Doing well

Alex continues to get better each day.  We've kept her home from school so she can continue healing and it's looking like she'll be ready to go back next week.  Alex and Ryan are playing together again and we are happy to be hanging out together again as a family.

Guess who's home?

We made a clean getaway yesterday evening and made it home safely.  Although still requiring oxygen, suctioning, and such we have what we need at home for Alex to continue getting better...and it helps that I'm a nurse =).  It's great to be home as a family and sleep in our own beds.  We are thankful for all of the support, visitors and gifts from our friends and family. 

Getting better

Our sweet Alex continues to amaze us and show significant improvements. She's talking up a storm (sounds like a nurse really with her medical terminology) and tolerating her nasal cannula trials.  She did awesome overnight and we are working on weaning her bipap settings. She's definitely over the hump and going home in the near future.

She's a whole new kid

What a difference a day makes.  Yesterday at this time we were discussing Alex going to the PICU and this morning she looks amazing and we are talking about doing nasal cannula trials.  We are so thankful she is moving in the right direction.  She had a great night (of course, since Jimmy stayed with her). He told me they both slept like babies and Alex didn't have any issues with oxygenation all night.  Guess we are all feeling more rested today.  

Bringing us smiles

Thought I'd share this picture of Ryan that Nana Carol sent me today.  We are so thankful she is here with us and helping us out in so many ways.  This picture of Ryan at the park made me smile.  It was a high of 61 degrees in Denver today.  The hospital is on respiratory restrictions right now and kids are not allowed to visit. So what do we do?  Divide and concur although it's much easier said than done. Missing being together as a family =(  

Staying put for now

The nebulizer treatment we tried this afternoon made Alex a little bit more comfortable and helped keep her out of the PICU. She has copious secretions, requiring frequent suctioning and she has been on her bipap nonstop helping keep her lungs open.  She is probably peaking in her illness so it's not surprising that she is getting worse and her course of illness is typically on the longer end. The real test of if she'll remain on the floor will be how she does tonight.  Nighttime and sleeping are always a challenge with keeping her oxygen levels up and providing additional respiratory support.  Let's hope she has a better night tonight.  We thank you for the prayers and positive thoughts and have felt the love all day =).

PICU bound?

Alex had a rough night and morning and there's a good chance she could be transferring to the PICU. She's on a pulmonary floor but maxed out on her bipap settings and support they can safely provide outside of an intensive care setting. We are trying a couple of medication interventions and then the medical team will reevaluate and determine if she requires escalated care in the ICU to get her through the worst of it. Not the news I was hoping to post.    

Round 2

Alex was admitted to the hospital on Valentine's Day with pneumonia. She also tested positive for a virus so her poor little lungs are struggling.

Good news is she was admitted to the floor this time instead of the ICU.  She's getting vest treatments, suctioning, oxygen and has been on her bipap machine for extra support.  She's in good spirits and being such a little trooper.  Please say a prayer that this is a short stay and she turns a corner soon.