The stained glass window in the chapel area. Looks like THREE BIRDS to me!!

So here is what is going on. The below image is a comparison of Monday’s X-ray vs. today’s X-ray (autocorrect keeps trying to correct “X-ray” to “cray”. That’s totally cray.)

Monday’s is on the right and today’s is on the left.

The cloudy areas have increased – which is the pneumonia. It is looking more like a viral type because it is not responding to the antibiotic. The pneumonia is causing the high fevers. Nothing new has shown up in the blood labs, which is good.

This morning was absolutely terrifying. Shortly after I arrived to the hospital at 6 am {after a semi-restful night at home thanks soooo much to Kate R. who offered to stay with Nora} the doctors and nurses started accumulating in our room rather quickly. Nora’s temperature and heart rate were were on their way up Mt. Everest in an unpaced sprint. I barely knew what was going on before the brakes were being taken off of the hospital crib. Suddenly I was following my blazing hot baby girl down a maze of sterile hallways through a haze of tears to CICU. She’s been on an extraordinary amount of O2 throughout the day which has gradually been weaned down to 40% of high flow oxygen. Slowly but surely her temperature was brought down to a reasonable level by means of Tylenol, ibuprofen, iced towels and a cooling blanket. Her heart rate followed suit.

When I went home last night my Big Kids were still awake. I was soooo happy to see them. We hugged and kissed and talked for a little bit before it was time for bed (again). As I tucked them into bed Greta got teary. She really really missed Norns. That absolutely broke my heart.

When things looked like they were taking a really bad turn this morning, I opted to extend Gavin and Greta’s 2 hour school delay into a 4 hour delay. They NEEDED to see their baby sister, as did Our Kelly. When I met them down in the lobby I could see the panic in their eyes. I remember how SCARY this place was the first time I was in it. Fortunately by the time they arrived, Nora was a little better and not in as much distress as she had been. They ended up having a very sweet visit. It was so good for all of them!

Later in the afternoon, Nora’s temperature and heart rate were on the rise again, her breathing very labored. There was talk of intubating her if things didn’t settle down. That nearly threw me over the edge. The ibuprofen wasn’t working (which Nora so cooperatively took by MOUTH!!!!). The Tylenol wasn’t working in the IV. Last resort was a collection of ice watered towels and then a chilling blanket, and the thermostat turned way down. We were freezing our butts off, but little miss didn’t seem to mind in the least. Her sweet little body responded to the cold and all of her stats were neat and tidy again.

“Dis is kinda cold!”

She sure loves her Dad!!

Family doodles ~

Sweet cakes ~

I am overcome with emotion at the tremendous outpouring of love from so many people in these past days. Your kind words were so comforting this morning and this afternoon. Nora is one LOVED little girl. I wish she could grasp the enormity of it all… Maybe she does. (?) THANK YOU for loving my precious baby girl and for praying her over each hurdle she encounters. Thank you for praying for and taking care of the rest of my family too. We are SO SO blessed.

Today started and ended in tears, except these tears are tears of joy and gratitude.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
(Romans 12:12)

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
(1 Thessalonians 5:18)

BREAKING NEWS:
On January 6th, Nora tested positive for RSV. On January 8th, two days later? This morning’s test that just came back? SHE IS NEGATIVE. NORA IS NOW NEGATIVE FOR RSV!!!!! You think I’d be used to this kind of stuff by now, but I am speechless and wowed again by the healing power of prayer to a generous, almighty, incredible, crazy awesome, tender-hearted, compassionate, all-powerful, ever loving GOD!!! Just like that. Just. Like. That!!! THANK YOU, GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S. I loved reading about a prayer vigil going on on a Metro bus for Nora today!!!! I can’t wait to go through ALL of the comments and messages.

“All deez prayers for me??!! Wh… Tank you!!!! Tank you so much!!!”