April 23, 2009 Afternoon

I just got back from visiting with Allison and she is doing a bit better. her blood work did NOT show any signs of infection, so that's good. Her nurse explained to me today that this is probably the beginning of a typical period that these babies go through that is going to be a bit difficult. she is feeling better and is very strong and she wants the vent tube out, however she is not quite ready to go off it yet; so it will basically be a constant battle with her trying to move around more and pull out the tube and the nurses and doctors keeping it in for now--so she will have days of just being "mad"--the tube is not comfortable--it's not painful of course, but it's just that she's growing and developing a gag reflex and becoming aware that she has something down her throat that she doesn't want there. Given this, Dr. Esparza did go ahead and order her breathing treatment for today because she needs them in order to ensure she gets off the vent more quickly. She seems to have tolerated it a bit better today, however, her heartrate was in the 180s when I was there, which is better than yesterday. And so our adventure continues...