8.26.2008

Extubation day???

Grace has continued to recover and progress amazingly well. She is constantly gagging on her tube however, as well as always throwing her arms around and making it very clear that she wants that tube OUT! She licks it, bites it, pushes it, and yanks it, all in an effort to get it out, but to no avail...until today! She is supposed to be extubated later today if all goes well. And her extubation will actually be following the removal of her other 2 chest tubes. She is just losing tubes and wires everywhere! Its great. :)

It will still be a couple of days or so before we can hold her, because she needs to be weaned off of a few more meds so that her Double-lumin line can come out. This line is too central to her heart and we can't hold her while its in.
She is awake more and more frequently and is more and more feisty each time I see her. I miss her so so much and Topher and I can't wait to hold her in our arms again. They should be able to try a swallow study with her either the end of this week or beginning of next, and if that goes well then we'd be able to start trying to bottle feed her as early as next week. That's about all the news we have. She's doing well. And getting cuter and cuter every day. Thanks for your prayers. They are so appreciated. We love you all lots!
Love the Andersens

12 comments:

kalani said...

I am so glad you wrote that e-mail for the things we can do to help. I am very excited to do anything and everything I can for you. If you have any requests for specific meals (i.e. things you are craving or things you don't like.) let Karen know because I plan on doing a bunch of meals for you. We love you tons.

kalani said...

I forgot to tell Gracey that I totally understand how she feels about the tube down her throat. I wanted the tube out so bad. I hated it. It just doesn't feel natural to have something shoved down your throat. Thank heavens they have it though so that we could both make it. Keep fighting Grace.

Unknown said...

Reading your post made my day! I am so happy for little Grace & your whole family! Sounds like things are as good as they can be at this point!
Keep us updated!!!

Super Daysh said...

Yay for Gracelyn! She is so dang cute! We are glad that she is getting extubated soon! That is such a good news! We love you guys lots and lots!

Amy Finnegan {BookshopTalk.com} said...

Reading Kalani's 2nd comment here made me realize that she probably understands Gracey's feelings right now better than any of us (or at least most of us!)

How many of us can say we've been on life support for an extended amount of time and lived to tell about it?! Sheesh.

Poor, poor Gracey, now that she's feeling good enough to realize she's basically immobile - but filling back up with energy - she wants to bust out of that bed! That is SUCH a great sign!!

As frustrating as it still must be for you two to watch her wiggle and squirm, the fact that she's trying to do so is so very amazing. I suppose she doesn't quite realize the immensity of what her body has just survived.

Maybe you should tell her: Gracey, dear, you know that little red thing that was in the center of your chest? Well, um, we traded that one in for a newer model. So you might feel a bit different for a few days.

:) We'll keep the prayers flying up to heaven!

Mythreesons said...

Yay! Hope all goes well this evening and she is indeed extubated. And I'm so excited for posts and pictures... I miss that girl. In the meantime, we just keep on praying. Love you guys!

John Boy said...

Wow! She is beautiful! Seeing her gives me so much hope. We are still here waiting for our angel heart.

I have read your story over and over- I have a lot of extra time while I am hanging out in the CICU.

How many transplants have been done in SLC? I didn't know they did them there.

Baby Grace is darling!

Mimi said...

Sorry- I was logged in as my husband, but my name is Mimi.

Canadaland said...

I'm so glad that Grace is doind so well. Your little family is so adorable. I check your blog every day just to see how sweet Grace is doing. She looks AWESOME! She really does. I'm impressed with her. She is a fighter...a feisty little fighter. Must be the German in her : ) I'm thinking about you guys. Hang in there...

Anonymous said...

Anderson Family,
We are so, so happy that little Grace was blessed with a heart and to hear that all is going well. We have prayed so hard for her and the other little "Heart" babies that they would receive whatever it was that would be advantageous to their situations.
You have been a strength to me, to see you and Topher at such a young age, staying strong and setting such a great example. I hear your testimony in the words that you write and it helps me build mine. Alexander is doing great and we are feeling so blessed to have received a heart. Heavenly Father is definitely mindful of our needs and loves each and every one of us. Take care, Ann, Kirk & Jessica and Alexander Stewart

Allie said...

I love hearing happy news. Hope all went as planned tonight. Cant wait till tomorrow to read how much more they where able to take off of her. Allison

Sara and Company said...

Well, I don't blame that little sweetheart! It must be so hard to see her go through all of this, but such an incredible blessing.