Elle Update: 4/8 Day 9

(I just had to double check the days again because my brain can't compute...yep, 9 days in.)

Another good day!  Elle did great keeping her sats mostly above 92 today.  She did have to go on oxygen for about 5 hours last night (a super low amount though)...and she has to go at least 24hrs being on room air before she can go home...so the clock reset this morning at about 4am.

She hasn't wanted to eat much today, but what she did eat, she ate well.  She fatigues quickly and was coughing up more junk from her lungs (that's a good thing - we want it outta there) but she's getting stronger each day and that's what we want!

She's still dealing with diarrhea multiple times a day due to her antibiotic.  Right now, it is what it is and she has to have this antibiotic.  We are upping her probiotics though and giving her zofran for nausea when she needs it.  She was pretty nauseous and miserable last night after her dose of antibiotic...she wanted so badly to sleep but just couldn't because of her tummy for almost 30 minutes poor thing.

But again, all in all, she is looking great.  The doctors are encouraged at her progress.  Her temperature stayed stable all day too.  There is some talk of going home tomorrow perhaps, but we might have to stay until Wednesday.  We had a pulmonology consult today to make sure we have a good home plan.  She will have some blood drawn in the morning that will help the doctors decide on a discharge plan.

Elle is getting more and more energy back and with that comes a good bit of antsy-ness.  So please pray that she miraculously stays content to sit in a bed in a hospital that she has been in for 9 days.  Please pray for her tummy and for her lungs to continue to heal.  Please pray for her coughing muscles to be strong and do the job they need to do.  Please pray for the rest of us as we are so weary.  We are tired of being apart and being on this specific roller coaster...although truly thankful for the amazing recovery Elle has made.  The pulmonologist was telling us today, from her point of view, how dire the situation was that night Elle came in.  That her organs could not have worked for much longer under those conditions.  Thank God for LeBonheur and the wonderful, wonderful medical team that has been caring for Elle...it's a big, big team.

And thank God for our big, big team of you all.  We surely could not carry on without you.  Much love!

Dana

(Don't you love these short, positive updates?!)

Oh and PS - I meant to include this yesterday, but I forgot because again, my brain.

When I was driving with Ann Carlyle to the hospital yesterday, we were listening to Ellie Holcomb's newest CD 'Sing: Creation Songs'.  My absolute favorite song on there from the first time I heard it is the last one...'He Loves Us'.  It's a short, sweet lullaby taken from Isaiah 25:8 and Psalm 42:8 about Jesus and His love for us. 

Here are the lyrics:

(The tune is also precious and beautiful...you've got to listen to it. Ann Carlyle and I listened to it 3 times in a row yesterday in the car.  It is often times on repeat. It speaks straight into our souls.)

When we're lost, God is light
He'll be with us through the night
Cause He loves us

When we're sad, and need to cry
He will sing a lullaby
Cause He loves us

From the rising of the sun
After every day is done
Even through the dark of night
God is with us all the time

When we fall and make mistakes
God will cover us with grace
Cause He loves us

Even if we run away
He'll come find us just to say
How He loves us

From the rising of the sun
After every day is done
Even through our darkest night
God is with us all the time

Everything that's on the earth
Land and sky, and flowers, & birds
They're all singing God's love song
And we can sing along

Every moment, Every day
Everywhere in every way
God loves us

(Thank you, Ellie, for this song!)