Post Surgery Day 9

Ellie is having a very good day today, yay!  They have taken 2 syringe pumps down and now there are ONLY 12 left.  Her nitric oxide level is down to 3 and at this point they will turn it down one notch every 6 hours.  They have turned down her PEEP (the amount of pressure the lungs exert), her oxygen requirement is 50%, and her ventilator is down to 17 breaths a minute so she can start breathing more on her own.  They took out her catheter and she was also taken off the NIRS monitor that was on her forehead which monitors her oxygen levels in her brain and her kidneys.  The blood that drains from her chest tube is decreasing and also not so bright red. It's nice to see things being turned down and taken away!

Most of the comments we hear about Ellie when someone comes to look at her for the first time are "Look at those eyelashes"!  One nurse was convinced that babies on lasix grow longer eyelashes.  Ellie's eyes can sometimes be very intense and show alot of emotion through them, especially when glaring and checking out the nurses.  Can't wait until she can open her eyes and be aware that we are there with her at her crib side.
She also has a reputation in the CICU for being very feisty, but better feisty than wimpy.

Ellie and all of her friends.  They are used to help prop up her ventilator, arms and legs.

Tonight we went back to visit Ellie.  Mike kissed her on the head and she woke up and was the most awake that we have seen her in several days.  They have had to put some arm restraints on her to prevent her from pulling out her tubes, which, knowing Ellie she would do at any opportunity she could.  She has alot of fluid and congestion in her lungs which is loosening up now that she is able to move around some more.  At one point during our visit she started to cry.  Because of her feeding tube she was unable to make any sound but we saw her tears and pouty lip and could sense her sadness that we weren't able to pick her up to hold her. We were so sad; it was heartbreaking.  Ellie got a really nice Easter basket from the hospital and the generous people in the community who donate to the hospital.