Winding Down?

Another day is winding down for us here in the PICU, but is it really? Not if you were to ask my Ashley. She has just gotten up from her 3 hour nap and she is winding up NOT down for the night. This little one has her days and nights a little confused. She is dressed all snuggly in her jammies and her vitals have been taken, her meds have been given, she has been lotioned up and loved on, and she should be ready to lay back and enjoy a good episode of her favorite Blues Clues video. Instead she has decided to once again act like a pirate! She is growling for everyone's entertainment this evening. The more people who show up at our door, the more she growls and giggles and growls and giggles. I tried to tell them not to encourage this unlady like behavior, but they all think it is great. Poor nan will be "forced" to play with this baby all night long. Again! It has been so wonderful to be able to go to the apartment at night and sleep in a bed. Only 2 more nights until I take residence back up in my "favorite" blue chair next to my Ashley's bed. Night before last Ashley earned her crib again, and guess who showed up to play with her? Her favorite friend, the baby in the mirror. You should have heard the conversation (that consisted of growling) they had. At least she is friendly, I'm going to be thankful for that.

At home the kids and Dave are trying to prepare everything for the start of school in the morning. Poor Dave is so very tired after trying to pick up the pieces at the office today. When I talked to him he still had to give Blake a hair cut, make sure the backpacks were ready, prepare a snack, get Allie's hair dried after her shower, iron uniforms, tuck them into bed, and then try to get himself ready to go back into the office. If you looked through the window at our house tonight you might mistake him for me! One of the things we have learned through this journey is to truly appreciate the role the other one plays within our family. I can't be him and do all that he does, and he can't really figure out how to be me and do all that I do. Without nan at home helping I am afraid he might be a little overwhelmed.

Today has been a good day in our little piece of the PICU. Ash is looking better than she has in a very long time. We have turned off her oxygen support, but we have left the nasal cannula taped to her face just in case. She seems to think she needs it taped there in order to keep breathing. Silly girl, her pictures would be much cuter without it! Tomorrow I am going to be brave and take it off her face while she is napping. Hopefully she won't even notice it is gone. We are still battling the staph infections and the mold that is growing in her lungs. I am not sure how long we will be treating it. There seemed to be a question as to how long she would require treatment for that one. I am praying that as these current infections clear we will stay free from any more. I have a peace about us getting out this time. I don't know why I feel this way. I am just feeling hopeful tonight.

Again God has been good to us. He continues to bless us with more and more time with our Ashley Kate. We are so thankful that He allowed us to be her parents. Although I would wish that my daughter could live a long and healthy life, there is not one minute of this time I have spent with her that I would change. I love her tiny little self. She may never grow up to be a "big" kid, but she has already changed the hearts of so many. Mine included. The people I have met along the way, the children I have grown to love, the time that I have spent with the Father, all of these things have been gifts to me because of who she was born to be. For all of this I am truly thankful. Good night, because I myself am winding down, and may God bless you tonight as you rest. Take care. Trish