Morning News

So much has gone on in Ashley's room today that I have just now been able to run down and update. I apologize for it taking so long because I know so many of you are waiting to hear.

This morning my prayer for Ashley was for God to grant her a peaceful day of rest. I know how important it is for healing to be well rested. As I was praying I was reminded of something I shared with Blake while Ash was in the NICU in Dallas. He wanted to know why this (Ashley's life, all of the time apart, the daily travel to and from, etc.) had to be so hard. As I laid next to him I told him that I really believed that doing what God has called you to do is not always easy but it is always worth it. I know that if Ashley can keep fighting each day even though it is not easy for her that it will be worth it in the end. God has a plan for my Ashley and right now it is a struggle for her tiny body, but someday what an incredible story she will share of His goodness.

Ashley's chest x-ray has shown another area of her lung that has collapsed. This is cause for concern because so much can happen to her so quickly. She is very strong respiratory wise and I know she can do this. Ashley will have to work very hard today to stay off of the ventilator. She must take deep breaths into her lungs to re-inflate the collapsed areas. This is very painful for her. They have been doing treatments on her all morning and now is the time for her to show us all just how tough she is. When I stepped into her room they had pulled her into a sitting position and began to "beat" on her back trying to force her to cough. How scary it is to know that her abdomen is open. I cannot imagine the pain she is going through. They assure me that nothing can fall out. The muscle wall is closed and is holding all of her organs in, but it still scares me. Ashley is strong and she is tough and she is stubborn and determined not to go back on the vent. Please pray for God to give her an extra measure of His strength today. She will need it.


Ashley will also be receiving a transfusion this morning. She lost a lot of blood last night from her wound and this is makeing her feel a little weak. She will receive some hemoglobin and platelets as well. She has had many of these transfusions in her life and I always wonder whose blood is flowing in her veins. The life is in the blood just like our salvation is. I expect her to feel a bit stronger as soon as she receives it.


I want to post a praise as well. The surgeon told me that nothing has grown back on the cultures of her blood and perineal fluid that had leaked out of the opening in the colon. So far so good. She is not running a fever today and her white count is going down and improving. I know God is much bigger than infection. I am so thankful for that this morning.

Ashley's day is full of hard work and she is so very tired. Perhaps if she can put in the work then she will be allowed to rest. This is my prayer for her. Just in case you were wondering she is still beautiful. I just thought I would throw that in . I love being her mom.