Going Wireless and Other Celebrations

Elina is officially wireless. She got her main artery line pulled out (which was unexpectedly traumatic). She is free of all of her cords and tubes, and we are happy to be able cuddle her properly.

We are set to head home in a couple days. She is dead tired of being poked and messed with in general. Someday she will understand the greatness of what went on this week, but for now- she is justified in being angry, etc.

So here is a progression of this week:

A few hours after the surgery. Here she is on the ventilator and a heart pacer. She wasn't able to start waking up until the end of the second day.

 Here is Elina just using supporting oxygen, she is doing all the breathing on her own. At this point she still needed the pacemaker.

This is the point were Elina's recovery started taking off. She began breathing and beating all by herself. This was a couple hours before she moved to a regular room.

Elina rolling in the wagon, getting a break from her bed. Almost as good as riding in the cart at Walmart.

Elina is doing great. With every new step she is getting back to normal and feeling more comfortable.

It didn't take her more than a few minutes of being conscience to find her feet again

And here is a little video just to show how well our girl is doing now.

She is smiling and talking again. She is ready to hit the road. One chapter of her story is drawing to a close. She has her whole life in front of her. 

Faster than a Speeding Bullet

When Elina went into the surgery, I was pretty educated on the recovery. However,  I did not anticipate the weight of the struggles. I did not understand the huge milestone of being able to breath on your own or maintaining a steady pulse.

Along the same lines, I expected Elina to heal well. Here I am, shocked, as I was after her catherization surgery, at her lightning paced recovery.

Big news is she if off the ventilator and breathing like a pro.


If that's not a big enough shock, try this one on for size; Elina's heart is now beating on it's own.

This is our last night in the icu. Since she is doing so well and eating great, she will be moving to the regular floor. We do not know how long she will need to stay there, but it will be much more relaxed for everyone. 

We are so thankful. 

We are so proud of our girl, who continues to amaze us with her strength.

Morning Report

There are so many ways I could start this post. There are deep thoughts that want to escape onto the page, but they still require some reflection, some more turns in my mind. So what I want to say is that Elina is a warrior. 

She is lying feet from me, and her heart is working to find a new rhythm. We need prayers. Pray that her heart will be able to maintain a strong beat. 

We are confident that God has big plans for her. So for now we are waiting. 

They have kept her asleep to give her some much needed rest. She may be able to wake today, just in time for Daddy's birthday. 

Until later, remember Hope.

Miracle Girl

Elina is well. She is a fighter. We are continually amazed by her.

She is out of surgery, and about to go into the icu. We are playing the waiting game until we can see her.
I will be posting updates and pictures as soon and as often as I can manage (unless I don't feel like it).

This morning in the waiting room:

 

We thank you for all your thoughts and prayers. We had a deep sense of calm and peace. We had some kind of blessed assurance.

Get ready to see this girl take off.

PRAISE GOD!

Do I have to say it again?

I suppose it is unavoidable to feel like the boy who cried wolf. Surgery. Pushed. Back.

This time some good news, because the doctor who did her catherization said she required the surgery before nine months (April 1st), we have been pushed to the top of the list.

Lets try it one more time, 3rd 4th times the charm? March 14th.

In the meantime, we are happy to say that our girl is eight months old today.