Elliott Arcile Reed

Elliott Arcile Reed
6 lbs 8 oz 19 3/4 inches

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Playing the Waiting Game

SugarBear watching Elli sleep last night. She was pretty relaxed and stretching out her legs. This was after she got all worked up. They changed the dressing on her neck where the ECMO cannulas enter since they were saturated. Needless to say Elli didn't want any part of it. I can only imagine if she wasn't intubated, she would have woke all the babies in the NICU up with her screams! Her little face was bright red and she had one little crocodile tear roll down her cheek. The dressing looks so much better today, there is hardly any blood on it, so that is good, no more bleeding from the site! It did take a little Elli cocktail of Morphine and Versed, but she finally relaxed and was zonked out for several hours. Poor little baby, thankfully daddy was in the family room talking on the phone so he didn't have to see her upset.
This is Elli contemplating when she will finally get to have her surgery. Humm.......maybe tomorrow? I guess only the surgeons know for sure, wish they would let mom and dad know!


Check out my hair! I finally got it scrubbed down last night by Angel. It is so clean and soft! Maybe they should have left it dirty, mom wont keep her hands off of it!

Elli has really been stretching out her little toes lately, and they sure are long. She has feet just like her daddy, apparently a second toe longer than the big toe means she will be an athlete. Either way they are just too cute, love those little toes!


Elli had a really great night last night. I called around 4 and the nurses said that she was awake a couple of times but never got fussy. Basically it has been a pretty boring 24 hours. Elli's blood pressures have been great, apparently she didn't read the book on CDH and ECMO because she is not following any of the rules, she makes them up as she goes. Always keeping the Doctors and nurses on their toes!

As far as surgery goes, still hoping for tomorrow, but that is still up for debate. The surgeons should know sometime late this afternoon. So until then we are just going to hang out with Elli and let her rest as much as we can. The nurse this morning turned down the ECMO pump. Basically this means that Elli is doing just a little bit of the work, the pump was at 42o and is now down to 360. They might try to turn it down a little more this afternoon depending on her blood gases. If she starts retaining CO2 then they will not be able to turn it down any more, but as for now her oxygen saturations look good and her blood pressure is holding strong. Her mean is 60 right now, and the doctors said they would be satisfied with anything above 40...way to go above and beyond Elli!
We will keep updating with more info as we get it, I guess the longer they put off the surgery the more Elli can prove to the doctors what a strong little fighter she is. Hopefully they will be able to turn the ECMO pump down even more today...love that forward progress. As always I will keep taking pictures and posting them of little Elli ~ seems like every little thing she does is so cute, I just can't help myself. Thanks for all the continued support...we can really feel it!

6 comments:

Amber said...

your still in my thoughts and prayers Elli. I will cross my fingers hand hope you will get to have your surgery tomorrow. Only the surgeon know and right now they know whats best for you.

Amber

Tracy Meats said...

Had to check on Elli this morning!! She is making progress in the right direction - so happy to hear that. We will be praying for a successful surgery whether it be tomorrow or a few days. I love the pictures you are sharing on your blog - she is very beautiful. God Bless you and your family.

Tracy Meats - Wy. State Rep of Cherubs and mom to Ian (LCDH, 4/3/04)

Snevets said...

Sounds like the little cutie is quite a figher! We are really happy to hear the continued good news. Sounds like she has her Daddy's competitive nature! ;-)

amberthompson said...

Go Elli, what a little fighter you have there! I think because of Brian and your positive attitudes and strength, God has blessed you with this precious angel because he knows that you are strong enough parents to help her fight and continue on her journey. I'm so honored to say that I know you and Cassi you are already such an inspiration as a mom. I've been doing it for almost 4 years and you have ten times the strength that I have. Extra prayers tomorrow!!

God Bless,
Amber Thompson

Emily said...

The picture you took of her little toes is so cute! I can't believe how much hair she has and Cassi I think she has your eyes. You both better watch out becasue she is a little fighter and its seems like you can never expct what she will do. I'm sure she is going to be goofy like her dad, well from what I here from Cassi and we can already see she is strong like her mommy. O yea and Brian I can tell by the pictures and the video that she has got you wraped around her little finger and she will more than likely get waht ever she wants.

Keep up the good work Elli I can't wait to meet you and remember when you want somthing from daddy just look him in the eyes and he will do what ever you want cuz we all know his heart just melts.

Emily

shanacnest said...

i just want to say that u guys have gone throw alot and i really think that it all payed of and well thanks for keeping the blog updated and i know that it takes alot of your time and care but 4 all of us readers out here well we really think that its great i no everyday when i wake up i here shan lets go check out the blog guess how??? (auntie staci??) well i am alawys wearing my ristband and i wearing it right now i have 2 to give mine away and i just have to give mine away and then get another one
i always here shan go get a ristband (auntie staci) so thats all i needed to say thanks 4 your time love shana