Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Tuesday Update

I spoke with Amy earlier this morning to get an update on Katie. This is what she had to tell me:
Katie was sleepy this morning because her sleep was broken up again last night in a fashion similar to the night before. She would wake up every twenty minutes or so, toss and turn, whimper and fall back to sleep. She also went to sleep fairly late even though Amy dictated bedtime around 8pm. They spent lots of time reading together waiting for Katie to fall asleep, but the little girl is becoming nocturnal. Her days and nights are filled with the same atmosphere, the same activities and the same regular nurse visits whether day or night. Her internal clock has nothing to takes its cues from anymore.

Aside from being a little sleepy this morning, Katie is very animated. She is chatting, smiling, laughing and playing. She is also feeding herself now which is nice to see again. Before I left Sunday, she was unable to feed herself because she couldn't hold her hand steady enough to get the food to her mouth. Her hemoglobin is currently at 9.5 which is respectable and the doctors are happy with that. I'm actually a little disappointed because her hemoglobin levels Sunday were 10.2. Still, she is above the level of a red blood cell transfusion.

Her fluid levels are also good - so good in fact that the doctors are going to disconnect the IV except for when they need to use it to put in medicine. That will give Katie a few hours of freedom from her tangled up IV lines and might help her sleep better tonight.

The bacterial cultures have still not shown any signs of bacteria that would have made Katie sick. Therefore, the antibiotic drugs are going to stop going into her system tomorrow. In addition to that, her next chemotherapy session is being postponed to allow her to have some "normal" recovery time at home at the end of all of this.

That's all I have for now, but things seem to be looking up. Oh, and that massage I mentioned yesterday... Amy was scheduled to get that at 11:30 this morning.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am so glad things are looking up. You all have been in my prayers.I do hope Amy enjoyed her 11:30 appt. The ride for katie is now posted on a web site that has all fundraiser rides on it. Uncle Kim was very happy they accepted it on there site. I will get the site to you so you can go on and see it. It is very exciting. Love to all.Aunt Michelle

Mike said...

It's wicked good to hear things are turning around! I've been hoping that news would come soon. Way to go Katie, keeping your fluids up - I'm getting a bit thirsty and am about to get some water myself.
The lack of differentiation in time is interesting. I've experienced that to a lesser degree up here when we're in the fog for a week and never see the sun...just a general lightness of day and thick darkness of night.
Keep on the mend my friend.
Love you.
- Uncle Mike

Tina Miller said...

Glad to here things are turning around for Katie. I can only imagine how hard this is on you all, the not knowing what the heck is wrong with her, just that there is something not right with thelittle girl. I hope she starts on the mend real soon. Vacation weather here in Virginia is HORRIBLE!!! It has rained since the day we got here on Sun. then we were in the center for a tornado that night and its now um.. Tues. and its still raining! The weather looks like it might start turning for the better tomorrow, i hope??? Take care and have a speedy recovery...

Anonymous said...

Hi All, It sounds better. That is a big plus. That is what everyone wants to hear. So many people are rooting and praying for all of you. Keep up the good work. And hang in there Mom & Dad. Easy for me to say ha!
Lots of love and prayers to all.
Good night
Roxy