It just keeps gettin' better

If you read my blog early Saturday morning, you may not have seen a very important updated post: Lilly came off the ventilator without a problem! (Another answered prayer, praise God!) She now has some oxygen blowing in her nose by a tube under it, just to continue to help her a little while her chest recovers. The dr. said she was breathing with "normal effort." Also that her cardiovascular system was normal.

They took artery lines out of Lilly's wrist and neck today. We didn't realize until today that she had a couple stitches in her neck (around the artery line) and the top of her chest. The neck stitches came out today. Several medications were either cut back on or stopped.

At rounds today, the dr. ended his report on Lilly by saying "very good - it's looking good." :)

Lilly was fussy much of the morning and early afternoon. We could tell she was hungry! About 4:00 they put a new feeding tube in through her nose and started her back on breastmilk. (No formula added in yet.) She finally became quite content.

Another huge highlight of the day was when we got to hold Lilly! She finally had enough stuff off her that we could carefully hold her. (Still a lot of tubes and lines left to be careful not to bump or pull.) But it was so wonderful. (I don't think I'll ever again take for granted what a blessing it is to be able to hold my baby whenever I want to - or the baby wants me to.) With milk in her tummy and then in my arms, Lilly's heart rate dropped to about the lowest we've ever seen it go. (That is a GOOD thing! It meant she was very calm and relaxed.)

We're hoping and praying that Lilly will be moved out of the intensive care unit soon, so her brother and sister can come see her (and my husband will have a slightly less uncomfortable place to sleep). Our children came to the hospital yesterday and went on an adventure walk with my husband but were frustrated they couldn't come back to Lilly's room to see her. Apparently when they first arrived my son was telling anyone that would listen "LILLY!!"

I can't wait to find out what tomorrow holds!

"Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23