Healing Beautifully

Our Gigi is healing beautifully since Monday's surgery. Her neck and belly are a bit sore, but improving greatly. Her shunt seems to be doing it's job well, based on her first head ultrasound. They are now treating her like a month-old baby.... none of this "preemie" nonsense anymore(ha,ha). She weighs 7.5 lbs (!!!!!) and is back to bottle-feedings and eating when/how much she wants. She's been dealing with reflux which required thickened feeds and a switch in formula. Fortunately she tolerates breastmilk well and we hope to have her fully breastfeeding soon. She sleeps well and is very alert when she's awake. She nearly gave herself whiplash yesterday when her nurse walked-by... she was wearing a very colorful and festive holiday smock which caught Gigi's eye. I laughed out loud as I watched Gigi's reaction... her eyes were so big & they just followed her nurse around the room.

One of the biggest joys is that we are allowed to hold her for long periods of time now that she has her internal shunt. Previously, the external drain limited us to about 20-30 minutes. So, it has been wonderful to hold her while she eats AND while she cuddles up to sleep. It's getting more difficult to leave her each day, and we are so very thankful for the loving and caring nurses to which God enables us to entrust her care. They are all so wonderful and so special to us!

She'll undergo some final pre-discharge tests next week (vision and hearing) and will complete her final round of IV antibiotics. Her neurosurgeon has planned for one more head ultrasound ealry in the week, and if all is well, we are hopeful to have her home sometime Christmas week! Please pray for continued healing, as well as protection from infection and obstruction of the shunt.

Thank you for the emails containing specific scripture, as I know God uses you to reveal Himself to us! I always print them to read and pray over Gigi.