Baby Mahaela

One of Mahaela's caregivers must have been thinking about Mahaela today because she sent me 4 new photos. The above photo was taken on her 2nd birthday, I believe. We actually have several of her on her birthday, and this is the outfit she was wearing.

I think this photo is taken a bit earlier than 2 years, maybe 18 months? She seems like she is being a little bit supported and most children are not walking before 18 months. I believe Mahaela was 19 months. The caregiver is her favorie. She was the head of the nurses. I always have wondered how much of an active role she played in caring for Mahaela. She seems to be "hands-on" in this photo. Mahaela definitely remembers her a lot. About a month ago, Mahaela said her name in the store and got a bit excited when she thought she may have seen her. It was just a woman with similar hair. It was kind of sad to think that she still thinks about her and most probably misses her. I'm so glad for the fond memory that she has of her, but I hate the idea that she could be sad about it, deep down.

I know her caregivers are just hoping that Mahaela recovers quickly. I'm so happy that I am at her bedside. I know they would have loved her through it, but she needs a mommy and a daddy.

Well, since she is sleeping so soundly, I will take advantage and get some sleep also. Praying these next few days go by quickly.

What a difference a day can make

I think these videos capture what a great day Mahaela had in her recovery. Here she is getting ready to walk and telling us she wasn't going to cry (like she did the first time she walked a few days ago.) She was feeling so much better today. She sat in the chair for hours, walked the halls, rode her bike, and even had a poop (after suppositories and days of medication that finally worked). It was a good day.

Below: Mahaela ride's her new bike that Bill and the kids brought up for her last night. She was really excited to get to sit on it and ride it.

Called to Care Kickoff and Mahaela update

The above video is taken during the kick-off for my church's new orphan care ministry. Our ministry is named Called 2 Care. It was a great evening with Kelly Putty, founder of Ordinary Hero http://www.ordinaryhero.org/ out of Nashville. Also Jami Kaeb from Bloomington, IL was able to share her new ministry called The Forgotten Initiative--they are partnering with LifeSong. (Find the Forgotten Initiative on Facebook--the website will be up very shortly.) Bill and I were able to both be there thanks to grandma and grandpa babysitting Mahaela at the hospital. It was a really great evening. God is doing something amazing. Orphan's lives will be changed because of this evening. I know of two families who felt called to adopt and are saying yes because of this evening. I encourage you all to stir the pot at your churches with a ministry such as this. Thanks for continuing to pray for Mahaela. She is getting better, praise the Lord! Only 30ml out of the chest tube and her xray looks pretty good. We are doing everything the same for another day, before they starting weaning meds, introducing fluids/food.

Glimmer of Hope

This am Mahaela had a total of 90ml out of her chest tube for the previous 24 hours and a clearer xray. I am tentative, but encouraged. She had very little output throughout today. I am praying that this is officially a slow down in her drainage and not that her chest tube is plugging up again. If she has a good looking xray in the am and still very little drainage out, we may be on the road to fixing this problem and healing. They will then start to wean her off one of her medications and then feed her...all the while hoping that she does not begin to drain again. Praying Hard!!! She walked twice already today, and had much better strength and mobility. After very little sleep at all during the night (and no nap yesterday) and a grumpy attitude in the am, she perked up by mid morning and was happy girl. Thanks for praying and keep it up! Prayers are being answered.

Happy Girl

Today was a good day for Mahaela. Her mood took a 180 from what it has been the last few days. She has been extremely irritable, grumpy, not nice to anyone. She had been sleeping a lot also. Today she was wired! She was happy and animated and energetic. She had one of her meds removed today and that is the only thing I can attribute her mood swing to. For the first time since being in the hospital, she took not just one walk, but 3 walks! We have always wanted her to get up for her second walk, but something always sabotages it. Today, it worked out great. It really helped at change of shift that the day and night nurse both walked her together--that is one of the problems, it just takes 3-4 people to walk her with all her lines and monitors in tow. The third walk today was a fun one. The nurses have really gone above and beyond to make them fun for Mahaela and cheer her on. Yesterday her nurse gave suckers to other nurses sitting at their stations and as we made our way around, they would give her a sucker. Tonight was even better. We went on an Easter Egg hunt! The night nurse, Kim, had brought filled eggs and put them all around the unit to be found as we walked around. The picture above is a happy Mahaela opening her eggs--ring pops, and lots of bling-necklaces, bracelets, and rings. Kim gets an A+!!! OK...now for the downer...Mahaela's chest tube drained 260ml for the past 24 hours--more than any other 24 hour total. I don't understand why it is not slowing down. Her chest xray looked better this am, because what is accumulating in her lungs is draining out. The chest tube is not clogged and is working as it should. We just pray and hope that it will stop draining. M. is still NPO and is tolerating it amazingly well. She did catch Bill with butter on his face after eating a roll and completely examined his mouth and teeth, trying to figure out what he had gotten into...I think she was a bit jealous...oops!

Hospital Day 12??

I'm sorry to say, that today looked a lot like yesterday as far as healing is concerned. Her chest tube did not put out any drainage during the night. Dr. Fortuna flushed it, but was deliberate in leaving a bit of fluid still in her chest to avoid the tube being "sucked" into her chest wall. She tolerated getting the tube flushed very well. The tube drained throughout the day, which is good that it was evident that the clog was taken care of, but it continues to drain. I will be anxious to hear the 24 hour total in the morning. It's not slowing too much though. I have to say, I know prayers are working. Mahaela has been NPO for a few days and has only asked for food a couple times a day. She seems ok with our explanation and doesn't beg. So glad that God is taking care of her hunger and keeping her satisfied. She is also sleeping a lot and seems very content to just rest in bed. She has been taking one walk in the morning. I always want her to get in another walk, but it takes so much work and 3 people to walk her...it's just hard to squeeze it in again. God is showing his mercy to us and Mahaela. It seems that she could just be going crazy with hunger and laying in a bed, but she is calm, quiet, sleepy. God is good. I'm exhausted tonight...just an accumulation of the week, I guess. But I am completely refreshed by the blessing I received at an orphan care event at our church. So proud of my nieces and friends and faithful servants who contributed to a wonderful night. God be glorified. Children will come to Christ because of a seed that was planted in a person's heart tonight, I just know it.

Praying for Mercy

M. had a good night. Hadn't needed morphine since yesterday am. She slept alot yesterday. She had a pretty good night and walked this am. Her chest xray showed a build up of fluid again. Zero drained from the chest tube during the night. So they assumed it was clogged. They just flushed it and got 80ml back. That means she had little progress in the drainage decreasing. She had immediate pain when her chest was drained, so they put back a little fluid with some numbing/Marcaine to give her relief...it must have sucked the tube next to her pleural wall. Discouraged. I am praying for mercy for our little girl. She has done so well with not being able to eat or drink for 2 days now, but without success.