9:18 am:

Her “Advanced Neutrophil Count” is over 100 today! Yesterday it was 26. It should continue to double and triple these next few days! We would like to see it at around 1800 or higher. Phoebe is starting to pee off all of her fluids! They had to give her 2 extra doses of her ddavp last night to balance her out with all the fluid loss. This is great news! They also said that it will take several days to see the swelling come down even with all this fluid loss because they can’t allow her to lose the fluid too quickly because it creates metabolic and electrolyte issues.

But, this is the beginning! I feel so full of hope this morning. Her immune system is working it’s way back! They will also give her a shot this morning to help her bowels. Often the bowels will stop moving if the body has been on pain meds for an extended period of time and this is the case with Phoebe. The shot will help with that. Thank you all for praying and I hope this good news encourages you all as you head to church this morning! I know we still have some waiting to do, but it feels like we are getting somewhere now.

PS.  I do not mind at all the e-mails I receive with ideas regarding Phoebe’s care. They have all been very loving, concerned, gentle and not imposing one bit, so please do not get the impression that people are pushing their opinions on us. We are surrounded by an incredible group of people praying for Phoebe and we appreciate the correspondence.

Here’s to a great day!

7:22 pm:

Phoebe has had a good day. Nathan’s Mom spent last night with her and I enjoyed a night at home in my own bed. A half hour of boy snuggles in my bed this morning was the perfect way to wake up. They all piled in and we talked about Phoebe. Averic said he had a dream that Phoebe woke up and when he woke up this morning he missed her so much he cried. Poor baby. They all miss her a lot right now. We haven’t really “seen” Phoebe since February 17th and we feel her absence in our lives.

She is still swollen today and I can’t see any noticeable difference as far the fluid loss goes. She has gotten rid of a lot of fluid and her output is greater than her input which is really good. I just wish I could visibly see the fluid reduction in her body. She is on 3 different diuretics and as the immune system continues to ramp up she should start pulling off even more fluid. This is the waiting game and the doctors are guardedly optimistic although it feels really exciting to us. My enthusiasm is easily tempered by the doctors, and I wish I could just feel relieved without that nagging worry that they know something I don’t know.

All that to say, we have lots of waiting ahead of us. Waiting for more neutrophils, waiting for the golf-ball sized blisters on her hand to pop so they can start to heal, waiting for the fluid to slowly make it’s way out of her body, waiting for her to be ready to have the ventilator removed….lots of waiting.

Thank you for waiting with us. It’s been an encouraging day and we are looking forward to many more of those!