7:15 PM update - Tue.

Kate is still about the same. It's delicate balance keeping her blood pressure up but not letting her get too active in bed. Whenever her sedation starts to wear off, she become 'an alligator' (the nurse described her that way). She rolls back and forth and grabs at her lines. At one point she grabbed her central line and had a death grip on it, trying to yank it out. argh. I was able to pry her fingers off before she did any damage. They decided to put boards on her hands to keep her from being able to grab anything. (That was Daddy's idea, actually.)

She is still having trouble with hanging on to any of her fluids. They have decided to put back 100% of everything she is draining out of her tubes. (She was previously on 50%.) They are 'chasing' her--meaning they are trying to catch up on her fluids. Her organs are stressed because they are not getting enough fluid. It is going into her vessels and then directly into her tissues, where it is drained out. She needs to keep some of that fluid in her vessels.

She stirred a bit and was talking a bit--although her eyes are mostly closed. She calls for "mama" and "Daddy." At one point, I leaned over and told her that many people were praying for her and she started saying her own prayer, 'Dear God," and then jibberish, fading off into nothing. It was beyond precious!

Due to her 'dumping' of fluids, as well as the morphine, she is so dry. The nurse has put vaseline on her lips, but this afternoon, she was opening her little mouth like a bird. I asked her if she was thirsty and she nodded slightly. I was able to let her suck water off a sponge. She was so cute!





Thank you so much for your prayers and words of encouragement!! It has become obvious that things can change in very short time in this unit, so she is not out of the woods, but is definitely getting great care. (And now I REALLY want to be a nurse--and they are letting me help, so I feel useful and am getting some on the job training!)