Okay, so it was DC, and not Bangkok. I’m running out of creative update titles.

Tiptoe did well last night, according to M. When I left yesterday evening they were concerned about the following things:

1) Urine output was not where it should be, which might have been an indication of kidney stress. After they removed the catheter, she didn’t go pee for hours and hours; they increased her volume (saline solution, potassium bicarbonate, albumin). I’m told that’s no longer a worry.

2) They were going to remove one of the lines connected to her heart. From what I understand, this would have required a visit from a surgeon, even though the procedure is just pulling a plastic tube out of the skin. It was decided that since they’re going to change her bandages today, they’d wait on pulling that out ’til then. I am encouraged that we’re working with such sensible human beings. 🙂

3) The big concern last night was drainage from the chest tubes. Apparently, there was a lot more than is normal. When she had her Norwood two years ago, she had a problem with chylothorax which kept her in the hospital for an extra two weeks while they tried to resolve it. It’s possible she’s experiencing that again. Drainage slowed down overnight, though, so we’re hoping for the very best.

They told us that they’re hoping to move her out of the cardiac intensive care unit to the normal heart unit today or tomorrow. She’s no longer on any of the drugs (dopamine) that help her heart contract; she’s on oxygen still, but they’ve just put a mask near her face to waft oxygen at her. They also said that they want her to move around a bit today– I think that means *walking*. I’m am all kinds of excited to see my baby girl up and walking.

In other news: HURRICANE? Are you kidding me? The earthquake wasn’t enough? M and I are planning on spending the night in the hospital.