Big Steps

May 11, 2009

They doctors decided to take some big steps today.  They decided that they would lower the settings on Airica's heart bypass machine to see if her body would start to try to take over again for itself.  They would have to continue to lower the settings and see how she does before they could take her completely off.

She did great!  Better than they had even anticipated.  I could see her chest rising slightly as she tried to use her lungs again to breathe.  She was still on tons of machines but this was a huge step in the right direction. 

I was so excited, but at the same time I was terrified.  By this time I knew how to read all the monitors that she was on.  I learned the "good" ranges of numbers and the "bad".  With all the machines, these levels were kept at the optimal settings.  As they began to adjust the machines, the levels fluctuated and  it was so scary.  They had already informed us that if she didn't make it coming off the machines, chances were that she wouldn't make it.  So, you can see why I was a little nervous, but we had to take these steps, we had to try.

It was a long day doctors and nurses in and out and as far as it seemed, although sometimes the monitors beeped or blinked, overall she was doing really good.    

We were in and out of the room like normal even though there was so much going on.  Finally, everything calmed down and we were able to just be with Airica for awhile.  My eyes were glued to the monitors, worrying, listening, hoping that everything would just go smoothly.  Everything has been good news so far, I just wanted it to stay that was so badly.  I went to kiss Airica and tell her that I loved her and that I as there.  She then opened both of her big brown eyes looked right at me and flashed me that big beautiful smile.  Good night baby girl.