I'm back and fairly refreshed from a decent sleep. Doug, not so much... Fiona is doing great this morning. She got the catheter out (we can all appreciate that one) and she was detached from all of the leads so she can feel a little freer to move around. She just has the one IV that is delivering our much loved Fentanyl and Valium. It's 11:00am and we have already seen the neurosurgical resident (Dr. Park is not here this weekend) and they have written the orders for her to be transferred to the Neurosurgical unit. The doctors are in the process of rounds, so we are in lock-down in the PICU for another 1/2 hour or so. She has been chugalugging water by mouth, and I just gave her some applejuice in the tube, to see how her stomach will tolerate food. We should be able to get back on her regular feeding schedule by the end of today.
Fiona's is awake albeit very dozy. The head of her bed has been raised and she is enjoying one episode after another of Caillou. She's lying on her back! I expected her to be face-down for 3 days, so I'm not sure what to make of this. It's probably only happening because the meds are working. Our nurse, Holly, plans to give her a little bath before she leaves the PICU. Another sunny day is shining through Fiona's window. What a difference that makes!
Doug's flight is at 4:30pm. We just found out there is a train that is 2 blocks away from the hospital, that Doug can catch straight to the airport. How great is that?! The rental car will stay in the hospital parking lot with all Fiona's and my gear. Today and tomorrow will probably be pretty quiet and lonely without Doug. So that's when I'll pull out some of the paperwork I brought along - I'll get some stuff done during the down time.
Fiona's is awake albeit very dozy. The head of her bed has been raised and she is enjoying one episode after another of Caillou. She's lying on her back! I expected her to be face-down for 3 days, so I'm not sure what to make of this. It's probably only happening because the meds are working. Our nurse, Holly, plans to give her a little bath before she leaves the PICU. Another sunny day is shining through Fiona's window. What a difference that makes!
Doug's flight is at 4:30pm. We just found out there is a train that is 2 blocks away from the hospital, that Doug can catch straight to the airport. How great is that?! The rental car will stay in the hospital parking lot with all Fiona's and my gear. Today and tomorrow will probably be pretty quiet and lonely without Doug. So that's when I'll pull out some of the paperwork I brought along - I'll get some stuff done during the down time.
I received Fiona's PT schedule first thing this morning, along with a recommendation to make sure the nurses give her Tylenol 1/2 hour before. I think that first one is going to be rough.
So here's the schedule:
Monday: 8:00am (at bedside) and 3:00pm (4th floor)
During the morning session, they will train me on how to transfer her from the bed to the wheelchair, then I have to do it myself for the afternoon session.
Tuesday: 4th floor gym 10:00am and 2:00pm
I bring her to both PT sessions and she will be able to go to the playroom this day!
Wednesday: one 90-minute PT session in the morning
Discharge will be between 10 and 11:00am.
O.K. gotta go, they are ready to transfer Fiona to Neurosurgery.
Chris
We've been thinking of your family and are so glad the procedure went well. Thanks for sharing your journey with us. We look forward to hearing about Fiona's progress.
ReplyDeleteColin, Marla & Danica
Hi Guys, glad to hear you're managing to get some rest, tag-teaming in that bed-side chair..and what a fierce team you make.
ReplyDeleteChris, the schedule looks solid, moving ahead quickly onto the therapy part. The staff sounds to be on the ball, so it's a comfort knowing you'll have their support for next few days until Doug gets back. I'm sure the nurses are quickly bonding with you personally as a family. How could they help themselves, really?
So great to hear that Fiona is already ahead of schedule, sleeping on her back and chillin' with DVDs. Way to go Fiona, keep that fire burning! You'll be home soon, until then sing with Caillou:
My world is turning
Changing each day
With Mommy and Daddy
And finding my way!
Doug, this one's for you. You ask in your previous late night entry, "And me here, telling you whom I mightn't even know. What will you make of this disclosure?" This may have been more of a rhetorical question, but I will answer it anyways. I think those of us who know you understand how deeply those feelings of loss go and just how much you miss Michaela Grace. We also know you are an empathic person to have paused and shared in that Mother's grief. We know you have a true artistic soul, even in how you describe your grief and hope so beautifully through words and pictures. And now a growing number of new friends know it too.
It is obvious to everyone what amazing parents you both are and that the now is YOUR time for healing, for a positive outcome and a bright future!
Wow, sorry for the long blog..how much capacity do we have on this site? We may need to order a whole new "intarnets" to store all this huge love. :)
Hugs, Lore