Big day for baby Annie...

This morning started out like the past few days for the Lazorick's... wake up and get ready to go see Annie in the ICU.  Becca's eye was a little red so she sent Joe on his own to check with the nurses to see if it was okay that she still come in.  It took him an hour to come back because Annie was upset and whimpering -- Joe said he could not leave her like that, so he stayed and held her soothie in again.  The nurses advised her that it would be best if Becca got it checked out first just to be on the safe side....

So off to her family doctor she went.  They were unable to determine whether or not it cold be pink eye, so they gave her an antibiotic.  They also instructed that she should allow 24 hours of antibiotics before going back to visit Annie.  Not such good news for a mommy.  Becca somehow managed to find a positive to that though -- she has not been getting much sleep and also developed a clogged milk duct.  So she was going to take advantage of the time and take care of herself. 

She told me that Annie had gotten the chest drain removed.  Baby Annie was ready for that thing to come out whether the doctors thought so or not -- she apparently almost wiggled it out herself.  She is continuing to eat seemingly unaffected by the damaged vocal cord; however, they have been using the slow-flow bottle nipple.  Becca said she thought that the swallow study would be done tomorrow to make sure there is no problems with her eating. 

So that was this morning... then I got a text later this evening from Becca that said that baby Annie is OUT OF THE ICU!  

So praise the Lord!  She is back in her regular room with mommy and daddy -- with assistance from the nurses.  Becca still is not able to touch or tend to her until tomorrow around noon (that is when she will have been on the antibiotic for 24 hours).  So Joe is going to have a long night ahead of him, but they are so happy to have her back with them.  

She has nothing more attached to her except for her heart moniter and some oxygen.  No more tubes in her.  No more morphine.  She is on an oral medication to keep her blood pressure down -- which she will just do outpatient check-ups for to eventually ween her off of those.  Baby Annie needs to be handled with care because, although her sternum is all stitched back together, it will take some time before that bone actually grows back together.  She also cannot really cry right now due to the damage to her vocal cord -- she just whimpers Becca said.  But she was wide awake and alert and staring at her daddy : ) 

What seemed like a "this stinks, but I'll make the best of it" day, turned into a very good day for them.  They have their baby back with them and how quickly she is recovering!  Prayer is amazing and God is so awesome.  It has been such an honor to see how much he has blessed this family in such a short amount of time. 

Let's continue to pray for the following...

• that Becca's red eye and clogged milk duct clear up quickly
• for baby Annie's swallow study tomorrow -- no issues that require any alternative feeding methods at all
• that the damage done to her vocal cord is minor and heals on it's own very quickly
• a speedy, complete and total healing for baby Annie
• for Joe and Becca as they care for her during this healing process
• that her blood pressure would come down and no more medicines will be needed
• for God's will to be done and favor with regard to Becca's maternity leave
• that baby Annie's Turner Syndrome test will come back negative

Thanks everyone for following this blog for baby Annie... the prayers are working and I know Joe and Becca have felt God's love through his whole time.  I will update again tomorrow after Annie's swallow study and first night back with mommy and daddy! 

Hope everyone had a blessed week.