Sunday, August 31, 2008

Quiet Sunday

Today has been great! No problems, no real scares. The feel in our room has changed substantially since yesterday. I feel like things are going in the right direction and we're close to having our Bela back. She is much less of a marshmellow today and much more Bela today. I can see her little expressions in her face that I have missed. She held onto my finger today and squeezed it tight...I got so excited and told the nurse, she squeezed my finger, she squeezed my finger!! She probably thought I was a little wierd, but it was the greatest! She'd been sooo sedated, and they have been letting her be a lot more awake today. She been able to stay calm today being less sedated, so she must be feeling a little better. It's a good sign for going towards getting off the ventilator too. She's been brought down on her ventilator settings some today and has tolerated it great. She got her chest tubes pulled today becuase her draining has stopped. I was glad to see them go, but she DID NOT like getting them out at all. They say it hurts really bad to get them pulled and you could tell that she was in a lot of pain. You could see it in her pained face...it was aweful. She clamped down again and wouldn't breathe, because it hurt so bad, and turned really blue. But after they were out it took her a minute to catch her breath and she feel back asleep. So all and all it has been a wonderful day!

This is right before pulling the chest tubes. The chest tubes wrap around inside of her chest, so they just kept coming and coming as she was pulling them. It was crazy. I always say, all of this would be so fascinating to me if it wasn't my baby going through it.


The changes in Bela have been subtle, and so you probably can't notice much from these pictrues, but we have noticed them. She looks much better today than yesterday. We can tell she is feeling better and that makes EVERYTHING better. She's such a fighter!


14 comments:

Life Unscripted said...

YAY...she got her chest tubes out. And we were both just talking about progress. That is surely a step in the right direction. Poor baby though, Lily hated it too, they made me step outside while they pulled them, so I only got to hear her cry, which was enough for me.

Give her a kiss and tell her we are proud of her and the step she made in the right direction. I really cant wait until they are both big enough to get together for play dates...once again, it was great seeing you guys today!

See and talk to you soon.

Sending our Love,
Jenna and Lilyana!

Dana said...

What great news that she was able to get her chest tubes out. She is such an amazing little girl and I am so happy to read your blog each day and see that she is doing better everyday. We continue to pray for Bela's health and recovery (even Jordan prays for Bela each night and when I look at your blog he always asks how Bela is doing :0) All our love to you.

Ali said...

woohoo! so glad she had a good day. what a relief!

Dallas Tanner said...

Wow! We really can see a great difference in how she looks today. So glad that she did so well today- way to go Bela!

Danielle said...

Thanks so much for the update, I have been worrying/thinking of and praying for you guys all day long today. I'm just thrilled things are going so well for her- you must be so relieved!

S and K said...

Wahoo for the great step forward, and I know she'll only continue to get better and better. That's the little fisty fighter in her, and it's just the best to hear about it coming out!!! GO BELA!! Hope tomorrow brings more progress and great updates. Talk to you later. E would like to know when Benson is available---ok is sounds more like bablable---but I'll translate! Just let me know!

Sally Jensen Interiors said...

Oh Ave...I am so happy you got a hand squeeze. Her little face looks so much less stretched. Keep it up sweetheart! Let me know what day this week I can take Bens and bring dinner.

Erin said...

Way to go Bela!!! Your mama needs good days like today...and lots more tender mercies. So glad she is heading back in the right direction...there is a definite change in her face (not so puffy). We hope and pray she continues to take steps forward and she can do that more quickly now. I look forward to seeing you this week so we can "hook" ya up:) It was fun sitting with your mom today in church...such a great lady she is! It is no wonder where you got it all from...and now you get to pass that amazing heritage to your little girl. Take care and we hope for many more quiet days.

caitlin wilson said...

YAY! good girl bela, I am so glad that you've had a good day...i love that she has her bunny by her, she is such an angel.

annelise said...

Ave, she does look good. She looks peaceful in the pictures. We told your in laws at church today what a strong little girl she is...
still praying for all of you...
hugs

Branton Family said...

I am so thankful you all had such a good day. I have been thinking of you so much and pray for your little Bella. Stay strong. . .Amy

Andrea said...

So glad you had a quiet day. Hope you get lots more of those. She is such a fighter! It's amazing. We are still praying for all of you. Go Bela!

Matt and Jennae Porter said...

Hooray for 2 less tubes! She looks fantastic. And I love that she is always surrounded by lots of blankets and stuffed animals... so cute.

callie said...

i was up late the other night...it had been a long mommy day...i decided to search some blogs...and i read bela's sweet story and just want you to know how inspiring this blog is...thank you avery and bela for sharing your day to day struggles and triumphs....helped me to put a lot of things into perspective when i was in dire need of it. thank you.