Happy one week birthday, Sarah!!

The last few days have been very difficult and Pat and I both agree that it has been the longest and most difficult week of our lives.  After Sarah's brain and lung hemorrhages on Friday the next two days when we'd arrive at the hospital or call were met with a list of new problems:

• Blood pressure was low which could lead to more hemorrhages.  They were having trouble getting it up
• She has metabolic acidosis-too much acid in the blood from the kidneys not functioning well
• Her kidneys aren't working properly-she is urinating blood and the toxins in her system are extremely high
• She has a heart valve that is staying open

Despite all the negatives, as they treated her with blood transfusions, medications, etc. she has held on.  We've been grateful for each day.  Yesterday (Monday) was the first day that we got a thumbs up when we arrived and today her nurse greeted us with another thumbs up and the words "she is one tough cookie!"  He said she has, and is, jumping through some major hurdles.  

• Despite the kidney issues, she had been weaned down enough on the powerful respirator (called a "rescue" respirator, it gives many hundreds of breaths per minute making her shake like jelly constantly) to move onto the regular respirator.  She responded so well to the regular respirator and they have been able to begin weaning her off that as well.  It may be a few weeks but the fact that she is responding so well that they can slowly turn down settings is a very positive sign.  
• They no longer are getting blood from her lungs when they suction her.  
• An ultrasound today (Tuesday) showed no changes (i.e. no more bleeding) in her brain
• Her blood pressure is up thanks to some medicine but she has been off it for today and has held good numbers
• Her numbers that measure the toxins in her system dropped slightly meaning her kidneys are working a bit.  We hope they will continue to drop.  The dr. said that if an adults numbers were as high as Sarah's that dialysis or a transplant would be part of the discussion.  Sarah is too small for either.  
• She was not urinating as much blood today
• She has regained a couple ounces and her weight is now 1 lb. 9 oz.
• She received a new IV line that is more permanent than the lines going through her belly button right now which will be removed tonight.  With those lines removed we were told that there is the possibility of holding her tomorrow!!  That makes this mom incredibly happy.  Having seen her struggling and crying (even with the tube in her mouth/throat it is clear when she is unhappy and is "crying") and just being so ill, my arms have ached to pick her up to try to comfort and hold her.  One of the worst parts of the past week was not knowing if she was going to survive and desperately wanting and needing to hold my baby.  

We are not out of the woods.  That is something we are reminded of regularly by the doctors and nurses and we remind each other too.  She is only 25 weeks gestation and still has a lot of obstacles as well as new problems that could pop up.  But we are so grateful for some positives.  

Today is Sarah's one week birthday and our Gabe who doesn't need much excuse for a party said we should have a birthday party for Sarah.  We realized what a great idea that was since 1.) it was a fight for Sarah to survive this week and 2.) we really don't know how many celebrations we will have with her.  The boys picked out a cake for us to bring to the nurses and we also had a cake at home (they wanted a pink and purple cake because Gabe has done his "research" and had asked friends-girls-at school what their favorite colors are.  Pink and purple and what girls like.). We sang happy birthday to Sarah and enjoyed some happy moments that are filled with a little bit more (cautious) hope than we had just a few days ago.  

Happy one week birthday, sweet Sarah.  We are so happy you're with us.  Keep fighting and know that we love you but most of all Jesus loves you and is always with you.