Day 6...Happy 1st Birthday Kassey!!

I know this is Kyara's carepage, but we do have two other girls, too. I think Kassey's first birthday is a day that we cannot ignore. You only turn one once, and as I am learning, making memories is what life is all about. My mother says that to me. When Skylar and Kyara had a picnic in Skylar's bed last week before we came up here, I was a little annoyed that they took food out of the kitchen and into Skylar's top bunk bed. They were having such a good time, though, and my mom said to me "Making memories." How true. When Kyara is well, I will be the first to make a picnic in Skylar's bed for them! Anyway, even though I didn't feel much like celebrating, we had a party in Kyara's hospital room. Kassey LOVED the cake (as you can see in the picture) and Skylar loved helping Kassey open a few gifts. ChildLife, an organization here at the hospital, brought Kassey a couple of gifts and balloons, too. They are so good to us here!

Kyara seemed more relaxed for most of the day today. Her muscles were not as tight, and she seemed more at peace earlier today. This afternoon a nurse that specializes in putting in PIC lines came in. She used ultrasound to find a good vein in Kyara right arm and tried twice. Each time she got in the vein but was unable to thread the guide wire through it, so she will come back tomorrow and try again. When they are putting in PIC lines they sedate Kyara so that she will not move, so when Dan and neurology came in, Kyara was still very sedated. It was hard to get a good assessment of her today. Overall, they felt she had better control of her muscles and movements were more controlled. This is good. Kyara is still not tracking with her eyes or consistently responding to demands. I just FEEL that she is in there and can't quite get out. Tonight when the nurses were giving her a bath, Kyara was MAD. Her heartrate increase, her blood pressure rose, and she was moving all over the bed. Her legs were going and her arms were going. She wanted out of there. She was moving her head and although she was still not tracking with her eyes, I was surprised by the movment she had. This is by far the most movement she has had.

Some not so good news tonight, though. I am not sure what it may mean, but Kyara has started to have clonus again. When we stretch her foot up into dorsiflexion (away from pressing the gas, like lifting up her toes), her foot and lower leg shakes. She was doing this a couple of days ago and it had stopped and now she is doing it again. As I said, I am not sure what it means, but I know the neurologist made note that she had stopped doing it. Hopefully it is not a bad sign. I think all of the other posititive signs outweigh this potentially negative one, anyway.

You know, I think God places people in your life to help you when you need it most. I feel this way about some of the nurses here, Tedra and Julie - who have asked to come in on their days off to take care of Kyara. I know God put Dan back in Kyara's life to help her - and me! He is so positive and pushy, he believes in Kyara and the potential for recovery and I find myself really relying on hearing this from him. He has been such a comfort and I look forward to him coming in each day to see Kyara and bring the energy of recovery! Dr. Tony, who took care of Kyara in November and December came in to see her today (he is doing a rotation with adults now). Seeing him was a breath of fresh air, too. Kyara had a crush on Dr. Tony. She liked the way he would wave to her. She was so cute about it.

Well, we are still in the waiting game. Thank you all for the information on rehab centers. We will continue to research our options. We are such a blessed family and we are completely overwhelmed by the love that has been shown to our family. I know that some of you have tried calling, we may or may not have answered. Please understand that this has been very difficult and talking is extremely hard. We love you all and we will try to return calls when we feel we can do so without breaking down into tears.

Thank you for the prayers and please continue them. Please also keep Dee, my sister-in-law's mother, in your prayers. She had open heart surgery today. We have a long way to go and need the help from the Big Man Upstairs!