Improvements

On Tuesday, Keith was finally extubated.  He did well with that.  Right after the extubation, he did talk to us a little bit. By evening though, he was in a really bad mood, and apparently going through major withdrawal from all of the sedatives.  I spent hours with him trying to get him to talk, or sit up-- do anything...nothing worked.
Wednesday, it was similar.  He was very resistant. He was allowed to drink, but refused. TEN HOURS I tried to convince him to talk to me, play with me, offered him any toy in the world. Nothing. Dead Silent.  Occasional smile, but for the most part-- just NOT him.
By Wednesday evening, I had it in my head that he was going to be like this forever. That my Keith was gone,and some other Keith replaced him. I guess it was lack of sleep, being too worried-- I don't know-- but I started to begin preparing myself for WHAT IF this were how he was going to be. Lethargic, unhappy, laying in a lumpy ball on a bed, forever...not caring for anything anymore.
Late, late Wednesday night, Keith was moved out of ICU, and onto the main kid's floor. Of course, I had stuck around ALL day waiting for this move, and about 20 minutes after I had gone home, I get the call that he had been moved. Figures.
On Wednesday, I had also been informed that Keith could potentially come home on Friday. ENT wanted to keep an eye on his neck for a little longer, to be sure there were no leaks in his trachea.  Also, we still had an issue with him drinking, and they obviously wouldn't discharge him until he drank. Nurses and staff told me most likely his "attitude" was due to sedatives still being in his system (not necessarily withdrawal as we had seen on Tuesday). Also, that he could just be scared because it was a traumatic thing that happened to him.  I guess they had seen other kids like this. I didn't want to believe it-- because ANY time Keith had anything in the passed, he never  acted in this way!
Thursday morning, I made several phone calls to his school, his doctors, the nurses, and began to research sedative and opioid withdrawal. I was sure, something was wrong with Keith.
By the time I got to the hospital.... Keith was suddenly almost back to Normal! They had him up in a chair watching tv, drinking juice, and talking! I was shocked!
All day yesterday (Thursday), it was a great day. He ate very well, his plate and even some of the food I brought up from Subway and a pizza place in here.  He's been playing his games too.  He's been using the potty pretty good again as well.  He still seems to tense up and not talk every once in a while-- but I'm not so worried anymore, at all about this.
Today is Friday, and the hospital is preparing our discharge.  YAY!   Keith seems to be very excited, (maybe a little confused too) to go home!
Keith will need to have a repeat bronchoscopy in 3 weeks to check the new airway, and I pray so hard that the next time is outpatient, like we are familiar with many times before.
I'm grateful that he is doing well.  Maybe also slightly embarrassed that I flipped out sooo fast about his responsiveness this week. The medical staff here was very correct in all they told me. They told me most likely when he was moved from ICU we would see real improvement, super fast.  That is for sure what happened. 
I don't regret asking anybody that would listen for help over this. Many times parent's do not stand up for their child and ask questions when it comes to medical things.  I remember the very first day I had Keith, medical staff told me NEVER forget you are the spokes person for your child. Do not be afraid to ask questions.  I do believe that is why I'm able to get through so many things with Keith. I ask as many questions as needed, I'm not afraid to help with his medical things that I'm allowed to help with, and many times if I'm not happy with their answers, I will keep asking!