Ava's on Viagra! What?

You should of seen my husband's face when he found out a couple days ago that his little girl was taking Viagra! I wish I had a camera. Apparently this drug was originally designed to help the blood flow in cardiac patients. Of course we never heard of it for that simple reason. Our wonderful nurses explained to us that the medical staff then started to notice that all the male patients receiving the drug were getting erections. Viagra is now used more commonly for that exact function.

Ava is doing "okay". She had a rough night on C-PAP (the tiny face mask used to give her oxygen when they took her off the ventilator). This morning her levels on her blood gas looked "marginal". They were concerned about fluid that they saw/heard in her left lung. We got a page early this morning that they would probably put another chest drainage tube back into her little chest. Instead they "tapped her" which means they inserted a needle into her side and suctioned the fluid that was in her chest. They were able to remove a good amount of fluid (2 ounces) and her chest xray looked better after that. They will continue to listen for coarseness in her chest and if she continues to accumulate fluid they'll have to put a drainage tube back in. We are praying that it was only a one time occurrence.

Her blood gases improved a little after they did this because her lungs were better able to breathe. Since then the blood gases have shown no more improvements. Right now they are just "watching and waiting" (boy do we hear that phrase a lot!) They say she is "towing the line" right now and we are hoping that with time her blood gases will improve. They will try whatever they can to avoid intubation (putting her back on the ventilator). Please pray for her during this new phase of hurdles that we are trying to get her through.

Brayden is still here with us and we are trying to enjoy every minute. He has been wonderful. It's got to be pretty boring here at the hospital all day for a four year old. He will go back to Aunt Heather's with my dad and Fran tomorrow evening. Jamie may try to get home at the end of the week for a night or two if things seem to be going well. This would be wonderful for Bray to go back to his own home and sleep in his own bed. However, it will be extremely emotional for me. Jamie is my rock. He always has been, especially when things are tough. He has this way of only looking at the positive in things and usually that's what I need. While I worry about EVERYTHING, he doesn't sweat the small stuff and that attitude usually has a way of calming me. I am praying that I can be strong enough to handle all of this when he goes home or has to return to work.

Thank you to everyone that prayed for the young woman's baby that I met yesterday. Her name is Candice and her baby's name is Kemyiah. I saw her at the hospital and she had just got word that the surgery went well. Then she asked if she could talk to me in the hall. She asked if I knew where she could cash a money order since the hospital cashier was unable to. I offered to take her into town this evening to find a place that would cash it for her. I also offered her some cash which she said she didn't need. She says her mom is saving up to try to get here. I am so glad she came to me and that I have the ability to help her in some small way. There are so many people here that are touching our hearts and making us feel so fortunate for what we have. Please keep Candice and Kemyiah in your thoughts and prayers along with Ava.

Jamie would like to thank Emilee Lake for the delicious mostacolli that she brought to us this weekend! HA HA (Emilee teased us by making this wonderful meal and then she forgot to bring it!)