Kenzie's Updates: Still Draining...

So it's been another week and we're still here in the hospital! We hit a few bumps this week, but we also gained some good ground and it looks like we're back on track and continuing to move forward.

Since our last post, Kenz has began eating and drinking fully and is back on her normal schedule in regards to that. No throwing up or anything along those lines, so that's great news! Poor little thing is definitely scrawny though, so we need to get some meat on those bones! :) Thanks to the wonderful meals we've been provided from friends and family members, we're on our way!

At the beginning of this week, the doctors decided to pull one of her chest tubes because it had basically stopped draining fluid. Unfortunately, some air leaked into her right side, so as soon as we got one of them out, we had to have another chest tube placed in next to her right lung to allow the air to escape. She did very well during the procedure (she was out of course), but it definitely set us back a few days as she took several days to recover and get back to where she was. The new tube definitely bothered her in the beginning, but she seems to have adapted to it and as long as she has some pain meds in her, she doesn't seem to mind it too much. As soon as they inserted the tube, the doctor said the air just rushed right out, and the x-ray showed the air pocket all but disappeared within minutes. However, the chest tube remains in because there is still fluid coming out of that one as well, so for now, we are still going strong with two chest tubes continually draining fluid. We're not anywhere close to the level she needs to be at to be discharged, so it looks like NCH will be our home for yet quite some time.

Although it was definitely a bummer to have another chest tube put in, we also took some positive steps forward this week (literally). ;) Kenzie is officially up and walking, and just like we predicted, she's moving around as if she owns the place! She was a bit shaky at first, and scared, but as soon as she realized she could walk again, she just went straight out the door and began roaming the halls, chest tubes and all! It was such a blessing and a joy to see the huge grin on her face as she walked towards me for the first time---it was like seeing her learn to walk all over again! As she walked past the nurses' station, she gave them a big ol' smile and wave and they all clapped and cheered for her---so sweet!! She goes for about one or two walks a day now, and is really doing phenomenal in that area. She's definitely still very weak and her little skinny legs get tired and wobbly after about one lap around the floor, but she's getting there! Really the biggest thing we are now waiting on is the draining to stop so that we can go home!!

We are praising the Lord for continued progress and healing. Although we aren't super excited about spending more time here, it's nothing compared to what it could be. Her heart is still functioning perfectly and her oxygen saturation levels are in the upper 90's and haven't dropped at all. Our biggest prayer requests now are that she remains free from any type of infection (always a risk with chest tubes), that she continues to drain fluid quickly, and that there would be no more air build up on her right side (because if so, it would show that air is leaking in there from the inside, not the outside). She will probably have an x-ray soon to make sure that is not an issue. Otherwise, she is still the super happy, super sweet girl we know and love, and seriously she is such an amazing patient. Although she doesn't like the doctors and nurses, when they are not in the room she just plays, laughs, and has a grand old time. As always, here are a few pics!