and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life because she is doing my work as surely as she is here by my side."

"And what about her patron saint?" asks the angel, his pen poised in mid-air.

God smiles. "A mirror will suffice."

By~ Erma Bombeck


Take one minute at a time and don't worry about the next. Keep the faith. Kim

Anonymous said...

Ahem... Excuse me, but I simply must make mention of a VERY important fact. Now I love Rob like a brother! In fact when we ski together it feels often times like we do actually share the same thought patterns... we have produced powder figure eights of such perfection that Michelangelo himself would weep! That being said we have some fairly large differences. One of the biggest is that or our Collegiate affiliation. I cheer for the university ORIGINALLY founded by Brigham Young. The University of Utah. With that said, many people would state that it is the Angelic Genetic Contribution of Angel that gives the Christensen’s offspring an opportunity to make a positive mark on humanity ;)

What many may not know, is that Angel prefers The RED over the blue. Angel is a Ute. At the end of each November when Rob is trying extra hard to live his life right so he can call upon the Almighty to scold the unworthy in a meaningless game of Football, Angle is quietly shaking her head side to side, and whispering into the children’s ears "Heavenly Father doesn’t care who wins this game, but if it were me? I would cheer for the red..." So Angel this post is for you! I am a Utah Man and I live across the green our gang it is the jolliest that you have ever seen our co-eds are the fairest and each ones a shining star! Our yell you'll hear it ringing through the mountains near and far! Who am I sir? A Utah Man Am I! A Utah Man sir, I will be til I die! Ki Yi!!!!

And to Charlie Cooper as with your father, I will be proud of you no matter who you decide cheer for! I am praying for you!!! Go Utes, Go Charlie Cooper!!!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on this step you guys!!! Isnt it just a piece of heaven to see that tube no longer in his mouth? I pray that soon you will be able to pick him up and hold him against you! You are all doing fanastic work! I'm praying for that next step! Love you guys.

Anonymous said...

Dear Christensen Family:

Rob's best friend posted Charlie's situation on Cougarboard along with a plea for prayers, and I have been following Charlie's progress since. I don't know you guys but I want you to know that there are folks here in Georgia that are prsying for you and have fasted for you. Hang in there.

Ginny said...

What a wonderful thought on how God chooses special mothers, and I must agree. I feel I have been given calm, "easy" children because the Lord knows I couldn't handle with any grace much else. But I must thank Kim, although I don't know her, for the audible laugh with which she provided me since I have a set of twins. I imagine Meg will get a laugh too. Luckily I don't think they have ever been the source of profanity in my life!! :-) Thanks for the laugh and I couldn't agree more that Charlie has been sent to such wonderful parents who have shown such strength and grace through this!! Thanks for your example!

Ginny Wood

Anonymous said...

I have been watching and praying on my own since Ty and Meghan gave Shelley and I the news about little Charlie. There is nothing more precious than a family that loves one another enough that all of you feel the same pain and joy together. I have always admired Grandma Cheryl and her clan for thier fierce loyalty and love for one another. Your little one is a child of God, not forgotten for one minute by the one that sent him to you. God bless Rob, Angel and Britty for fulfillling their roles as parents and brother to this struggling little boy. You are constantly in my minds eye and in my prayers.
Rand & Shelley

Anonymous said...

Angel wasn't named Angel on accident.

Rob, you have some pretty big shoes to fill... and I know you can do it.
I went to pick up Joey to take him to the airport (yes, has been deployed... but, he is a pilot instructor in Little Rock and gets 4 days off a week to come home.. not a bad gig for the Major) anyway, I was headed to Layton anda I had and interesting vision of Marion/Gammy leaning over Charlie Cooper's bed... it was so vivid. She is your guardian angel.

Love, JIll B

kerri said...

I do not know you all personally, but have been following your posts since hearing about your family from the Herrin's website.
We pray for Charlie and your entire family daily and are so glad to hear the good news. I am sure he is more comfortable now, and will continue to make progress as his body heals.
What an inspiration you all are to others, especially little Charlie. Thanks for sharing your experiences with us all!

Anonymous said...

well all i have to say when i went to see how many people have been on this site is wow! 859 people have been on it TODAY! ( and it is only five o'clock.)