More Progress!

About 2AM last night, or this morning, the stitches came out and the first set of chest tubes came out. The word on the unit is that the second set of tubes is due to come out today. Poor Dr. Duffy was in surgery most of the day and into the night (hence the 2 AM removal), so I hope he found a nice quiet, dark, SECRET hole to crawl into and catch a few winks. I hear that July is when all of the new interns start, so it can be a bit rough on the fellows. Later in the day yesterday, the nurses said Gabriel is tentatively set to come off the ventilator Thursday!! His rate this morning is down to 15, which can't really get any lower. Yesterday when I watched him breathing, you could tell it was harder work for him, but he was still resting really well. It's so strange because I expected him to look like he was working even harder to breathe this morning, but he doesn't. He looks more peaceful and he has even less support. Hopefully that means those extra muscles are picking up the slack of the diaphragm and we won't have to worry about reintubation, once he comes off of the vent. Don't know, just my own thoughts. I guess they did wean his sedation a bit yesterday, I just didn't notice! He is now down to 30 mics of morphine (that is the same) and 30 of the versed (that is the one that dropped). He had to have a little extra pain medicine when the stitches and tubes were removed (duh!) but other than that, he hasn't needed anything. He's tough! Neonatology hasn't rounded yet, so I want to get back there, so I don't miss them. Thanks for the comments and the cards (can't say that enough), they really perk up the spirits - although honestly, Gabriel's progress is the best pick-me-up anyone could ask for! Josh and the boys will be in Evansville for the fourth and Gabe and I will be here, kind of a bummer but the consolation is knowing we will all celebrate together next year (awwww...how's that for sappy?)