Day of Dialysis

It's just after 2:30 AM, and I am sitting here watching all the little machines working on/monitoring Willow Grace as she watches episodes of My Friends Tigger and Pooh on DVD. (Why oh why did they decide to take that show off of Playhouse Disney!?!) So far she's seemed a bit dazed and has responded very little. And I wonder what is going through that sweet little mind. I know she doesn't understand what has happened/is happening to her, and she's just trying to focus on something familiar like her beloved Tigger. She has had neither anything to eat nor a bath since Tuesday, and I know that adds to her level of comfort.

Saturday morning, we started out thinking that we'd be going through another day of observation, and I hoped to get a nap in somewhere since I'd only taken in about three hours of sleep Friday night. However, it wasn't long before we were informed that Willow Grace had not progressed like we had hoped and dialysis was needed. The surgical team and the picc line team was called, and around 2 PM we all headed down for surgery. They put in a picc line and pernineal catheter, and the surgery went very well. Not long after we were back in our room, and they were preparing the dialysis machine. For now, the treatment is continuous. That little dialysis machine is putting in a lot of work!

While standing there watching her little groggy face, the fact that I had not eaten all day and the tension I'd been feeling finally caught up to me, and I felt the world begin to spin just a bit. My lovely Moma, my mother-in-law, Donitta, my sweet Aunt Ruby, and my dear friend, CB, were all on hand to make sure I rested and that Chris and I finally got some food in us. The blessings of strong, Godly women are immeasurable.

For now, we're just talking all of this a day, an hour, a moment at a time. The docs have said that we'll be here at least another 10-14 days. Interestingly enough, the nurse on duty tonight has a daughter who had HUS when she was about Willow Grace's age. They where in the hospital for six weeks. That was about 20 years ago, and we are praying for a speedy recovery and a much shorter stay!

Our God is faithful and true. I feel peace knowing that He is holding her in His mighty hands which are so much for capable than mine or any doctor's. While it's amazing to me, I can rest in the truth that He loves her so much more than even I do. Healing is hers and ours, and I'm thanking God for the mighty work that He has begun in her and is carrying on to completion. I will ever praise Him!

Willow Grace Wednesday

Just two shots this week. The battery on the camera fizzled, and we can't find the charger! Erg! I'm sure it will turn up when we least expect it.

Willow Grace loves her Winnie the Pooh armchair. We moved it down to the living room from her room so she could get more use out of it. Look at that orange nose! It looks like it's time to lay off the carrots!

And so ends another busy day! It's so cute when she falls asleep in her high chair. After her veggies, she held out long enough to eat two chocolate Teddy Grahams!

Here's hoping your Wednesday is happy!

A New Thing

I think I'm going to start a new Wednesday thing next week -- Willow Grace Wednesday. I always have pictures of her that I want to post, but I want to try to have some kind of limit on myself. Willow Grace Wednesday seems like a good option; you can't beat alliteration!

So, I know it's not Wednesday, but I'm going to go ahead and post a few from recent weeks today. I guess you can just call this a jump start.

The theme of our nursery is Winnie the Pooh, and Willow Grace truly loves all of her Hundred Acre friends. She received this Winnie the Pooh Super Sleuths riding toy for her birthday from her Gran-Gran and Pop Reed. She loves it! (I can't help but add a side comment here about how cute my hubby is! And what a great daddy, too!)

Just as much as she loves riding it in, she loves pushing it.


"I can do it myself, Daddy!"


I couldn't resist adding a couple pics of her sleeping. She fell asleep mid-bite!


Our little Houdini! She's trying once again to escape the barriers we've set up in the living room. Too bad she got stuck!