Settled

We arrived at the hospital around 5:30 and we have now settled our sweet girl in. She is resting comfortably and actually looks better than she has all week. They just finished taking labs and they drew more blood out of her than I have ever seen(26ccs to be exact). They are doing a complete work up looking for answers and solutions. Ash has had it with the whole "poking needles in her vein" thing. She has more holes on her little arms, hands, feet, and ankles than she cares to have. Actually she is so exhausted she isn't even putting up much of a fight anymore.

Why are we here? Good question. I have been trying to answer that myself. I honestly thought we would go in for a little fluid replacement on Sunday evening and be back home by Monday evening. Not so. Flying back to Omaha this week was the farthest thing from my mind(in the beginning), but as the week progressed and Ashley Kate made no turn around it continued to seep into my mind that we could be headed here. On Wednesday morning when our pediatrician suggested the possible transfer I could feel my insides shaking. This morning when I arrived at the hospital I began to clean up Ash's laundry from around the room while her and her daddy were cuddled up together still sleeping. The pile of laundry told the story. She had continued vomiting all night. Once I picked her up I could tell her fever was still there and then I noticed her tummy. Distended. Big red flag. To Omaha we go and so we are here. Is she in rejection? We need to figure that out. Is it just a nasty viral infection? No one knows. We are praying for the latter. We can battle viral infections without this mommy having a complete meltdown. The battle over rejection gives me that shaky feeling inside, but if it comes to that I am sure we can fight that too.

The plan is this. Ash is scheduled to be in the OR tomorrow morning. They will do a biopsy of her bowel as well as place a new central line. Yes, I realize she has only been free of one for 3 weeks, but if you ask her she would say, "Bring it on and stop poking me with those needles!" As always I struggle with her going into the OR, but it is becoming just what we do with our Ashley. Her kidney function has stopped once again. They are very picky these days. This causes me much concern. I would like to be changing big, heavy diapers continuously as opposed to not.

Dave and I are here together and that always gives me strength. Knowing that the Father has not taken His eye off of my littlest daughter for even one moment gives me strength as well. Your prayers give me the strength to stay strong, think positive, and keep going. Thank you for standing in the gap for us. We will be home soon with our sweet Ashley Kate.