Sounds like surgery today

We talked to his nurse, Shannon (pic below), and Gabriel is on the schedule for 3:00 this afternoon. She hasn't seen the surgeons yet this morning, so we aren't sure if that is definite, but his output from the right chest tube didn't really decrease anymore. Our thoughts are that if he needs it, let's get it over with. Obviously we would have been thrilled if the drainage had just miraculously quit over night and it really wasn't necessary to rough up his other lung, but this is the only thing really keeping us from moving forward. We already know he can wean quite nicely from the ventilator, so even if he goes back up after surgery on his settings (and we KNOW he will) he'll get back down. He has been using a pacifier, even with an ET tube, so we know he can suck - so hopefully he'll get the hang of feeding quickly. AND he hasn't needed much extra pain medicine in the past three days, so we know he can wean from the morphine. BUT, none of this can happen until the lungs quit draining and the threat of a trip to the OR is over. So let's get it over with and get on with it - says I!

We'll let you know what happens!