Monday, January 12, 2009

All good things.....

So hello and I know I promised an update the other day but wow have we been busy. On Sunday I decided to tackle painting my bedroom. (My Mother was gracious enough to help me.) It is very large almost the entire length of our house. It is like 30 feet by 15 feet, very large and MANY walls. But it looks so much better. OH and we also brought out her toddler bed. I wasn't sure how she would in it, but she loves it! Plus it makes life easier for me as well! So she's a big girl. now!








So now to Ava. She is really doing well. The antibiotic is doing it's trick and she is healing nicely. She is still on suction a few times a day. If I see that she looks like she is getting nauseous I suction her and then the sickness passes. BUT she still manages to throw up 1-3 times a day. This is the best she has done so far! She is pooping too! I was getting green intestinal bile but now it is either clear or yellow, which means things are passing through at a slow rate BUT are going through! She doesn't have an appetite lately this bothers me. It is expected sad to say. Her canister (suction) output is also slowing down. The last four days all I've gotten out was 300ml's TOTAL!

Her stomach is also getting smaller. I swear by this suction machine. It is taking all the gunk and air out of my baby and making her feel better. Here is how her tummy looked a few hours ago at dressing change. The wound is closing nicely!



In case you are interested this is her Hickman line without the dressing. And not that is NOT blood it is beodine. I change it 3 times a week since she has an allergic reaction to the Chroraprep. (Normally a line dressing would be on a 7 day change. Not lucky me!)



So we are hoping to take this month slow and then get her into surgery, early February. She is an amazing little girl. She is always so happy. She loves life and she loves her family! Enough talk here is a few more pictures!









Thanks for checking in on Ava! God bless.

~The Helmick's

8 comments:

mommy to Kaden, Brody and angel Ava said...

I am glad that she is feeling better. She looks so comfy in her big girl bed!!!

Lacey said...

She looks like she is feeling much better. The wound does look a lot better. Hugs from Lacey and Jax

My Three Sons said...

She really is looking great!! I'm so glad to see all of those smiles on her face.

Will her hickman come out anytime soon or are they going to wait until after surgery???

Hope you have a lot of fun and uneventful days for the rest of the month.

Take care and God Bless

Sky + Carla said...

She looks so comfortable and happy on her toddler bed :)

I have been following your blog for a while and I wanted to thank you for sharing your and Ava's journey, it really helps me stay positive and understand CDH more.

I can't believe how "fast" her wound is healing.

Take care,

~ Carla

Liz and Shane said...

she looks great! so that is what hickman looks like. does it hurt?

The Rice Family said...

Wow! Congradulations Ava on your big girl bed. How exciting. I am also really glad to hear that you are feeling better. Hang in there all of you. You'll get there and in the mean time we will continue to pray.

Craig and Kristi Kuehl said...

Terri-

Your daughter is AMAZING!! Thank you so much for visiting my blog for Kaden. As I am sure you know, we CDH Mommies read ALL the stories. Ava is such a fighter, and a "beacon of hope" for me. I am actually from Iowa...Small world. Please keep in touch, and check in on us from time to time.

Much Much Appreciation,

Kristi

Taryn said...

Ava looks good! She looks like she is gaining weight...

*hugs*