Monday, July 14, 2008

Miracles from Heaven

Oh, I am such a slacker!! I went to my Grandma’s on Friday night and enjoyed my time with Ben SO much that I didn’t make it back to the hospital until Sunday night. I didn’t even open my computer until this morning. It was so nice to spend some time catching up on my snuggles with Ben! The past few days have been pretty busy, so I’m sorry for not having posted for so long.

What a miracle we have experienced in the last week. Elaina has been doing so great! All week long her saturations have been improving. In fact the numbers that we are getting off her veinous gases are better than the numbers we were getting off the arterial gases earlier this week! Her color has continued to improve, she’s awake and responsive. She has periods of time that she is awake and content to look at her toys and watch her mobile spin. Also, the color has returned to her left foot and today it was warm to the touch and they were able to hear a pulse in her foot with the Doppler! She has been doing spontaneous trials on the ventilator since Friday. For those who don’t know what this is, the Respiratory Therapists basically turn off the ventilator for a period of time. There are safety settings, so if she’s not getting enough to breathe the ventilator will either alarm or kick in for her. They started on Friday with 30 minutes 3 times a day and today she had worked up to 2 hours 3 times today. She has done so well on the spontaneous trials, that the plan is to extubate her on Tuesday morning! They have warned me that it may take a couple of attempts to get her completely off the ventilator since she has been intubaed for 5 weeks, but I’m hopeful at the same time. I am so nervous and excited about this! I just can’t believe that 10 days ago the doctors were talking to me about ending her life, and now we’re talking about transitioning home. God truly worked a miracle in her precious little life. I am so honored and grateful to be her Mother and to have witnessed this amazing experience. One of her nurse practitioners came in this morning and asked me how my “miracle baby” was doing today. Even the medical staff knows that she has had a healing miracle. How marvelous this is! I am so overwhelmed with emotion, I cannot thank my Heavenly Father enough for the wonders we have seen. Thank you all for your continued love and prayers. I know that I cannot do this alone.
Love,
Hollie, Ben and Elaina

16 comments:

Diane said...

HOORAY ELAINA!!!! HOORAY HOLLIE!!! I am so thrilled to hear this news. SHE TRULY IS A MIRACLE. We are so happy for you and Elaina and Ben too, I am sure he needed that mommy time. I would love to come up and visit this week, if you are up to it. What a marvelous day!!

carolyn q said...

Great News!! I am so glad that you were able to have some snuggle time with Ben. I can only imagine how hard this is for you to try to be EVERYTHING to those two little ones that need their mommy. You are doing a wonderful job as hard as it is to balance.
I called to talk with you today but missed you. To me that meant things were looking stable enough that you could slip away, which helped give me peace since you have been a blogger slacker (okay, you are forgiven :0))
Keep fighting little Elaina. . .many many prayers continue to be said for you.
Heart Hugs,
Carolyn

April Greener said...

I have been following little Elaina's story, and I can not tell you how happy this has made me! Yeah for Elaina and yeah for you and Ben!

God is good- miracles happen!

Continuing to pray and think about Elaina.

Stephanie @ Ralphcrew said...

What great news! She is a miracle and she is blessed to have you fighting for her all the way. Praise God.

Em said...

I will be sad to not see you in the PICU, but will be happy to get Elaina home! It gives so many hope! Hope to see you some point this week, maybe on Sunday!
Heart hugs,
Emily and Mike

my life: said...

Truly a miracle!!! Words escape me...I was SO excited to see a post...I've been checking a couple of times a day! I am so completely sharing your joy!!!!!!!!

Megz said...

I'm so happy to read this good news for you and Elaina this morning! What an amazing miracle after all that back and forth. She's truly making a comeback. Way to go, congratulations on all this good news. I'm so glad you were able to spend your weekend with Ben, how refreshed you must feel!!

Valerie said...

Oh, this is so wonderful to hear! I can't wait to hear how Elaina does on the extubation attempt this morning!!

Tina:0) said...

How wonderful!! I'm so excited for all of you! Befor you know it, she'll be running around casing after Ben & driving him crazy just like a little sister is supposed to!

Still praying, but now for a speedy recovery & quick discharge... HOME!!

Megan said...

Praise God!!!!! I am crying tears of joy right now for precious Elaina. A true Miracle of God!! We will continue to lift you and Elaina up in prayer.
Love and Prayers

Christina said...

Oh Hollie, how wonderful! I am glad you got some good mommy & Ben time. What a blessing how well Elaina is doing. I have been praying for her and will continue to do so. I hope for continued progress and the extabation will go smoothly.

hugs and prayers,
Christina

bmann said...

WOW I'm so happy for you and little Elaina. What amazing progress! She really is a miracle. :)
Diane Mann

Unknown said...

What a great report! She is a living miracle!

Djinni said...

Hip Hip Hooray! Your little turtle sounds like she is winning the race. I can't wait to hear about her smiles being one of her next milestones. Wow, I am amazed she has improved so much, so quick. I'll keep praying that she moves forward. Hugs, Djinni

The Portas said...

SSSOOOOoooooooo unbelievably happy to read this. Miracles do happen and God is working through Elaina right now to show that! xoxoxo

Aimee Hardy said...

I'm so happy to hear that Elaina is doing well. I've been thinking about her a lot. Hurray for miracles!