Jillian Update

Jill left the ICU late Friday night for the Pediatric Ward. Unfortunately, she cried most of the night after she was taken off morphine and put on a weaker pain killer. So Judy and Jill got about two hours of sleep that night. It wasn't until around midday on Saturday that Jill was put back on morphine after Judy pleaded with the nurse (actually the second nurse...the first nurse asked to be relieved of his duties in Jill's room after becoming frustrated with Judy...I side with Judy). So the rest of Saturday went better for Jill.



Last night Jill woke up around 2:30 and didn't sleep much the rest of the night. So her and Judy were very tired today. Jill is now off morphine and is not having as much discomfort. However, she has been running a fever, as high as 103 at one point. Last I heard it was coming down. Apparently, fevers sometimes are caused by having too much "gunk" in the lungs. We are praying that this isn't the case for Jill. Her lungs may still be somewhat compromised from being so limited at birth. Any type of chest congestion could be much more severe for her.


On a postive note, Jill had her first bowel movement tonight. This may not sound that exciting, but this morning her nurse told Judy to "pray for poop." This is a sign that her bowels have started functioning again after shutting down with surgery and morphine treatments. Now Jill can probably start getting nutrition in her stomach since she will be able to pass it through. She is being watched now to see if she has any difficulty passing the normal stomach secretions without any gagging/retching. Judy reported to me tonight that Jill was experiencing some of this (with clear spitup, possibly saliva from her throat). So we will see when she will actually be able to eat.


Please pray that Jill's fever will subside, that her gagging/retching will end, and that she will be able to eat. Once this happens, we hear that it is likely she will be able to come home within two days. Also, please pray for Judy as she is very tired and stressed out over Jill's recovery. I have had difficulty being in Jill's hospital room for a couple of hours. Judy has been there nearly 48 hours straight, minus about 45 minutes spent in the cafeteria today for lunch with Katelyn and me.