Today was not boring and that was good. The big excitement was that Ruby was awake and had her eyes open for about 45 minutes in the afternoon. Here is her saying, "Hello, world!"
She was stable enough today that she got all prettied up for her debut. The nurse was able to clean up the dried blood from where she had a little nosebleed, re-tape the tubes on her face, clean and powder under her chin, and change the dressing on the surgical wound where her ECMO canulae are. As you can see, she's still puffy from fluid retention, but that should be changing soon. The docs decided to wait another day before starting her on diuretics. The rest of the day was calm and stable, althought they did increase her baseline dose of sedatives, since she's larger now and is building up some tolerance to it. This is normal, though, and there is a standard weening protocol so they don't have to go cold turkey. It was nice seeing her concious, active, responsive and looking around, but after a while she get fitful and started getting upset about the ET tube (endotracheal tube -- the tube going down her mouth, into her lungs for the ventilator). We'd rather have her comfortable now and enjoy her later when she's healthy enough to go home.
Here is Grandpa hanging out with Ruby. Only they know what secrets they were telling eachother:
In case you're wondering, her finger is glowing red because it has a pulse-oximeter on it. It's cute, though, because it makes her look like E.T.
Overall, Ruby is doing much better than earlier in the week. We still don't have a good timeline for when her repair surgery will be or when she'll be off ECMO. It is beginning to look like they may do her repair while she's still on ECMO. Her lungs themselves were looking very good on the x-rays today and appear to be resting and taking advantage of not having to work very hard. The neonatology attending doctor was very excited when she came by late in the day to get the latest numbers and stats on Ruby. She even said that Ruby is looking "great". Lets hope that opinion persists!
well i have been keeping
well i have been keeping ruby and her folks on my mind, in my heart, and prayers, i had to just tell you she is wonderful, nad im sorry i have to say that i think she is looking like her dad...everyone told me our aubrey looked like her dad and i would just stare at her hoping to find a glimmer of me...ruby is in good hands and your in a great place i do wish and hope only the very best for the three of you, it is hard but every day is worht it even when you think you can't hang in there anymore. you will be better parents when you get ruby home through this journey im rooting her along from wv...
Well hello to you too
Well hello to you too Ruby!!! It's so awesome to see her opening her eyes!!
So glad to hear that Ruby is
So glad to hear that Ruby is looking great. We are keeping our fingers crossed that her lungs continue to expand.
I am so happy to see her
I am so happy to see her awake and looking around. What a cutie! Everyone in Austin is rooting for you Ruby and we can't wait to see you here!
Love seeing those eyes
Love seeing those eyes open!! What a precious child. Praying that Ruby continues to have good days and gets closer to her surgery. My son had his repair on ECMO too and was able to successfully come off of ECMO two days later. The doctors will know when the right time is for Ruby to have her surgery. The picture of Grandpa and Ruby is beautiful. Thinking of you and praying for Ruby. Keep fighting Ruby!
Hugs - Tracy, Ian's mom for CHERUBS
She is looking Awesome!!!
She is looking Awesome!!!
I am so happy to read about
I am so happy to read about Ruby... What a sweet picture of her. I am glad that she is responding and u get to see her awake admiring her great parents. Lots of blesssings that she continues to improve. Hope to hear from u soon. Take care
HUGS
Joanna&Fil
So glad to read this good
So glad to read this good news and to see answered prayer. Nice to hear that some doctors get excited about good things. When my three year old went to bed last night the first thing he said was, "Pray for baby Ruby." Totally unprompted, though we have been praying for her throughout the day, and we will continue. God bless you all.
What a Beautiful way to have
What a Beautiful way to have started my day! I'm so excited to have had her face be the first face I've seen today. I love the little pink tongue sticking out under the tubes! And to have caught Dad (Grandpa) is wonderful, too! I wonder what mysteries he divulged to her... The real secret of secret sauce? Which 11 herbs and spices are in the chicken? How to make plutonuium out of common household items? I bet it was how many licks it really does take to get to the tootsie roll center of the tootsie pop....I think he's been holding out on that one for years. Sounds like all in all Ruby is doing Great, and that is appropriate because it is my opinion that she IS Super Great. Are yall reading to her? If so, what are some of the Favorite reads?
Keep up the good work yall!
Love & Prayers from Okie-Homa
Hello Ruby!!!! So glad she
Hello Ruby!!!! So glad she was awake and spent some time saying hello. And Grandpa looks like he's in love with her already.
Wonderful news that her lungs are responding well to the rest, and that the docs are excited about her progress and stability. It'll be interesting to see if they keep her on ECMO for the surgery, since she's doing so well on it and the surgery itself is a relatively quick one and less complicated than the ECMO was.
Wishing you, Holly, and Ruby another wonderful, peaceful, healing day.
All our love,
Tami, Chuck and Aisling
I think that Grandpa already
I think that Grandpa already looks a bit smitten !!!!! All in all She is doing just what she needs to do and is quite adorable.
"great" sounds so much
"great" sounds so much better than "sickest baby in the hospital," doesn't it?! Big smiles and hugs from Iowa.
Awesome. She is gorgeous!
Awesome. She is gorgeous! :)
(Love the E.T. comment. Larry was thinking the exact same thing...)
Lots of love!
Missy, Larry and Anthony
I have tears of happiness
I have tears of happiness reading that she's doing so well! And, how wonderful that she opened those beautiful eyes!
With continued thoughts and prayers,
Pam