More Changes

Here in isolation another day is passing. It held some good news...an x-ray showed that Amanda's lung is healing great and there were no complications with the removal of the chest tube yesterday. Awesome.

We also enjoyed some hours with a friendly face from home...Amanda & Caleb's English teacher, Brad Clemmons and his family are in Houston visiting family and he braved the bio-hazard gear and spent some time with us today. It was a great visit made even better by the gift of a pizza delivery that he provided. We truly appreciated his visit and the thoughtfulness.

The reality of our day held some other news. Previous cultures were negative for viral infections; however, they did not test for bacterial. So, we are now in a 10 day incubation period before Amanda can be cleared. They are counting that she has probably been "incubating" for five days now (based on when the sample was taken and the fevers)so they have decided that she must be isolated for at least 5 more days plus give three "clear" spit samples. She is receiving IV antibiotics and will complete the course of those before she is released. Thankfully, she is feeling good and is stronger everyday and for that we are the most grateful.

Unfortunately, this flu is a real threat and when I took Caleb back to the hotel last night, it was clear my son was not feeling well. The flu hit him overnight. He has spent today in bed with a fever and can not come back to Amanda's room. Abby and I are still able to be here because we do not (yet) show any signs of it. But, in reality we are probably "incubating" as well and so Larry and I needed to make some decisions.

Larry is going to fly down here tomorrow - germ free - and stay with Amanda. I am flying Caleb, Abby and I (masked) back to Columbia. We can't risk giving germs back to Amanda. This is the safest thing to do for all the kids.

Once again I am feeling the pain of being a mother divided between the needs of her precious children. This is another part of this journey that never gets any easier.

Today they switched us to blue gowns and masks. The ducks are now big, blue blobs at the end of the isolation hall.

From the 9th floor Isolation Room & a hotel, not far away,

Amanda Joy, Abby, Caleb and me