Won't be long now...

Lots have people must have been praying for us (I know they are!)...since I last posted on Monday, which was a somewhat disappointing day, we have had two really good days. We are finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel! If you have been following my tweets, then you know that we finally found a formula that Grace is willing to drink. After trying a couple of different kinds on Monday, I was beginning to worry that she might have to go home on an NG tube, and/or that she might have more serious issues that we were going to have to deal with. It was a really hard day. But, around 9 PM, we asked our nurse to bring back the original formula (which seemed to be slightly less repulsive to Grace than the second), and she brought us the vanilla version, which we didn't even know had been ordered. It smells like cake batter, and, really, who doesn't like cake batter?! Grace does! Thank the Lord for vanilla EleCare! On Monday, Grace took in 10 1/2 ounces of formula, Tuesday 20 1/2, and today 30! Her goal is 34-36 ounces per day, and she is almost there! (She is still using the syringe/thumb method, but we're going to go with that for now! Whatever it takes.)

(Typical response to the bottle.)

(Sticky formula doubles as a styling product.)

Since Monday, they have been dialing down the TPN, which has been making her more hungry, I think. Today, they turned it off completely and removed her PICC line. No more sticky adhesive all over her neck, and now we can move more than two feet away from her IV pole. So glad those lines are gone!

If it wasn't for that pesky staph that showed up in one out of two cultures, we might be out of here already (or, at least, tomorrow.) The doctor is not overly concerned but wanted to pull the PICC line and continue to treat with antibiotics through an IV for a couple more days for good measure. (The staph can grow on the plastic in the PICC line, which is why they removed it and want to treat with antibiotics while it's out.)

Grace is a new baby! She honestly seems happier and healthier now than she did before she got sick. She is smiling and laughing all the time, even at strangers. I was worried that this whole experience might make her afraid of all strangers, but I actually think that the opposite may have taken place. I think she's going to miss all the people who come to see her everyday! And, let me tell you, a lot of people come to see her. Doctors, med students, nurses, occupational therapist, nutritionist, friends, family...it is busy in here, 24 hours a day!

(A visit with Granny)

(One of our sweet nurses, Miss Shelley)

Barring any unforseen obstacles, we should be headed home Friday. Pray, pray, pray that nothing will keep us here any longer!