Our little fighter :)

Yes, that is a smile in the title.  Our Hannah is doing so much better since I last blogged.  She was extubated yesterday.  She was supposed to be on Thursday, but those plans changed when she couldn't keep her saturations up the previous night.  Extubation was am extremely emotional experience.  Hannah was not sedated much so that she would start breathing when they took the tube out.  Therefore, she was mad and fighting.  When they pulled the tube, she cried so hard but barely made any noise because her little voice was so hoarse.  She will probably be hoarse for a few weeks, at least, from the tube being down her throat for so long. 

She did great through the process.  She started breathing right away, but was put on bi-pap to help give her some pressure support breathing.  Bi-pap is a full face mask of oxygen, but is not invasive to her body like the ventilator is.  We were much happier with this.  The doctors said they were prepared if she couldn't tolerate being off the vent.  It would have been my worst nightmare if she had to be re-intubated.  I prayed and prayed every day that when she was eventually extubated, it would be for good.  So far, that prayer has been answered :)

Hannah did fantastic through the night.  She did so well, that they took the mask off and put her on nasal cannula.  She is being weaned from her heavy duty sedation medication.  She was on such strong narcotics, that the weaning process will take a few days.  Paul tried giving her a bottle today and she took about an ounce.  I assume her eating well again will take some time.  She is getting back to her ornery little self again.  She keeps pulling her heart monitors off.  She is grabbing at every tube nearby.  She pulled out her nasal cannula and tried handing it off to the nurse.  She is being so funny and adorable.  She is still building up strength to sit and move around well.  The doctors said it will probably be tonight or in the morning until she can sit again.  She is ready to go to the 6th floor (where Hailee was) but every room is full up there so she will have to wait until one opens up.  We are ready for her to be out of intensive care.

We are SO happy with her progress, I cannot even explain.  We knew that she would get better, but that it would be on her own time and according to God's plan.  We are praying that she continues to progress from here.  She still has a ways to go before coming home.  We are just happy the tube is out and she is getting back to her silly self again. 

I have some photos of her from when she was vented, but am going to take a picture later today and will post all of them together when I have a chance.