Answered Prayers

Steven here...

I know, I know. The updates were coming fast and furious; but we reached a point where no news was good news (the night before last and over the course of yesterday).

Yesterday there were few changes really. Not so today!!!

Early this morning, Jamie and Janice went to see Ellie and even saw her Dr. He noted that everything looked good and that he thought the chest tube would come out today. He also noted that her "tanning bed" would be discontinued.

When I went in for "touch time" - translated as poke, prod, test, adjust, and diaper change - I changed her diaper. This is one of the oddest things in my life I've ever gotten excited about...but, here goes - after 4 days IT WAS POOPY!!!!!!!!!!

No one was genuinely concerned, etc. but she was about to earn herself a stimulating massage or suppository(sp???). NO NEED! It was a full diaper.

As I sat there staring at our little miracle, I notice her nurse (the FABULOUS Angela) gathering some medical trinkets and tools. The thought immediately hit me, thank God Jamie isn't in here. It was time.

So, I "assited" on my first medical procedure today. I held Ellie's legs and her right arm as Angela worked to remove the tape holding her chest tube in place. Once that was done, I held my breath and baby. Angela pulled and it was over.

THE CHEST TUBE CAME OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And Ellie is LOVING it!!! She's awake and alert. We got to talk to her, tickle her feet (just a bit), kiss her, and put lotion on her dry and chapped little skin, hands, legs, and feet!

While writing this post, Jamie made a quick trip to the NICU. Upon her return I learned that Ellie was doing so good and her 4:00pm blood gas results were so good that they turned the vent breaths per minute down from 40 to 35 and her oxygen down from 30% to 28%!!! Another answered prayer and blessing!!!

Ellie is well on her way...we have to remain patient though.

God is good!!!