While we were getting ready for bed. Thank you, Kristen for my gown!
This is how we started. Thank you, Nana S for my beautiful blanket!
But as it turns out, Josie pulled out her IV during this cuddle session and got biohazard material on the blanket. It washed out with cold water, though.
During the night her swelling increased, more on the right side of her head. Remember dependent edema I discussed in the earlier post? This is it. Also, she had swelling of her right eye, also normal from the dependent edema.
Through the day the eye blackened a bit and so now we have a little pirate girl. She is a tough one, we must say. She wears it well! Thank you, Susan, for my dress!
About 10AM the team rounded and told us that Josie would be able to be discharged and oh the joy we all had! We are right on target with recovery! Her blood count dropped a little bit, but still within limits for her. They were all very pleased. I met the chief resident who will be taking phone calls from me during the night should I need to discuss anything with him :)
Dr. Jimenez' nurse Wai then entered and went over discharge instructions. She first told Josh and I to wash our hands. Then she said "I want to start with dad first". She took his hand and gently placed it on top of Josie's head and moved it in a back and forth manner. "See, touching Josie's head does not bother her. Do not be afraid to touch her head". She then did the same with my hand. Josie sat there and did not make a peep. Wai then went over details how to bathe her head. We also went over details of what to look for in Josie which could indicate a problem, lethargy (sleeping too much); poor feeding; fever greater than 101; swelling of the incision with drainage and redness; continuous vomiting, etc. About an hour later Josie's PICU nurse came in to have us sign papers and we were already packed up so we put Josie in her car seat and left the PICU.
Of course I have pics!
She did not resist the car seat at all!
We have to keep her head covered when we venture out until we get the helmet.
And off we went with all of the nurses bidding good wishes.
We were the first cranio family to leave.
I know you will find this hard to believe, but I teared up as we took our exiting journey in exactly reverse order as our entrance Thursday morning. Tears not of sadness, but of pure joy and delight that our feet have made another huge step in this journey.
The blessings have been abundant. We humbly receive them, knowing we are so unworthy.
Look at the birds of the air:
they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns,
and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are you not of more value than they?
Matthew 6: 26
I can't read any of this blog without crying my own tears of joy for your family!!
ReplyDelete