FRIDAY, 7/14/07; 10:30 AM

Gracie is doing better each day. They removed her ventilator and stomach draining tube from her mouth at about 4:30 pm yesteray. It has been so good to smooch her little lips again!! I was able to give her a bottle with a few ounces of water w/a little apple juice flavoring this morning and she loved it! She is still super groggy but they stopped the pain meds that were making her so sleepy. So, she should start to wake up a bit more today. They were FINALLY able to remove her two chest tubes that were inserted during surgery and a few other tubes. Yeah!!! She still has her tube inserted into the lining of her lungs and that is still draining quite a bit of fluid so will stay for now. She still has several other tubes and IV's but some of those may also come out today. Still have no clue right now as to when she will be released. I don't really have any hopes for a Sunday release any longer, which is what the "average" recovery time would have been. But the doctors know what is best and we certainly wouldn't want to take her home until she is COMPLETELY ready. Thanks again for your continued prayers!