Ruby Hope McKee Starling

No pictures just yet but I wanted to let everyone know that Ruby had a good night.  250 ml of fluid has drained out of her chest so far.  no wonder she was having trouble breathing yesterday.  She is back to the baby she was on Wednesday.  Which makes everyone happy.  There were points yesterday that all of us were a little worried about her making it through.  At one point her oxygen saturation levels were in the forties and she was blue.  As a mother is very hard to sit and watch as a doctor handbags your baby while she is turning blue.  Apparently it is very uncommon to place a chest tube on the side of the CDH repair.  Her surgeon said they never have to do this.  I think it's becoming apparent that Ruby is writing her own book.

Chris and I slept at the hospital last night, just to be close to her. Several of you have mentioned that we need to get our rest, too.  We try and some days it's easier than others.  Most days we are at the hospital from 7:30 am to 10 or 11 at night.  On weekdays Chris finds a quiet place to sit and work, most of the time this at Ruby's bedside.  I usually sit next to Ruby and knit or read.  We have both been helping with Ruby's care when the time comes.  We like to stay at her beside becasue Ruby's Doctors don't have appointments.  They come by to see Ruby when they have a chance.  It's hard to plan your day when you know the neurologist or cardiologist is supposed to stop by sometime.  It also means we have to be ready with our questions at all times.  Usually at night before bed Chris and will discuss the questions we want to ask the next day.  That way we are prepared when the Doctor walks in.

Lately Ruby has gained a reputation among her nurses and respiratory therapists.  Since she was ECMO so long and required two care givers the whole time, Ruby is pretty popular.  We get a lot of people stopping by to see how she's doing.  She has also acquired a few nick names, Ruby Red and Rubes seem the most poplar ones. 

We'll post some pictures later day.  Lets all hope we have quiet resful day.