Trading a tube for a mask

Today went incredibly fast and I feel like I ran a marathon at some point cause I'm exhausted.  We got up and checked out of the hotel and moved into the 'borrowed' condo this morning.  It's an absolute perfect location for us to walk to and from the hospital while Shawn is at work with the car.  We got to the hospital late this morning but managed to be there for rounds anyway!  The doctor was pleased with the progress in Hope's lungs and decided to attempt extubating her, but wanted to put her on a cpap machine just in case.  

In the afternoon they took an X-ray to confirm that her lungs were ready before they moved forward.  The X-ray confirmed that she was looking better and the extubation was a go.  A team was assembled and the extubation began.  Hope's lungs were still not healthy enough, from the infection, to breath on her own and the cpap machine was started after the tube was removed.  She's currently on a low setting with the cpap and seems to be tolerating it well.  They're hoping she'll only need the assistance for 24 hours and will be moved over to a small oxygen tube under the nose by tomorrow night.

They've continued to talk about our return to Calgary, and we think it could definitely be coming soon if Hope continues to make steps in the right direction.  The doctors in the PICU feel that we are safe to return to the Calgary hospital (as there is no need for any additional surgery), to continue Hope's care, but the surgeon didn't want her to go until she was breathing on her own.  If all goes well with the cpap, we hope to be sleeping in our own beds by this weekend.  

Hope's sugar levels are still really off and they can't seem to get them to come back up.  The nutritionist did some calculations this morning and figured out that her protein consumption has been very minimal and she's been fed minimally because of all the procedures she's been having.  They've agreed that once she is receiving proper nutrients, they will likely resolve itself.  They've restarted her feeds and are giving her more than she's ever gotten, but still less than she needs.  It's hard to believe my baby is a month old and still weighs less than 7 pounds!  If we don't have any more bumps in the road to recovery, she should start gaining weight soon enough.  

Please continue to pray for Hope.  As we discovered last week, good days can turn into bad days very quickly.  The more we talk with the doctors, the more we realize that Hope was truly on death's door last week and is here today by the power of prayer and the mighty hand of God.  Tomorrow is a new day, and we pray a day filled with small victories for little Hope.  Her heart friend Holly was flown back to Calgary today and we look forward to joining them there.  We have another Calgary heart friend here that we're believing will be close behind us as well.