10-8 @ 8:12 p.m.

Katie has been more agitated today. That's a good sign but not good when she gets where she's about to start ripping at the respirator. They sedated her slightly a few hours ago. Her head goes back and forth in discomfort but she mostly doesn't awake. It's not easy to watch but remains a good sign. Katie can come off the respirator after she can protect her airway and breathe effectively. This morning her breathing test was about 40 per minute. She needs to be at more like 15. On the upside she can cough - a good sign for protection of airways.

The three biggest concerns at present:
1) Katie's fever is back up. Could be from the wounds, digestion issues, etc. But it also suggests concerns about # 2.
2) It's not good to be intubated for more than about 6 days -- raises the risk of infection. If that becomes a concern, a tracheotomy would become necessary. Obviously, that's not desired. Doctors may be coming to the point in the next day or so of making that recommendation.
3) Katie still isn't absorbing any food or medicine. They can't really give her too many medications to induce bowel activity because those meds also increase the risk of arrhythmia.

I was just back there and she was appearing agitated again. I began singing and she calmed instantly. I'm guessing because she was hoping that if she held still I would stop. I ran through the bedtime songs for my kids: Home on the Range, Goober Peas, the Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly, and Hole in the Bottom of the Sea as well as a mashup of Streets of Loredo and Get Along Little Doggie. Tomorrow we may bring her ipod so she can hear some proper singing.

I'm flying home tomorrow for a bit. Thank-you again for all of the ongoing support from everyone near and far. Luke is here until Saturday; Mom and Dad are making arrangements to be here longer and Dad will work from here for awhile. Keep coming back to us Katie!