*updated* He Shines On *updated*

Today is day 9 post op for Ivy Joy. She has come so far!!

Nutrition and Rest are very important right now. She is not having trouble sleeping, but it is work trying to get 750 good calories in to her between her naps. A feeding tube goes in if we can't, so by golly we will!

Physical therapy started today. She was able to sit up first try but it took every ounce of her energy and she has been sleeping for the past 2 hours. These were taken towards the end when she was absolutely exhausted!

 Reaching up is supposed to be a hard one but baby girl did it with ease and then added the second arm too. 

Ivy's sedatives have been reduced quite a bit so she is acting more and more like a normal awake baby now. She is so sweet with everyone and so patient. Her nurses are madly in love with her and all comment on how sweet her personality is. She even did the stink eye to Nurse Jaime yesterday! I offered her chocolate today because the ones we have waiting for her are 50 calories per little nugget! And every 50 calories counts! But she refused.... So I know she is not herself just yet :)

It took about 50 minutes to get all her cords situated so that I could hold her!!! She was SO happy to be in my arms! She just kept dozing off and then she would wake up and see she was still in my arms, do a little smile and fall back to sleep. She is seriously the biggest love bug!!! I was blessed with 2 snuggle bugs from China! Her patience and temperament continue to be amazing. I would have just kept her in my arms through the night but we got a surprise order to remove her last chest tube!!! It is out! 

Her temporary pacemaker is still being 100% relied on. Her upper lung is still collapsed. The other lung is still full of junk. She sounds very gurgley today but she has a respiratory therapist working very hard on that. Our nurse today is STELLAR!!! She totally rocks right up there with Nurse Jaime! I just found out she goes to my church too!!! And she lives about 5 minutes from me! We love her!! She LOVES our girl! 

We have lost more accessories as you can see in the pictures. (well I guess we added a few too, but they're cute ones). It is still not possible for me to pick Ivy up and just hold her but I can do so with help in a chair very close to her bed and I can do it in her bed with her. Much of that is due to her temporary pacemaker. There are lots of very short wires on her stomach area and a large control panel attached to the wires. She still has one chest tube and it is still draining a fair amount so there is no talk of taking that out. Once Ivy's lungs are in good working order and she is stable she will likely need to have surgery to place a pacemaker. We are praying that her heart just needs a little more time and we will see improvement by next week. Not because we are sad she has to have a pacemaker but because we are sad she would have to be operated on again and recover all over. None the less, We are ready for whatever the plan is!!! She is recovering and He is Shining!!!! Thanks be to God!!

We ended the night with almost the full amount of calories to keep the feeding tube out. But it was enough to keep it out for now. Tomorrow I will have breakfast to work with as well so we should meet it no problem. She gets very tired from everything including feeding. Today was a perfect day!!! Best nurse in town (so sad it was her last day here :( God is calling her to work outside of her comfort zone and she said Yes! So thrilled to have met and connected with Nurse Lindsay today. She even gave me her number and asked if she could watch the girls some time! Again, only God!!! Our night nurse tonight is with us for the first time. Her name is Olga and she is absolutely lovely. I will sleep well tonight knowing Ivy is in her care. 

Maggie, I love you! Have a wonderful trip to China, can't wait to see Jenny in your arms!!! Jane, praying for you guys!!! Hope it was a perfect day and can't wait to hear all about your precious girl!!! Amy T, I love you my sweet friend. Please know that God's got this and He will get you through even the hardest times!!! 

Cathy Riccio and family, we were thrilled to receive your card today. You are such a special family and Ivy is blessed by your prayers and love!  Moriyah, Thank you for the special surprises that came today! Ivy is smitten with the little panda and everything was just as sweet and thoughtful as can be! What a sweet surprise! You made our day!

Catherine and Hannah, We feel your prayers! 

Julie M, I'm so excited to see God move and I'm so thrilled to have ~met~!

Sis, I miss you!! The kids miss you!!! XXO

Annie, Praying for discharge for Katie Grace!

Jess, you are a gift!!!!

Jennifer G, you bet can do this!! Your going to love being a mama and I have started praying specifically for your precious daughter!

Luciana your prayers, scripture, sweet emails and comments are a blessing! And as for the socks...... I can make you some! Just let me know what size and colors and give me a few weeks (kinda tied up right now lol) But I would be happy to do this for you!

Sharyn and the rest of the teachers, XXOXO

Sharon and Melody, you've prayed for us from the very first day! Thank you!

Jennifer S, thanks for everything! Will never forget the day we found out how sick Ivy was in China and you prayed with me on the phone. We were complete strangers and you stayed up until midnight just to pray with me! Love you friend!!!

Pete, I will pray for your sweet friend at work, that she would feel the love of Jesus so deeply that she just can't deny it! She is so loved!

Laurie, Chrystal, Gina R, Brandy and the whole J family, Diana, Jill, Natalie, Tina B, Bryan M, Chris, Jenna, Claire... We feel your daily prayers and God has answered! We love you all so much!

There are so many of you to thank, most of you I have never met yet you continue to lift us up every single day!!!! This red thread, this family God created for all of us, I could never be worthy of , never! I love you all, So Thank you!!!