'I would really like to go home at some point'

We are still in hospital. Catherine is feeling much better in herself but she still has a temperature so we cannot leave the hospital until Monday at the earliest. However, earlier this evening the thermometer said Catherine had a temperature of 38.9 even though she was not flushed or extremely hot. After further investigation the nurses found that the thermometer was not working correctly and her temperature was only 37! We are now not quite sure what temperature she is, but we will still have to stay in hospital until her temperature settles.

We still do not know what has caused the infection but thankfully her neutrophils (the part of the blood that fights infection) are now going up.

Her haemoglobin levels have taken a big hit and have gone down from 9.2 - 7.8 in the last few days. This means she will need a blood transfusion tomorrow. She is also receiving a potassium supplement, as they found that the levels of potassium in her blood were down. Catherine liked this one the first time she had it, as it was bright girly pink medicine. The second time, though, we needed to bribe her with a fruit pastille as it tasted so foul the first time. Poor thing.

The doctor thought Catherine was really sweet today when she said, 'I would really like to go home at some point'. She told her she thought it was a very grown up thing to say. Catherine felt shy that she had been overheard!

Tomorrow when she has her blood transfusion her energy levels will most likely increase dramatically. Usually this would be fine, but in isolation in a small room we imagine she will be climbing the walls when she gets some new found energy!

Please pray that the infection is quickly resolved and that she is well enough to leave the hospital in the next couple of days. She really wants to go home, and whilst we have been coping with DVD's and story books, she will REALLY want to go home after the blood transfusion.