Since Elli has been sucking on her ET tube so much over the past few days, our day nurse decided that she might like to try a pacifier. The results are pretty evident.
This didn't really come to a surprise to Brian or I because Elli was constantly sucking her thumb in the ultrasounds, and I will admit; I too was a thumb sucker...for longer than I would like to say.
The only thing is, that with the ET tube, someone has to hold the pacifier in Elli's mouth because she can't get suction on it with everything else that is in her mouth. That is where Daddy comes in, he is now the OBH ~ Official Binki Holder!
The doctors made rounds this afternoon around 4 and the plan for Elli is to have her surgery around 1 tomorrow. Hopefully she will be able to have her surgery in the adjoining surgery suite, that is still up for debate since another kiddo may be returning to it after his surgery. Also they turned Elli's ECMO pump down more this afternoon too! It is now down to 300! Way to go Elli. Even the doctor that didn't give us much hope that first morning that Elli went on ECMO said that he is seeing some really positive things from this little lady and she is really holding her own. He said that he has renewed hope in her outcome, so coming from him, that is pretty amazing...but of course her mamma already knew she was resilient. The surgeon did say that Elli may come back from surgery with a silo. A silo is a bag that they will use to put in any extra intestines that don't fit back into her little tummy, so that might be an option we'll just have to wait and see.
Overall we are super excited and nervous. I think we have geared ourselves up for the surgery and are ready for Elli to get on with the healing process. We will be keeping everyone posted as soon as we know more news. As for now, we are going to spend a few hours with Elli tonight and try to get back to CMH good time in the morning to spend as much time with Elli before the surgery as possible. Hopefully no more switches in the surgery schedule!
44 comments:
We will be thinking of you guys tomorrow afternoon and will be saying extra prayers for Elli and the surgery team. It is pretty amazing how much they get in those little mouths! Ryder loved his binky too along with all the vent tubes! If I haven't told you before she is BEAUTIFUL!!!! Good luck tomorrow - and call if you need anything. Love, Craig, Andrea, Cheyenne & Ryder
That was the sweetest thing ive ever seen, elli looks so strong in the video, shes a fighter and i love her soooooo much, i can't wait to watch her grow! She is going to be one spoiled niece, i assure you this auntie is just waitin to get her hands on that little bundle of joy!!! Im so jealous mommy and daddy have been touching and kissing her all over!! But im so happy that they have! I love you all very much and am praying to give the surgens the knowledge and experience to keep my lil niece safe!
Love you,
Auntie Staci
I LOVE YOU ELLI!!!
Way to go Elli! Thank you for the updates, pictures, and videos. Grace loves seeing baby Elli. She can even say her name! We will be thinking of you all tomorrow as we do every day.
Love,
Colin, Brandi, & Grace Ricci
Sounds like Elli is doing awesome. I will be praying for you all tomorrow as well as the rest of the St Francis staff. Hope the surgery goes well. Sounds like Elli is ready. Talk to you soon!!! You are always in my prayers. -Kim-
Omigosh! Elli is so in awe of her mommy and daddy. I will be thinking of you all as Elli prepares for surgery tomorrow. I will be praying as hard as humanly possible with 17 2nd graders around. Everyone at school is praying around the clock for Elli, who has been called beautiful by more than one teacher at school. (I couldn't agree more.) Love you all.
Aunt Annie
Elli sound like a true warrior.I will be praying extra hard for Elli tomorrow around one.
Amber
Well, I wish the both of you and Elli a lot of luck and strength tomorrow. We will be praying for her all day. Please, please let us know if there is anything we can do. We love all of you so, so much and are impressed with your strength. We're so proud of you!
Love you bunches!
-Jenny and Justin
Good evening!
Finally getting to catch up for the day, really busy today at work. Love the new video, she is going to town on that binky! Her hair is so beautiful all clean and smooth. Powerful prayers your way tonight, tomorrow is Elli's chance to give it her all.
WAAAY TO CUTE!!!!!! she is such a charmer!!! i think daddy could stand and hold that binky for hours with mommy on the video. precious moments! love you all so much. will be there tomorrow with all the strength we can give. hugs and kisses to elli.
Oh my gosh, that video is so sweet. She really knows what she's doing with her binky, doesn't she? She's a natural! And daddy does a great job at being the OBH!!!!!
