Plan B

Didn't I say that things are subject to change without discussion or warning when it comes to Ivey? Well, put a great big X through Tuesday and circle Wednesday. She should be released from the hospital and on her way home in another 48 hours. That's the plan.....

The doctors feel that she is ready. After a long emotional stay, Ivey has benefitted from her hospitalization. The paralytic that she was under in the beginning of her stay seems to have loosened her up a bit. Ivey has alot of tone. Unlike most babies who are pretty floppy, Ivey's muscles are tight and her range of motion is extremely limited. Now, her muscles have relaxed emensly. I think Ivey's physical therapist will be extremely happy with the results.

Ivey's lip and nose look beautiful weeks after the cleft repair surgery. We are to assume that she will return in about three months for the surgery on her palate. A surgery that will require another hospitalization.

She is adjusting to the PEG tube. Her face looks beautiful now that is has cleared up from six months of tape. Who doesn't love that soft baby skin? Her reflux has improved immensly since that PEG has been inserted. And the best part, she can't pull this tube out in on a whim.

The trach is our newest, most complex gadget. Now that Ivey can breathe better she seems happier and more content. We can't be certain, but the doctors seem to think that the trach will be out within the year. Somewhere in that time, they will attempt to reconstruct her airway. Due to the trach, Ivey will have several pieces of equipment that will always accompany her. She will have her suction machine (which we have had since day one, but often left at home), a pulse-ox, heart monitor, humidifier, and an emergency kit with extra trachs and ties. You will all adjust to this with grace and style, just like you have everything else in the past.

Ivey also has an appointment with her occularist tomorrow that she will obviously miss. Another 6 weeks has past and it is time for another set of conformers. I did speak with the occularist about missing the appointment; he is mailing Ivey's new set. There is something about this that makes me want to giggle!

Ivey is still hitting the scales weighing just under 10 pounds. She is trying to pull her self into a sitting position. I believe that Ivey will be able to sit on her own. She loves to sit in her Bumbo seat. She is also pulling herself to her sides. Hopefully once we get home and she has a little more freedom, she will begin to roll over again. Her favorite pasttime is sucking on her thumb and fingers. She is really developing a sassy little personality.

My favorite thing that she does is smile. It is a quirky beautiful smile. She is smiling when she hears us enter the room. Ivey is just very content and happy. Her smile makes all of this worth the wait and the pain of her being away from home for a month. To know that she is happy and comfortable despite the challenges she has faced, makes this a journey worth traveling.

So here's to a happy ending and Home

gwen.

ps - Continue to pray about her home nurses.