Wed. - 02-09-05

Bailey's been struggling with a little fever all day and a nosebleed that's lasted pretty much all day. It's really dry in this hospital and the blood thinners are making it difficult to stop. We're trying to get her up and about to try and clear her lungs, but that's difficult to do when she doesn't feel very good. We did get her up and standing on a scale to weigh her and then she sat in a chair for a while. The doctors said she lost 1/3 of her body weight in the couple days after surgery -- that's how much fluid she had on her body before. Boy, she's slim and trim now! We're trying to pack some meat on her bones - have instructions to drink lots of OJ for vitamin C, lots of high-calorie drinks (like Boost) to gain weight, but all the while we have a limit on how much she can drink. Makes it kind of challenging, but we're getting it done.

Myra, yes, please take K.U. for us - we don't get CMT here. Thanks so much!!

Debbie, the sandwiches and radishes were wonderful - can I have some more? (I only got 1 sandwich!)

The surgeon is planning to remove Bailey's chest tubes (drainage), the PA wire to her heart, and the arterial line they put in her groin (not working too well for drawing blood - she bends her leg and it cuts off the flow). Because she is at greater risk of bleeding and other complications, they're taking her to the operating room for this where they can have anesthesia and other things readily available if need be - but prayerfully everything will go smoothly. Then, I think it might be a few more days and we might be going to a room in the heart center. That will be nice! They are letting me sleep in her room in ICU (though I am right under a vent and freeze myself to pieces every night!), which is VERY nice since she wakes up quite a bit at night and needs help moving pillows and blankets around. But the rooms in the heart center have their own bathrooms with showers and are much homier. Although, I have to say it is very comforting being taken care of by such specialized nurses and being right down the hall from the surgery team - but, then again, they still won't be very far away. And I have a feeling the surgeons will be checking on us quite often.

Please pray that tomorrow goes well (I don't know what time the procedure will be), and that Bailey's fever goes away so she can continue to work on getting stronger every day. The physical therapist is quite impressed with her ability to move around - she wanted to know his name after he left, so she's probably planning to try and set another date. Geez!

I'll let you know how tomorrow goes.
Have a good evening, everyone!
Love, Angie