Waiting to Exhale

Today Ava was transferred to the "floor" and out of the PICU. She is breathing nicely, and is on very little oxygen. She actually ate three of her Ketogenic meals today, and I had them feed her meal four via the NG tube...(I must admit that I'm really going to miss the convenience of that when they take it out).

Ava stood up independently today, and was quite talkative when her brother and sister showed up for a visit.

When I think of where we were at this time last week......and where we are today.......I'm just completely amazed. There are truly so many families suffering there in the PICU. The sounds of mothers crying all though the night, and buzzers constantly going off. It's just not a place I want to be again any time soon.

I am truly humbled, in every sense of the word. In all honesty, my heart was breaking for all of the other families that were "new" to the hospital, and really having a rough go of things. After all, it's an old shoe for us. Although, by far, this has been the most difficult hospital stay we've ever had.

We could have lost our baby..........but we didn't.

I completely attribute her speedy recovery to each and every person who prayed for Ava during this time, and to my mother, who instilled a firm foundation of faith into my heart (and of course to the wonderful PICU doctors and nurses at Hasbro Children's Hospital).

We're hoping Ava will be home tomorrow, after almost a full 14 days in the hospital (13 in the ICU).

So we're just sitting tight, and waiting to exhale. We can't wait for you to be be home, Ava.