Friday, September 12, 2008

a little update

hi sweet catherine!

i thought i'd give you my version of what you've been doing lately=) you went to a conventional ("regular") ventilator on your 3 week birthday! that was great news my dear! you've been doing pretty well on that-SO well, in fact, that this morning they made our day by saying the plan was to extubate tomorrow! (that means they take you off the ventilator and onto a less intense machine to help you maintain the pressures in your lungs) can you believe it! i got little tears in my eyes when they told me-it surprises us every time you take a step forward=) you had a few other changes this week as well. you went back on nitric oxide, which is a little step backwards, but that's ok. they realized your pulmonary hypertension is still pretty bad (where the blood vessels in your lungs are really tiny and it's hard to get enough blood to make them work, and in turn the right side of your heart works extra hard and it can put you into right sided heart failure...none of that is good my love). but you've been loving the nitric oxide, so it must've been a good decision=) they also started you on caffeine through your iv and a steroid inhaler through the ventilator. i guess they've been doing their job since you might get rid of that ventilator tomorrow! daddy likes to say that it's the breast milk that's been making you better;) if only that could cure your lungs...but that was another piece of good news this week! you started taking my milk through a little tube that goes through your nose into your tummy, and you've been doing great with that! it was a possible concern that your gut wouldn't wake back up like it should after surgery and after not being used for several weeks, but you're doing great! (aka: peeing and pooping like you should-it's funny how excited we now get over dirty diapers=)) we've been getting to hold you like i've wanted to for so long-with your head up by mine so i can nuzzle you with my cheeks, and i've been able to pat your little booty like i talked about while you were in me-daddy put a video of that on here so you could see it later=)

we're slowly learning to live what we've known for a long time: that this would be a long long roller-coaster of a road...that you're going to have good days and bad days, and to try not to get overly-excited about the good or too disappointed about the bad-because it's all part of it and we have to believe that we'll get to take you home as a healthy little girl before too terribly long. ("before too terribly long" could even be a few months, but in the grand scheme of things that's not so bad, is it?) i cry though when i think about the day we get to take you home, and then when we get to take you to atlanta to see all the family and friends there that love you and are rooting for you so hard...have i told you about how much you are loved? not just by us, my dear, but by people all over the country and even by people that mommy and daddy have never even met. it overwhelms me a little to even think about it. it started well before you were born, when people would read these letters to you to be kept up to date on how you were. well it's only gotten bigger my love. mommy and daddy (and you! we get mail addressed to you now! and i love it=)) get cards and letters and gifts and even anonymous checks in the mail...it's unbelievable. you got a card and a little dr. seuss book (those are mommy's favorite) in the mail last night from your friend eden who lives in texas. you also already have a proposition for a date from your friend jack who lives in georgia-he's quite the looker and he likes older women (he was born 3 days after you;)). people are loving and supporting the three of us so much and i don't know how to begin to thank them. maybe you can help me once you're bigger. needless to say, the people who love us have surrounded us in the most wonderful way since we found out you were sick, my dear, and i can't wait for you to meet them and realize how loved you are. they have paved the way for you to have such rich friendships and we want that for you so much. to know the depth of authentic love and relationships with people.

we are so thankful for you, babe, and we're so thankful for the people surrounding us in this journey with you=) i love you more than i know how to express...

mommy

17 comments:

Whirlwind said...

That's fantastic. I am so happy to read the little updates and hear that she's slowly improving.

Our Life said...

I am so excited that things are slowly improving!! That is the best news of my day!! I check on here every day to sneak a piece of your lives. Thank you so very much for the updates!! You are in my thoughts and prayers every day!!
Farrah

Unknown said...

We love you too!!!

E said...

I am glad that it is a "good day" as you texted earlier. We love you. Be on the look out in your mail. Our dog, Luke...his breeder sent us a "gift" from Canada where they live, to send to you. Yes, even complete strangers are touched by Catherine's story. We love you!

Anonymous said...

Hello Sweet Catherine-- you are doing so well and are loved by so many. your mommy and daddy love you and so does the rest of the world. so glad on your progress love, and i love your parent's updates on you.

glad to know you are loving the nitrus oxide, well at least your lungs are! so glad too that your body functions are getting back to normal too! it may have taken your parents some time to realize but it is the little things in life that bring you joy, referring to a dirty dipar!

i love you and as always god is great.

happy four week-early birthday!!

*super dude and super dog* said...

Thank you for sharing your CDH journey. It gives us so much hope that when Carter is born (only 3 more weeks!!!) he'll do just as well. Hang in there on that roller-coaster and take one day at a time.

Abby said...

wow, extubation!!! so wonderful. we love you and love to watch the movie over and over again. tonight in the tub eden said "catherine, heal, feel happy". and that's what we all want.

MelissaR86 said...

Oh wow Katie, I tear up every time I read about all the steps baby Catherine is making forward! She is definitely a miracle baby and is in all our prayers! We love you! ~Melissa~

Doozies said...

How wonderful! :) Pace yourselves as you go through this time. Our little ones were in the NICU for four months and we began to feel like it was normal. I wish we had made a recording of all the beeps and whistles b/c when we got home it seemed strangely quiet. Keep it up Catherine!

Deb said...

Hi Katie!
So glad to hear all the good news and to see how "at home" Catherine looks in your arms! Right now, YOU are her best medicine. What more can a girl need...a heavenly Father who loves her beyond measure, and earthly parents who were hand picked for her. Wishing you all another week of miracles!
Deb CMC NBN

Sharon - Mom Generations said...

Just as many voices are raised together in one song... or a thousand stars send one beam of light to earth... this is how thousands of prayers and thousands of hearts send strength and love to your beautiful Catherine. Thank you for allowing all of us into this miracle...
Love, Sharon
(formerly Pinks & Blues)

Brian and Cassi Reed said...

I am so glad to hear things are going so well for Catherine. I have been thinking about her a lot lately. Your catherine was born around the same day as two othe CDH babies, Will Morgan and my Elli. Will and Elli both lost their CDH battles, but we are praying that Catherine keeps up the fight. Always in my thoughts and prayers.

Angel Elli's Mom Cassi Reed
babygirlreed2be.blogspot.com

Hannah D said...

Oh Katie, I love you so! I hope you can feel all the hugs that I send you every day in my mind.

Catherine, keep up the good work sweet baby girl, we are so proud of all your hard work!

Owen and Jack may have to have a duel for Catherine...Owen may just be able to take him though, he's a little bigger :)

Much, much love to all 3 of you!

Aaron, Katie, Kylie & Ava said...

Again, you don't know me but I have been following your journey with Catherine and I am so overjoyed to hear the progress your little girl is making. Your pictures brought tears to my eyes. She is a beautiful little girl and she is a fighter from what I have read. God bless you and your family and I will continue to pray for you all.

Keith said...

Oh Man, I got so excited when you talked about bringing Catherine home to Atlanta. I may get the award for the proudest uncle in America right now!! And YES Catherine is a beautiful Donnie. I've always wondered what Donnie would look like in a pink jumper. Now I know.

Unknown said...

Praise God! We're praying for you three every day. It is awesome to see what God has done for you and is doing for you! You know all of us at Christ Prez can't wait to see Catherine when she comes home.

Love,
Jason, Meredith, Elizabeth and Stephen Kaiser

Lauren, Ryan, Zach & Austin said...

I am glad to hear she is improving. I am praying for her and for you guys. Hopefully you will be able to take her home soon and cherish the best gift from God ever.