Mom's Update

Courtney was once again 'agitated' and fully alert this morning.

I played a DVD of her favorite show, Jon & Kate Plus 8, which she watched intently. It settled her down for a little while but then she seemed to be in pain so the nurse gave her medication.

She is sleeping comfortably now.

When she is awake both her eyes are wide open. The nerve damage on the right seems to be healing on its own as we haven't noticed any weakness or drooping on that side of her face.

She was lifting her head off the pillow again this morning - another sign that she is gaining strength.

Her face was beat red at one point this morning - her fighting Irish coming through.

Later today she will sit at the edge of the bed again and then be seated on her 'throne'. That's the pink chair that Courtney sits in looking out the window and at the cards hanging on the walls by the window.

Nurse Missy inserted a peripheral IV into Courtney's hand. If the IV stays and works well over the next 24 hours they will remove the main line along with the chest tube tomorrow.

Doctors may try to 'cork' the trachea later today allowing air to pass through her throat and mouth which will allow her to make more sounds. She seems to be trying to make sounds now.

Katy will be home by Thursday and I'm sure - as she did with Claudia - it will be a moment of staring and inner peace for Courtney to see her sister again.