"Classic" Ashley

Our sweet girl's tummy has shrunk enough to allow her to assume the "Classic" Ashley pose. She has been sleeping like this since she was tiny. How good it did my heart to see that her little leg was able to cross over that tummy without causing her too much discomfort. Everyone comments on how funny she looks. She might as well be on vacation kicked back like this.

Rounds were made late, late in the day because the surgical team was tied up in surgery. They didn't have too much to share except to turn down my request to be home some time next week. The first thing they said was, "Uh, no. We don't think so."

"Even if she makes a complete recovery and looks great?" I asked.

The surgeon just shook her head and said, "I wouldn't expect it to happen that quickly."

"Just letting you know I'm thinking positive." was my reply.

We are still treating for rejection. The decision was made to keep her FK level(the anti rejection medicine) at a pretty high level so it doesn't flare up again. They did stop all of the other meds they had started because obviously they weren't doing their job. Since she came down with something in her chest while on those 3 anti biotics the infectious disease team wrote to discontinue them. They said that her sputum culture from yesterday was growing something and once they had identified it they will try and come up with something to treat it. They are also suspecting that she is coming down with pneumonia. I hope that is not the case, but her cough does sound pretty nasty. They didn't like the look of her x-ray. We will just have to wait and see if she gets better or worse in the next couple of days. She is off of oxygen at this moment and although she is sating at the lower end of the cut off she is doing it on her own with no support. She continues to struggle with high respiration's, but I think it is getting better. Her swelling is coming down and she is starting to pee. All of this is moving in the right direction.

I made her sit up a little today and she did not like me that much. Then I rocked her for a while and I loved that. She may not admit it, but once I began reading to her (the only book close enough for me to read to her was about weight loss, but she didn't care. I think she is going to be supportive of my endeavor. Although, I don't think my only choices for dinner are going to help me out. What should I choose? A bag of Doritos or a bag of popcorn to go with my diet coke?). She settled in and allowed me to rock her to sleep. Then I was able to kiss her over and over again and just enjoy the fact that she was still here with me.

She is really fussing this evening and although it is sad I think its a good sign to see her being so grumpy. She doesn't feel well, but at least she feels good enough to tell me all about it. I have no idea what the next few days or weeks will hold for us here, but I have no choice but to be thankful for each and every tiny step she takes.

Thanks for checking on our pickle today. Your prayers continue to carry us along. Trish