We have been saying lots of prayers for your sweet Miss Elli as well as for you and Brian and the entire medical staff who watches over your baby girl. We have friends and family are out here who are praying long and hard for Miss Elli. You are in our thoughts and prayers. We are praying for strength for you and praying that God will guide the Doctors and Nurses as they do surgery tomorrow. Storming the gates of Heaven for your Baby Girl to receive a miracle. She is so beautiful. I hope you can feel the love we are sending to you.
BeLieVe iN MiRaCLeS!
Love to all,
MaryBeth
Brian and Cassi,
We have been reading your postings, and tonight, the day before surgery, we especially want to send our thoughts and prayers for a peaceful night and strength for tomorrow. May everything go well for the surgeons and may precious little Elli continue to be strong and amaze the doctors with her will. God bless you all. Love, Bill and Ann Vorthmann
i have been a silent lurker for a while now, today is my sweet aubreys angel day, cdh is tough, i know but it seems that your little gal is a fighter and you have in the right place just at the right time. by the way she is a sweet little girl, those eyes get the mom and dads every time! isn't gods perfect timing awsome. i will keep you all in my prayers taht her surgery goes well and her ecovery is super speedy. i will light her candle at midnight and be her prayer warrior the next weeks. cdh babies are amazing little people, i just don't know where they find thier fight and how they can teach us old fogies so much when only days old. good luck and i hope you guys have some peace during the chaos in the morning.
She really does like that binky! Well guys tomorrow I will be thinking of you all day and if she goes ot surgery when I look at the clock around 1 I will think of nothing else but Elli and u 2, even though I will be in class. Opps! I will be praying for all 3 of you and keep lookin forward because faith makes things possible not easy!
Love Emily
i look forward to reading every update, and appreciate all you guys have shared.
it is so wonderful that you two have had so many precious moments with Elli before surgery, since there will be "no touch" days.
Keep up the amazing strength & faith.
we all continue to think of your family and pray for elli and the hands of the doctors who will be doing her surgery.
Lots of extra prayers will be said tomorrow!!!!
Nicole M
Nicole M
What a trooper! I am so proud of you Elli. There are so many prayers going up for you. I am also proud of Mom & Dad. I do think your Dad is wrapped around your little finger. I am going to go pray now and have my nightly visit with God. We actually talk quite often through the day. I'm always having to ask Him For forgiveness and tolerance and strength. I love you all 3!!!
Brian, Cassi, & Elli,
I check your blog regligiously, but have yet to find the words to type. The strength & courage you have shown through this difficult time continuees to amaze me daily. Not only tomorrow, but in the weeks ahead, I will be thinking of the three of you. Please do not hesitate to call if you need anything.
Stay strong,
Nicholle Kalb
I love all the new pics and video. Elli is such a cutie! I'll be praying for an easy surgery tomorrow, so Elli can get on the road to recovery!
Jen Miller
Less than 12 hours away! Sending prayers your family's way for a smooth surgery. Stock up on the binkies while you're in the hosptial because the ones you get in the store are not quite the same or at least not in my son's opinion. Elli really IS getting cuter every day.
Paula
I have been following your pregnacy and your last few weeks with Elli. I just wanted you to know that I will keep your family in my prayers. She is such a miracle and I can see what a fighter she is. She is going to do great with surgery!!!
I have a 2 year old that has severe asthma and we also frequent Childrens. We will be having surgery on Oct 16th and I wouldn't want it anywhere else. Your miracle is in such great hands there. I will be checking for posts tomorrow and will keep praying until she is out of the hospital.
God Bless,
Kaci
PS, would you mind if I put your addy on my blog so we can have even more people pray for her speedy recovery? Please stop by my blog and let me know.
She gets cuter by the minute! It's great to hear she is weaning down that ECMO. She is one tough cookie. I'll be thinking of you all tomorrow.
Good luck to you all for today - i'll be praying for you all!
Gil
God bless you, baby Elli and I pray that your surgery goes well for you today. I also pray that your mama and daddy have the strength to get through this. You have so many people rooting for you and I know you'll make us proud. I love you (and your folks)very much.
-Jenny and Jus
Brian & Cassi,
Elli is absolutely the cutest lil girl!! Like those pictures & videos that you share.
Just letting you know that we are still here praying for you everyday. You two amaze me with your strength, she is so lucky to have you as her parents.
Sending extra prayers/thoughts your way today.
Love, Kaylene & family
May God AND Elli continue to amaze everyone with their strength and courage. I will be thinking of you all day and praying.
