Saturday, June 14, 2008

Post Op Day 2 : 9:30 pm

Elaina had another good day. It seemed like we spent the day chasing her CO2 levels and adjusting the ventilator, but she's down to 85% oxygen. She started out at 100% this morning. Her lungs still sound very wet, but her saturations are improving (ever so slightly) and her coloring looks better. They started her on a 2nd diuretic, so hopefully she'll finally be able to get rid of some of her excess fluids. Yesterday in a 24 hour period she was -120, and so far today she's -300! Much improved with the added medication. Her heart rate and blood pressure seem to fluxuiate when she needs a little extra fluid, so she is getting some small fluid boluses from time to time, but in all she is making some small improvements. It looks like they may close her chest either Monday or Tuesday depending on how quickly she loses the excess water.

My Dad told me that now that they've done this surgery, Elaina has the same type of heart that turtles do. Turtles have a 3 chamber heart, and now that Elaina has had a septostomy, so does she. I can't help but think about the story of the Tortise and the Hair. That turtle was SO slow, but yet was victorious. My mind keeps hearing the phrase, "Slow and Steady Wins the Race". I keep praying that Elaina will have the perserverance of a turtle, and that she will win this tough battle. She's fighting so hard that I just want to shout out "GO ELAINA, GO!!! You can do it BabyDoll!!!"

Thank you all again for your words of encouragement, your kind thoughts and prayers. I know that the Lord does perform miracles in our lives and that the power of prayer is astounding.
Love,
Hollie

4 comments:

Valerie said...

I think that you need to watch the turtles on "Finding Nemo"--remember how Crush is 150 YEARS OLD?! Power to the turtle hearts!

Hope that you can get some good rest tonight so you can have another day full of improvements tomorrow. Love you.

Stephanie Ellinger said...

You have to rejoice in the small improvements because little by little those small improvements become big changes for the better! Think of how far she has come in the past couple of days. She is a miracle child in my eyes!

Em said...

Good to hear that things are taking a some slow and steady steps into the right direction. It is not how long it takes, it is where we end at the end of the race. I love the turtle hearts!
Emily

Unknown said...

I had no idea turtles had 3 chambers. Thats pretty neat to learn.

Elaina is improving and that is wonderful to hear. Hope you have a peaceful day.

Love,

Vanessa