Blood!!!

Tonight I am updating from the comfort of home.  After two nights of almost no sleep and my sanity quickly draining, our friend Maria offered to spend the night with Hope.  I'm assuming she really likes to pull all nighters!  Please pray that Hope would sleep for her benefit and Maria's.  Sadie is quite sick and put herself to bed before dinner.  I wanted to be home with her in the morning as she's constantly crying and wants her mama.

This morning Hope's PICC line was still not working and after a failed attempt to draw blood from her artery, they decided to try a clot buster.  This has been used in Hope's line before but was considered too dangerous if we had other options.  The clot buster (TPA) is put into her line and left for 2-4 hours, after that time it is removed.  The fear with her line not drawing back, is that the TPA would be stuck in the line and eventually flushed into her body.  The doctors decided that the benefits out weighed the risks and went for it. We have to give glory to God for the miracle that occurred...BLOOD!  The doctors were finally able to send all of the tests away that they needed and we are now treating her in a much more informed state.

Hope continues to struggle with her breathing and is receiving a lot of assistance from oxygen.  Her lungs continue to look wet on X-ray as well.  At this point they aren't sure if the new set-up of the heart is causing the fluid to collect, or if we're missing something else.  Everyone is scratching their heads as they try to "fix" Hope.  The staff are working hard to find answers, but continue to come up empty.  Please pray for wisdom and insight as they look into different options or potential treatments to move past these issues.

After another restless night, they wonder if the motility agent that is helping Hope digest food, is also causing her some pain.  We've decided to keep her on it for now and will pray this is not the case at it is allowing us to feed her.

Having two little girls that need you is incredibly difficult.  One of my mom's dear friends came to the hospital this afternoon to sit with Hope while I took Sadie to the doctor.  She was coughing so hard in the waiting room, that she threw up on my purse, and then on me!  I guess when I have some free time I'll go purse shopping!  The entire time we waited she continued to say, "I want to go to the doctor, I need medicine."  Her lungs are clear, ears are fine and throat appears fine as well.  She has caught a bad virus and will just have to wait it out.  There is a chance that she is developing croup, which she's had before.  Please pray against this, it is so hard to be away from her when she's not feeling well.  I'm torn between being with my sick Sadie, and advocating for Hope at the hospital.  Some days I wish I could clone myself.

I'm hoping I will wake up refreshed tomorrow.  I realize that my daughters will still both be sick, I'll likely still be tired and life will remain difficult.  Regardless, I would like to start tomorrow with a positive attitude and the faith that God is in control and is walking beside me through each step.  I need to be reminded of that right now.  Thank you for caring, we know that Christmas is busy for families and we appreciate that you have not forgotten us and continue to pray.