The Latest on Emily!

I am sorry for the delay in updating you all on the "going on" around here... It's been a busy couple of weeks and I am just having a hard time writing much of anything right now to be honest. It's not that I am sad, I am doing pretty good and have tried to remain positive. Because really, that is how I feel. The Lord has really poured down an abundance of blessings on us and He really is aware of our needs and I know he loves us. It almost makes me cry half the time thinking about it. It's hard not to feel positive and happy. Yet, I think I just needed some time to myself lately and so the blogging has been at the bottom of the, "to do list".

Last Wednesday I got a ride down to Utah with my friend and neighbor, Pam, to go see Emily. Emily is now 2 pounds 13 ounces (as of yesterday.) Emily came off of the ventilator last Wednesday and it was so great to be able to be there with her. They put her on what's called a CPAP; which is a different kind of ventilation. It's called a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine which I understand was initially used by patients for treating sleep apnea at home, but is now widespread across intensive care units as a form of ventilation for infants. So going to the CPAP was a huge step. After almost 6 days on it, Emily was showing signs that she had an infection though. She stopped breathing for a time, so Monday night the nurses put her back on the ventilator. They say it's common for infants to just get tired of breathing on their own and need a little more help. And plus with signs of an infection somewhere,(which they are doing tests to find out where it's coming from) it makes it that much harder for her little body to work so hard at breathing right now. So she has been getting anti-biotics for the infection, a few IV's and a blood transfusion. She is just so tiny and needs to grow to get stronger! Yet, despite these little set-backs Emily is doing good and we still have high hopes that she will be ok and be a fun loving sweet-crazy little girl when she comes home with us!

This picture was taken June 6th the weekend before she got put on the CPAP. I got to hold her for the second time! I am so grateful for these precious moments.

I just think these pictures of her are so sweet.

Now these last two pictures are of Emily on the CPAP. I know, it's not the most flattering machine as the tubes going into her nose make her nose kind of stick up; it forces air into the nasal passageway, not to mention the tape across her nose to help hold the tubes in. And the tubes around her head are, I'm sure, most uncomfortable! But to be breathing on her own for 6 days, is a major step in the right direction! We are praying she will get over this infection soon, or whatever it is and that her little body will fully recover.