Looking healthier and healthier

Lilly is doing awesome for the circumstances she is in. Each day she begins to look healthier and healthier. She still receives Lasix every eight hours, blood labs every twelve, and is now receiving nutrients through a central line in her femoral artery. This central line is also used to take blood so that the nurses do not have to keep sticking her and to measure her exact blood pressure. To put in the central line the doctors had to give Lilly a sedative and morphine, but she woke up a few hours later, but seemed very weak. After her nutrients began kicking in she became more awake and her strength began to increase. She even started to show off for the nurses and was picking her head up by herself and kicking her socks off. I'm trying not to leave any information out, so if I skip around with what has happened in the last few days, please bare with me. A physical therapist came in and gave Charlie and I some exercises to do with Lilly to help keep her mouth and rooting reflex strong. The doctor's did say that Lilly has an advantage because one of the main recoveries after surgery is learning to eat again. Many babies are not able to eat when they are born but have to go straight to ICU. We were given the blessing of being able to take Lilly home and treating her as a normal baby. Lilly is doing great with the exercises and has a strong bite, even when she is sleeping. Also her eye infection is doing a great job of clearing up, but she is still receiving antibiotics for this.

It's great to be visiting her when she is awake, she just loves to look at you and listen to you sing and talk. On Thursday, Lilly's daddy read her first book. She just loves when someone is visiting her. It's hard to leave because you can tell she knows, and she begins to fuss and cry when we start walking away, but I know that deep down she knows we'll be back. I want to also thank everyone out there for their thoughts and prayers. The fact that so many people care means so much to me and Charlie. We love you all!