Daniel was discharged around 5:45 this evening.
Details tomorrow.
Category Archives: Faith
The Simple Woman’s Daybook: March 14, 2011
FOR TODAY March 14, 2011
Outside my window… dark. My laptop was refusing to start this morning so I had to wait until now to post.
I am thinking… about the Lovenox shots that I’ll be giving for the next few months to Daniel because of the blood clot in his leg caused by the central line. I’m also somewhat terrified that he’s not going to pass his swallow study and end up going home on the feeding tube.
I am thankful for… Daniel being on the peds ward now, for my laptop working, for Mom being empathetic, for the charge nurse snuggling Daniel for much of today, and for the student nurses entertaining him in the playroom.
From the kitchen… still eating hospital food.
I am wearing… my We Will Not Be Silent shirt and my penguin pajama bottoms.
I am creating… a baby blanket for Lent (which I really should work on) and this entry.
I am going… home with Daniel hopefully Wednesday but definitely by the end of this week.
I am reading… A Decadent Way to Die by G.A. McKevett
I am hoping… Daniel passes his swallow study tomorrow.
I am hearing… Daniel’s roommate screaming (justifiably — the poor kid had corrective surgery that involved bones today)
Around the house… haven’t been home in 2 weeks
One of my favorite things… my shower at the Ronald McDonald House today.
A few plans for the rest of the week: hopefully going home with Daniel
Here is picture for thought I am sharing… Daniel and I in the playroom.
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Flattened (VIII)
[+] Daniel had a grumpy day yesterday in which he was really irritated when he was awake. This might be just him feeling sick and having less meds in him to make him happy, it might be the weaning off the drugs he was on when he was on the ventilator, or it could just be him feeling icky. It was hard for me because I couldn’t really do anything to calm him down.
[+] Speech therapy came when he was trying to go back down for a nap so he didn’t pass his swallow test. Hopefully, he’ll pass it today so he can start having bottles and stuff by mouth.
[+] He’s getting his central line (the IV in the artery in his groin) out today and may be able to move to a regular pediatrics unit. This is both a good thing and something that is terrifying me. It also means that he’ll be starting on Lovenox shots and he may have to go home on those. Please pray that he doesn’t — I’m not feeling good vibrations about having to give him shots.
[+] I’m menstrual so I’m hyper-emotional. This is meaning that I’m sitting here in the cafeteria wanting to cry about all of this. I’m used to life on the PICU (as bizarre as that sounds) and I’m terrified of change. I think I’m also terrified of taking Daniel home and doing this on my own. (I just gave in and got some chocolate. At breakfast.)
Flattened (VII)
Argh…
[+] I didn’t get to sleep until almost 11 last night and while coming back from the bathroom at 2 a.m., I nearly got flattened by a horde of medical personnel racing into the PICU as a CODE BLUE was called over the PA system. I knew it wasn’t my kid but it was still a rather adrenalinated experience. Then, the respiratory dude decided to rearrange furniture in the room at 4 a.m. by getting rid of the ventilator and two helium-oxygen tanks… in the loudest manner possible. I decided that I would get breakfast at 6 a.m. if I was still awake… which I was. At least the x-ray tech was kind enough to hand me a lead apron to put over myself when he came in at 5:30 instead of making me get out of bed.
[+] It’s Mardi Gras today so I got my pancakes this morning. (It’s an Anglican thing.)
[+] A 17 year old on the MSICU (the major surgery ICU unit next door where the older kids are going for overflow purposes) got life support pulled this morning. His mother begged me to love up my baby, give him a hug for her, and make sure I told him how much I loved him every day. OK… a little bit of an emotional load there. I just found out that the baby at the opposite end of the PICU is brain dead and they’re probably going to have to pull support in the next couple days. His mom and I have gotten close so I held her in the quiet room while she made some phone calls. It’s tough for me because that could have easily been Daniel. The social worker on the unit told me last week that this happens and that I’ve got to fight the fear. For those who pray, add the families of Zach (17 year old) and Jonathan B (almost 3 years old) to your list.
[+] Daniel has a blood clot in his leg from the central line so they’re starting him on Heparin. We knew it was a possible side effect and the therapeutic benefit of the line outweighed the risk of the clot. I’m hoping they get this resolved before they send him home because I am not wanting to deal with having to give him shots.
Gah. Going to try and take a nap. I need Edda right now. I wish I could sneak her on the unit.
Flattened (VI)
I’m not totally flattened anymore — I’m just really spacey from my sleep being so disturbed.
[+] Daniel got extubated today. (Translation: no more ventilator and no more breathing tube.) He’s also being weaned off his sedatives which means that he’s getting more aware and thus able to participate in more mischief and mayhem. I forsee restraints in his future, especially tomorrow, if they can’t get a peds crib in here.
[+] Mr. Blue Eyes has gained about 6 lbs in fluid in the last week, mostly in his right leg and groin region from his central line. I couldn’t believe how heavy he was when I was cuddling him tonight. Diaper changes are going to be a blast until the fluid build-up clears. It’s good that we stocked up on size 4 diapers!!!
[+] When I came back from dinner, there was a Baby Looney Tunes DVD on. The nurse (who I wasn’t totally fond of like I am of most of the staff on the unit) explained that he did better with music. I decided to break out the iTunes so we’ve been chilling to Anonymous 4 and Fernando Ortega tonight. It’s given me some chances to sing to him. Our night nurse is all in favor and she is doting on him like nothing else. (She’d like to take him home thankyouverymuch, especially after the little monster batted his eyes at her.)
Tubes? We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Tubes!
Daniel got his breathing tube out at 2 p.m. today. He is now plotting ways to remove his oxygen mask.
The Simple Woman’s Daybook: March 7, 2011
FOR TODAY March 7, 2011
Outside my window… sunny after serious rain yesterday.
I am thinking… about a million things like the fact that the hospital cafeteria is overrun with teenagers to Daniel’s extubation (getting his breathing tube out this afternoon).
I am thankful for… Daniel being 180 degrees from where he was after my last Daybook post. Also thankful for the Ronald McDonald House here where I’m going to get a shower this afternoon.
From the kitchen… eating out of the hospital cafeteria and trying not to gain weight.
I am wearing… brown shirt, jeans, black hoodie.
I am creating… this entry and a baby blanket which may go to one of three babies to be born in May or to one of two charities.
I am going… back up to the PICU in a bit.
I am reading… The Alpine Decoy by Mary Daheim.
I am hoping… things keep improving for Daniel.
I am hearing… voices in the cafeteria.
Around the house… I haven’t been home in more than a week.
One of my favorite things… the nurses and RT and I turning Daniel on his tummy last night. Five 20 and 30-somethings fussing over him — I am afraid of the portent it shows for the future.
A few plans for the rest of the week: getting to meet Kym for the first time in person tomorrow, hanging with my little bear
Here is picture for thought I am sharing… It’s an edit from the last entry. I cut out a picture of my hands around Daniel’s hand. I have little china doll hands but mine are big compared to his. You can see some fingers and also the thumb where they have his pulse-ox.
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