Thursday, April 7, 2011

Off the Ventilator!

Cora was just extubated and is breathing well on her own.  She's wearing a nasal cannula to give her a little extra oxygen for a while, but rumor has it she may not need it for long.  They also took out her big chest tube, so she's now minus two big toobies!  Yay!

She looks great (considering what she's been through).  She is super pink all the way to her toes, and when she cries she turns bright red.  Her little voice is very weak and hoarse from the breathing tube.  And she is wriggling away, so she is truly our hoarse little horsey right now.

She has spent most of the day peacefully sleeping, which is pretty impressive considering that the only pain medication she is on right now is Tylenol, believe it or not.  They'll continue to give her morphine if she seems to get really uncomfortable, but otherwise Tylenol seems to be doing the trick.

They plan to take out her arterial line pretty soon, as well.

These are all great signs, because she has to be off all these things to move to the pediatric floor.  So hopefully she'll still be on course to get to move tomorrow.

We are quite excited, because in about a half hour after they check her blood gases again, we should get to hold her for the first time post-surgery. Woo hoo!

Since she's awake, I'm going to go hang out with her some more, but wanted to update.

1 comment:

  1. Oh, I am so so happy! Sounds like the only thing that could be better is a little more sleep. Or maybe a lot more. I have been waking myself at really odd hours of the night to come and check your blog, because for me it is twelve hours earlier here. I think. So when you post a mid- day blog. It is 2 or 3 am here in thailand. There have been lots of people here sending love for little Cora. Loved by so many.
    Happy napping! I love you

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