I am home for just a few hours before I go back to the hospital to take the night vigil with Amanda.  Ted did last night and I was there all day so Ted could work.  Thanks to Clara and Florence for coming to visit and breaking up the monotony.

Amanda is better – all the blood work shows things going in the right direction.  But her pneumonia looked so bad on x-ray today (both lungs) that the doctor wanted her to spend another day on the vent (breathing machine aka ventilator) to help her lungs work most efficiently.  Still lots of I.V. antibiotics, steroids, and all kinds of meds and fluids.  Amanda is pretty bruised from needle sticks and bloated like a fat pig – I think her neck has disappeared for the time being.  But they stopped the continuous I.V. sedation they usually give to intubated patients to keep them relaxed and not fighting the breathing machine – and Amanda is fairly alert.  She shakes her head yes and no, points, can write if we give her a pencil and clipboard, and tries to talk with her own hand signals but gets frustrated when we can’t understand her.  She has been a trooper fighting that horrible gag reflex with 2 tubes down her throat, not being able to swallow, and tolerating constant drool wipes and suctioning.  Hopefully we can lose some tubes tomorrow.

Now for a report on the other daughters …. Kristen’s new job is full-time nanny to 2 children:  Owen who is two and Adelyn who is four months.  Kristen was super nanny when she got both to nap at the same time today!   haha   She’ll have those kids whipped into shape in no time – potty trained and reading novels too!

Jillian had her white coat ceremony – ah that’s Dr. Vander Yacht!   Wish we could have been there.  So very proud of both our daughters and can honestly say we have the best son-in-laws ever.

 

We are tired but doing well.  Amanda is on the mend.  We have great friends and family who love and care.

Hope all is well with you.

just Laurel