Peanut's Update

The last 24 hours have been both physically and emotionally exhausting. Peanut is doing pretty well. They did take her breathing tube out and she is breathing on her own and pretty well I might add. She does have the help of the baby elephant contraption if she needs it, but they are very pleased with her progress.
She seemed very uncomfortable and struggling a little yesterday but she seems better today. They did x ray her chest and the comment was her x ray looks "stellar". So although the progress is slow she appears to be doing well. I might actually get to hold her this afternoon. I can not tell you how excited I am about this.
Last night Phil and I had an opportunity to attend a meeting for Levine's Cardiac Kids. There was a guest speaker who was a local pediatrician she had lots of good information. Not only for Maddie but for Katie and Jack as siblings of a cardiac kid. It was difficult though. All of these parents are much further along in their journey than we are. I found myself just sitting in the back of the group crying. The parents there just kept reminding us it will get better.
When we got back to Maddie's room she was struggling to adjust to the breathing without the machine and I was afraid she would go backwards. Right now I only have the energy to go forwards even if it is very slowly.
I also found out that she has lost so much weight that she is only about a pound more than her birth weight. The nurses have been incredible and keep reminding me that she will never remember any of this and we will be more emotionally scared than she will. All in all Maddie really is making great strides. They are upping her feedings and just letting her be status quo for the weekend to gain some strength back.
A special thanks to Justine. Almost 20 years of friendship and you still always seem to make my world right again when I need it. I hope some day I can repay the favor.