Tuesday Morning (No, not the discount store)

Considering the number of text messages I'm getting, it must be time for an update.

Kiara had a quiet and restful night.  Of course, that's pretty easy when you're sedated.  She had a couple of episodes where her blood pressure dropped, but they pumped in some additional fluids and the pressure came back up.

One of the dangers from massive blood loss is that the brain could become damaged due to lack of oxygen.  This was a concern for the doctors here.  But, the ICU nurses said they were able to give Kiara basic instructions (e.g., wiggle your foot) and she responded appropriately even through the sedation.  She also answered questions about pain level.  Hence, she has been declared "neurologically intact."  Yes, this is great news.

Today, they are going to add start Kiara on Plavix.  This is an anti-coagulant meant to prevent blood clots.  She will be on this medication the rest of her life.  She will also be on antibiotics to prevent an infection at the stent site.

Once the Plavix starts, they will need to closely monitor to make sure there isn't additional bleeding.  If there isn't any, and Kiara seems to be tolerating the meds, they will reduce the Propofol and bring her out from sedation.  Then we'll likely have the discussion when to take her off the breathing tube.

All of this will be happening over the course of today.  I will post some updates if/when things change.

For those worried about me, thank you.  I have a room at my favored motel, and I slept like a baby last night.  That's right - I woke up every two hours.

True confessions - I typically avoid big, corporate, chain restaurants, preferring small local places.  But it was late when I got to the hotel last night and there are several big-name places right around.  So, I walked down to the Chevy's next door and had some incredibly mediocre fajitas while I watched the last few minutes of the Bears/Jets game.  I even had a couple of beers (Negra Modelo).  I was only going to have one, but found I needed a second when I had to physically restrain myself from asking the young man at the table next to me if he could like use the word "like" like another like 1,000 times in his like conversation with the young woman who was like sitting at the table with him and who was not, like despite his best efforts, going to like sleep with him.

Sigh...Old, tired, and cranky is not a good combination.

Love to all.  Be back soon.
-Kelly