Amber & Jesse Thompson
o thats soo cute
Daddy she has you right where she wants you!!!!!!Prayers are going out to you all, today more than ever. Miss Elli you're a doll. Hugs and Kisses to you all.
Jill
Elli is doing sooo good!! I can't wait to see more improvement from her!! We'll all be praying for you up here and anxiously waiting to hear how well Elli did during her surgery!!!
Love,
Brooke
Good morning!
Tell Cassi and Elli how much we love them, and we are super-proud of how tough she is!
You will definitely be in my thoughts and prayers today...Be strong, and call if you need anything.
Love you Brother Reed,
Brian, Shelly, Cole & Raegan
Many thoughts and prayers today as you prepare and go through surgery today. Elli, you are amazing and hopefully once they get things moved around, you will be able to recover and grow. I think its great you have such a strong desire to suck, even with that yucky tube in your mouth! Glad your Daddy can be your Binkie Man.
I'm pretty sure Libby, Makena's mom, has commented--hopefully you have read her story. Makena had her repair done on ECMO and also had a silo. She is quite the CDH rock star!
Kristyn
Leah R-CDH
Thinking of you guys today as surgery approaches. I know that difficult balance between wanting and knowing she needs the surgery and not wanting her to have the surgery.
Brad kept me calm during surgery by making me laugh and being goofy. I don't know how he did it , since he was just as anxious but it worked. I guess Brian has another job now as well.
Thinking of you and Elli as always,
Amy
We will be praying for Elli today and the Dr.'s and nurses that will be by her side...God Bless all 3 of you and know that many prayers are being said today for your little family.
Loved the binky video, too cute!
-Love, Ryan & Lindsay Fast
TIME TO SHINE, ELLI, GIRL. TODAY IS YOUR BIG DAY. YOU'LL BE IN OUR HEARTS AND PRAYERS ALL DAY LONG. BRIAN----THAT HAS TO BE THE BEST JOB IN THE WORLD, HUH? GOOD LUCK, TODAY. WE LOVED THE BINKIE VIDEO--HOW PRECIOUS AND PRICELESS.
Good luck today!!!
Stay strong Elli and keep your parents on there toes!!
Emily
We're praying for Elli and for Mommy & Daddy today. Stay strong Baby Girl!
The Millers
Lord, please watch out for this little girl as she goes through surgery tomorrow afternoon and stand by her parents to keep them strong while waiting out the procedure. This little lady is a fighter and deserves to show the world what she can do. Amen
Our prayers are with all of you today, along with everyone helping & caring for Elli. She is amazing! Ryan, Nikki & Kids
Jon and I have been checking your blog daily, if not more. We were discussing how strong the three of you seem to be through this process. We are sending our prayers your way for "Little Elli's" surgery today. "Little Elli" is so beautiful and is continuing to show that she is a fighter. Again, good luck today and we will be thinking and praying for the 3 of you!
Jon, Abby & Sophia
Elli is so beautiful and I am so happy she decided to open her eyes so we could all see how beautiful they are. Elli is such a strong fighter and has the best parents in the world! You are all in my thoughts and prayers, especially today!
Amy, Gehard & Emmalyn
Keeping all three of you and the doctors, nurses, and medical staff in my prayers today. Especially at 1 when surgery begins.
Andrea
Grace & I are checking on you guys daily. Gracie loves the pictures of the little baby. We will be praying for you guys tomorrow.
Chrissy Conant
You will see the web site count sore sky high today, As a million eyes and ears wait inpatiently to see how baby Eli is doing!!!
You should be a fly on the wall when you post a new comment at work--everyone flys straight to Jill's computer. =) But if you and Brian hadn't of started this blog--i'm sure you would recieve a million+ phone calls.
I havn't posted a comment yet, but i just couldn't contain myself ANY LONGER! The pictures of Eli say it all--she's a beautiful bundle of joy--who has 2 VERY loving parents.
May the hands of God lift you up and hold you close today.
Thinking of you! Keep fighting Eli!
Katie Gunsolley
hey that was just the cutest little bundle of joy and i just want to say that elli is a cute little pumpkin i am giving u and brian and elli all my little prayers and hugs and kisses elli is all that auntie staci talks about but she needs everything she can get in hugs and kisses i just want to tell u that u guys are all thats been on my mind latley and i cant even focas alot i no that auntie staci as said is going to poil the kisses out of her when she gets a chance ok i love u very much hugs and kisses love lana and shana smaus
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