Elle Update: 4/2 Day 3

Chest tube is out!!!  (This is the tube that was inserted between a couple of her ribs on her right side to drain the fluid out from around that lung.) The removal was quick and not too painful for her.

We are officially on 'weaning protocol' for the vent.  This means they will lower her ventilator settings little by little (but probably more frequently and regularly) as long as she tolerates it.  It may take until Friday, but that's when we hope to have the ET tube out.  (This is the breathing 'endotracheal'/ET tube that goes in her mouth, down her throat and into her lungs. It is connected to the ventilator which helps her breathe.). While we want to make sure not to remove the ET tube too soon, we want to do it as soon as possible because we don't want her breathing muscles to weaken too much while relying on the vent to breathe.

(I hope all this make sense - I've had some questions about what is what and medical terminology, etc.)

So bottomline, chest tube is out and breathing tube is still in and she is still on the ventilator.

Elle was very active this morning and awake for much of it.  We had to give her some medicine today that helped calm her down a bit because we don't want her too active because she could easily pull her ET tube out.  That would not be good.  She also has an IV that she doesn't need to be tugging on either.  But yay for activity!

The tummy problems and diarrhea seemed to have slowed a bit, so we are thankful for that.

We are still waiting on some important lab results - please pray we can get those tomorrow!

We are waiting to do her infusion for now.  There are a few reasons why, but after some discussion, we all decided it would be best to wait at least a couple of days.

I got to get into bed with Elle today and snuggle in with her.  Didn't really get to hold her, but I'll take it.  My arms miss holding that girl.

She is very stable and moving in the direction we want her to go. All in all, we feel that she had a pretty good day.  We are seeing more and more our Elle-belle doing things that she usually does and that does our hearts so much good. AND we got more smiles today!

Thank you again to all who have prayed, written, called, visited, encouraged, lifted us up in love in all kinds of ways.  We are so blessed - and I mean that truly from the bottom of my heart.  

We thank God for sustaining us and feeding our souls and for giving our hearts such joy and peace despite extremely difficult circumstances.  We do not feel like we are flailing out of control with no one to hold us.  God is near.  God is here.  He loves us so much. We have many fears and worries and concerns and this is all just really, really hard down to every cell in our bodies, but our feet are set firmly on Jesus, our Rock.  Our Joy and our Peace.

Much love to you!  Thank you for reading this and caring for us!

Dana

Sweet baby with Daddy