It's a Fun-Go

Amelia is now in surgery. We will update post-op. We have her Aunt Pat, Grandmom Banker, and Aunt Marian are here as our support team. And I know she has all of you out there, too.

UPDATE : 5:00pm
Amelia was brought back to the pod about 4pm. Christina went to go call the surgery center and ran into one of the surgeons getting off the elevator with a latte in his hand - so that's how we found out it was done. She did great through the surgery without any of the "dreaded" complications we had dreamed about. They even extubated her in the OR and she's on a CPAP of 6lpm and 50% O2, which is great. The morphine they give her for the pain in a bit of a breathing inhibitor, so they are going to try to keep the doses as low as possible and use Tylenol for the extra pain killing boost. She is very uncomfortable still, but not in a rage - still woozy and sleepy. Christina is patting her, but we are also trying to keep from stimulating her a lot, wanting her to rest and just breathe. She's on the cusp of CPAP and vent, but is doing very well. If she doesn't tire out out tonight, I think she will not have to be intubated. They are going to start her on a half dose of steroids (5 days) to help the heal the inflammation in her throat. By tomorrow evening, that will kick in, and we know how well she reacts to her 'roids... so we have plenty of good reasons to think that she will stay on CPAP and back on canulla soon.

As of now, they are going to start her regular feeds tomorrow evening, return to bolus feeds every 4 hours, starting small and building back up to full feeds.

Thank you all again for all the prayers, masses, cards, gifts, and support you shown her and Xina and I. Things are much easier to bear at the top of the pyramid with such a strong foundation beneath us. (I don't mean that we are "above" you in the socioeconomic sense - only in the supportive sense.

(She's down to 40% o2 already).

9pm update - all is well. Amelia is sleeping peacefully after a renewed dose of morphine. 30-34% FIO2.