Moving on up, to the East side…

Out of ICU and on 9East again!! The only thing keeping her in ICU was her respiratory high flow oxygen and they were able to wean her off of that today. We’ve still got a long way to go but we are happy to be settled back on a regular floor.

Jack surprised me by coming to visit for my birthday!! He had actually had everything set up for the kids to miss school and come with but then we got put in isolation :( And he had already told them they were coming so pray for their precious hearts that were broken about that. They came to visit for the weekend and she ended up with surgery and shuffling to the ICU and then they were excited to visit today and then couldn’t. So sad for them.

This morning was pretty amazing. I posted the blog and made myself vulnerable to say how much I was struggling and asked for prayer and almost immediately after I felt a weight lifted and I was able to get up and going and tackle another day of suctioning her lungs and answering her cries and having strength for each minute at a time.

And then Jack showed up and we enjoyed each other’s company and ordered Thai food and ate yummy chocolate covered fruit.

We had a great nurse in ICU today who (with the isolation mask on) looked just like one of Laila’s favorite former teachers. She looked like her, sounded like her and even called her “sis” like her. With spiritual eyes wide open, I see that as another small gift from God that He loves and cares for Laila even to the smallest detail of a voice that soothes her. He sees us and has not forgotten our troubles.

The NG tube was removed so that helps breathing but her belly is all bloated up again and Charlie Brown doesn’t have much movement.

Pain has been up and down all day but definitely better than yesterday. We were able to come out of ICU with the pain pump so that is good.

Things we need:
-Pain to go away so we can start taking away meds rather than add more
-Off of oxygen and lessen respiratory therapy. We are currently on every treatment they have every four hours.
-stoma to have output and especially gas so we can think about feedings again.

See, a long road…. But we will rejoice in today’s victories and pray for more tomorrow.