Home Sweet Home

Emma was discharged this morning and we were on the road by 10:30am.  It was a great feeling to be headed home for Emma’s birthday.  I’ve gotten tons of awesome photos from so many people today and I can’t wait to put them all together and make a birthday book for Emma. 

I can’t go any further without expressing how thankful I am for Children’s Mercy Hospital and for the amazing staff that  cared for Emma over the last 8 days.  I am tempted to start naming names, but I know that I would forget somebody and wouldn’t want to leave a single person out.  Doctors and nurses, we appreciate you so much and give thanks for all that you do. 

Her first time in the sunshine in over a week.  My sweet birthday girl.

I also have pictures of Emma with a couple of her nurses, but they are Drew’s phone and I don’t have the energy to retrieve them right now.  I do, however, have pictures from this evening.  Emma did great in the car, mostly just in a daze and taking it easy.  She was so very happy to be home and we were all so happy to see Alex.  It just about put tears in my eyes to see my girls together again.  They laid on the couch beside each other for the longest time… just content to be side by side. 

Alex is still quite concerned about Emma and is being super sweet to her.  Drew ran to Wal-Mart to fill Emma’s pain med prescription and also grabbed a few basic groceries.  Well, basics and this…

She can’t eat it, but it’s Justin Beiber.  Come on, what 7 year old girl wouldn’t want a Justin Beiber birthday cake?  Alex (and daddy) helped her blow the candle out. 

And flowers from Daddy.

Just the 4 of us, together again. 

The dogs.  Oh, the dogs.  I can’t tell you the joy I got from Emma’s smile when we let the dogs in.  They were so sweet to her and she thought it was hilarious when he licked her face. 

She just laughed and laughed.  No teeth?  No matter.  She is absolutely beautiful.  Laughing so hard that her eyes were closed :)

Now, I think I told you that Drew promised Emma a bunny for her birthday.  That didn’t happen today (thought it probably will in the next few days) so we improvised.  It’s a very rare Shitzu bunny.

And the gentlest of the improvised bunny breeds… our sweet Toto

We all got a good giggle from our sweet dogs (though Foose wouldn’t cooperate long enough for a picture)  For the record, he wasn’t licking her mouth, just checking her out. 

Enough excitement.  This was the scene by 5:30pm

Em was in bed by 6:15, Britt brought us dinner about 6:30, Alex was in bed by 8 and I’m thinking that Drew and I will both be snoozing shortly.  I literally can’t wait to sleep in my own bed.  Alex had a great time with Grandpa John and Alison and we are so grateful that she was well cared for had such fun while Drew and I were with Emma. Thank you all for your prayers during the last 8 days.  Prayer is a powerful and our God does amazing things.  We are blessed to have our little girl comfortable enough to be home and we do not take a single day with her for granted.  God is good all the time, and all the time God is good.  Can I get an Amen?! 

A little Birdie

Emma is still doing awesome. She has been awake a lot and she is charming doctors and nurses with her big blue eyes and beautiful smile. She is still getting some pain medicine for her mouth, but other than that she is only getting her normal medications. Praise God!
A little birdie told me that Neuro has noted she can go home TODAY! Please send up a prayer for her continued comfort and recovery and that discharge today will actually happen. There are sever storms on the way for today and tomorrow, so I'm praying the discharge process happens quickly and we can get on the road and home before it gets bad. NWA is expecting 8 inches of rain in a very short period of time and I would very much like to have my entire family home and safe before that happens.
Today is my sweet Emma's birthday and since she was awake at midnight, the nurses serenaded her with Happy Birthday. Our favorite night nurse, Mindy, (who happens to be my personality twin) brought her the sassiest headband... with one for Alex, too. We have been so very blessed during this hospital stay and give thanks for Emma's well being and each and every person we have met while here. As I always say, God is Good!

Wahoo!

It's 8am and I told you it was going to be a better day... The breathing tube is out and all is going great! Breathing on her own!

Long night

It's 5:18am and it's been a long night. Em still has the breathing tube in and she is not happy about it at all. It's not fun to see her so uncomfortable and obviously frustrated and scared. The attending doc doesn't want to take her off the vent til morning, as in a few more hours. He wants to be sure she can do okay without it and that there are more people around to help if needed. I completely understand that and appreciate his caution. Even so, it sucks because we don't want to give her so much medicine that her heart rate or respirations (which are doing very well) suffer. We have given her what we feel is safe but will give her a little rest and this is the first time I have stepped away from her in hours. She is resting more comfortably at the moment, but that medicine won't last long. I will be so thankful when the tube is out and she no longer has to be restrained to keel from pulling the tube out. I just want to pick her up and comfort her. I want to hold her and snuggle her and make her feel better. I'm also feeling a bit of guilt for not considering her emotional response to having no teeth. She seems a little freaked out over it and that is hard. It was still the right decision, but I hadn't prepared myself for her reaction. I'm praying over her and out loud, that God will give her comfort and strength. I want her to hear the words I'm praying for her. She's been such a big girl an so brave and I just want for her to have a break from it all. Today will be better, I just know it.

Good

It's 1045 and Em is doing better. The meds have worn off and her heart rate is back in the 90s... Much better than 4 hours ago. She is finally peeing like crazy, which is wonderful news. She will remain on the ventilator through the night and hopefully she will be in good shape to have it removed in the morning.
She seems to feel a little weird with no teeth (aside from her two bottom permanent teeth) judging by her expressions. I'm sure that will take some adjustment for her. We've gotten a few good looks at her tongue and it is healing nicely, though you can definitely tell where she bit pieces of the sides off in the last couple of weeks.
Thank you all for your prayers. I believe we are on the right track and really really hope that all goes well in the next few days and we are able to take her home.

6:45 saturday

Quick update. I stepped out to eat a few pringles and drew is sitting with Emma right now. She is having a hard time waking up from all the meds and her heart rate is low. She is still on the vent and is so asleep that she is letting it breathe for her. Praying meds start wearing off soon, that her heart rate goes up and that she starts wanting to breathe on her own.

Day 7

It's Saturday, which means we have been here for 7 days. Em is still sedated and intubated, though it doesn't stop her from showing her displeasure when people start messing with her. They have restrained her hands so she doesn't pull the breathing tube out of her nose. She is still resting well and as the afternoon goes on they will begin weening medications and let her breathe some on her own. Hopefully the transition will go well, we can continue to keep her comfortable and breathing on her own. She is also on a steroid to reduce swelling in her mouth and tongue so that her breathing isn't obstructed. She has a urinary infection, so she has had a dose of antibiotic for that. They removed the catheter and lowered the medication that is causing bladder retention. Hopefully she starts peeing on her own.
I'm getting lots of response about 'I Pink Emma' day... I can't wait to see all of your photos and put them together for Emma!

Just wanted to share with you all that Nonnie had surgery on her wrist this past Monday and all seems to be going well. Also, my cousin Kristin had her baby this morning. Baby Lucy is tiny, but she is breathing on her own. Congrats to Kristin and the new grandparents!