Saturday, April 11, 2009 - Ever since Monday, March 23, 2009 at approximately 9:00pm - there has been an ongoing debate on Elle's future. Not so much her health, but the debate has bee
n on her future endeavors. My dad, being the athlete that he is (or was!), saw Elle's long legs and insisted that she is going to run track - preferably for Rice University. Heart problems or not - he keeps whispering things like hurdles, sprints and future track star in her little ears. I'm sure he will settle for a star golfer as well - in fact I know he will because he brought up one of my trophies from my days of junior golf. He called it his subliminal message of her future career. Lee's mom, Vickie, has been insistent that Elle's future doesn't lie in sports - but rather a different kind of athletics...she has been insistent that Elle will be a prima ballerina. Elle has a tendency to make these long arm movements - almost like she is conducting an orchestra. When her arms and legs starting moving - Vickie is certain that tutus and ballet shoes will be in her future. Vickie saw the trophy last night and her quote was "the gloves are off!" I emailed my dad and told him of Vickie's response and his reply was "I knew she would get fired up. I'm ready for the fight!" Vickie is now on a mission to find her version of the subliminal message - it might be ballet shoes for our little Elle - or it might be a ballet figurine to put at Elle's head - right next to her ipod that is perpetually playing Van Morrison, Earl Klugh, Harry Connick Jr., and praise and worship songs! I am anxious to see where this war of the roses goes. She will probably end up being a piano player which is what my mom wants!
n on her future endeavors. My dad, being the athlete that he is (or was!), saw Elle's long legs and insisted that she is going to run track - preferably for Rice University. Heart problems or not - he keeps whispering things like hurdles, sprints and future track star in her little ears. I'm sure he will settle for a star golfer as well - in fact I know he will because he brought up one of my trophies from my days of junior golf. He called it his subliminal message of her future career. Lee's mom, Vickie, has been insistent that Elle's future doesn't lie in sports - but rather a different kind of athletics...she has been insistent that Elle will be a prima ballerina. Elle has a tendency to make these long arm movements - almost like she is conducting an orchestra. When her arms and legs starting moving - Vickie is certain that tutus and ballet shoes will be in her future. Vickie saw the trophy last night and her quote was "the gloves are off!" I emailed my dad and told him of Vickie's response and his reply was "I knew she would get fired up. I'm ready for the fight!" Vickie is now on a mission to find her version of the subliminal message - it might be ballet shoes for our little Elle - or it might be a ballet figurine to put at Elle's head - right next to her ipod that is perpetually playing Van Morrison, Earl Klugh, Harry Connick Jr., and praise and worship songs! I am anxious to see where this war of the roses goes. She will probably end up being a piano player which is what my mom wants!
Elle Update from Friday, April 10, 2009 - Elle had an up and down day on Friday. Lee got to her bedside early in the morning to meet our new nurse. She has been in our pod for several days, but yesterday was her first day to have Elle as a patient. She had a "take charge" attitude which I really liked. Lee spent the morning with Elle and her nurse and instructed our nurse to be sure she gets the catheters down to at least 9 when she suctions out Elle's nose tubes. The first time she suctioned, she only got to 6. Lee came back to the room to get me and while he was gone one of the people from the Kangaroo Crew came by to drop a breathing tube off for Elle. The Kangaroo Crew is a highly specialized group of people that transport babies to Texas Children's. They go all over the place to pick up sick babies and bring them back here. They are the best of the best in transport teams. The guy from the Kangaroo Crew helped Leslie, our day nurse, ins
ert the catheter into Elle's nose and together they were able to work through the blockages in her nose and get the catheter into 9 which is where the doctor wants it. After making their way through the blockage, Elle slept peacefully for the rest of the day. The Neonatology team decided to bump up Elle's feedings to 58cc every 3 hours. She is weighing in now at a whopping 6 pounds 11 ounces. When she woke up for her afternoon feeding at 3:00pm - she started to go up and down on breathing from her nose. It just seems that she sometimes forgets to breathe. There isn't too much we can do except hold her mouth open and wait for the monitors to stop beeping. She finally settled down enough for my mom to be able to hold her.
Next are Vickie and Mark's turn! While my mom was holding Elle we noticed just how much hair she really has! She has a little pony tail...maybe it's more like a glorified mullet...business in front and a definite party in the back! One of her primary nurses worked last night so Lee and I decided to go home. Our poor primary nurse had a run for her money last night. She just didn't want to hurt our little baby when she was suctioning out her nose - but the nurses don't have a choice. They really have to force their way down her tubes in order for her to be able to breathe! It goes against everything they have been trained to do as far as handling the babies gently. I hate it just as much for the nurses as I do for Elle! Please continue to pray that Elle figures out how to breathe out of her nose. She is getting better at it each day, but she still has her spells where she just can't remember what to do. Each day we are one day closer to surgery. Our prayer is that she stays stable all weekend!!
ert the catheter into Elle's nose and together they were able to work through the blockages in her nose and get the catheter into 9 which is where the doctor wants it. After making their way through the blockage, Elle slept peacefully for the rest of the day. The Neonatology team decided to bump up Elle's feedings to 58cc every 3 hours. She is weighing in now at a whopping 6 pounds 11 ounces. When she woke up for her afternoon feeding at 3:00pm - she started to go up and down on breathing from her nose. It just seems that she sometimes forgets to breathe. There isn't too much we can do except hold her mouth open and wait for the monitors to stop beeping. She finally settled down enough for my mom to be able to hold her.
Next are Vickie and Mark's turn! While my mom was holding Elle we noticed just how much hair she really has! She has a little pony tail...maybe it's more like a glorified mullet...business in front and a definite party in the back! One of her primary nurses worked last night so Lee and I decided to go home. Our poor primary nurse had a run for her money last night. She just didn't want to hurt our little baby when she was suctioning out her nose - but the nurses don't have a choice. They really have to force their way down her tubes in order for her to be able to breathe! It goes against everything they have been trained to do as far as handling the babies gently. I hate it just as much for the nurses as I do for Elle! Please continue to pray that Elle figures out how to breathe out of her nose. She is getting better at it each day, but she still has her spells where she just can't remember what to do. Each day we are one day closer to surgery. Our prayer is that she stays stable all weekend!! 1 Peter 5:6-7
"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."
5 comments:
Lisha,
Tell David I am in total agreement with him. A track star or golf star at Rice University (even a great pianist at the Moore School of Music)! Go Owls go! I am so happy Elle is working so hard on learning to breathe on her own. I will be praying for her continued growth and healing. Loved the photos of Elle with her grandparents. Love to all of you.
Lisha- Elle is ADORABLE. All of you are in my thoughts and prayers daily.
I think she'll play the piano with me and play golf with you, Lee, and Sean. She can go to Ole' Miss and we will chant her on. Though I prefer to send her to UT. :) Thinking of you both....there will come a day soon that will NOT be filled with tubes! Love to you both! Keep that positive power...sending you lots and warm fuzzies too!
Thinking of you guys on Easter Sunday and hope you got to put Miss Elle in her Easter dress! Look forward to the pictures of it and of the sucrose flavored eggs the bunny brought her for her first Easter!!!
Tell the grandparents that little Elle will be able to do all those things! Track, golf, ballet, and a musical genius! She is already stonger than anyone I know. God bless you, little Elle!
Post a Comment