Home again

Sunday, June 9, 2013

I hope the lack of posts has not caused any concern.  I was having technical difficulties.

Vivian was released from the hospital Friday afternoon.

Thursday was a long day. Vivian was feeling really yucky.  She was not eating or drinking and was only talking to Mike and me.  We felt bad for the nurses and doctors because they wee trying everything to get her to talk and tell them how she was feeling but she would not.

Her meds were changed from IV to oral...  Everything tasted gross so she was not happy.  We basically had to restrain her for each time she was scheduled for meds.  Her anxiety level was high and she ended up getting sick after almost every dose...  She was in a great deal of pain but was not taking meds at all...

Late Thursday afternoon she was switched back to IV meds.   She complained that the IV was burning.  At around 1 am one IV was moved and the meds were delivered through the other.  She was still upset and at around 430 am the second IV was removed because it was not working.

Friday was much of the same.  She really wanted to go home and was not about to do anything the nurses or us asked her to do in the hospital.  Dr. Wilson had already been in to see her and she was cleared to leave based on our comfort level.  After much discussion and knowing how obstinate Vivian can be we opted to take her home.  Friday night we were having some regrets because she was still not taking any meds but she asked for pizza for dinner and ate 3 pieces followed by dessert.

Saturday she agreed to take Tylenol and Advil throughout the day. She was much more herself and after a huge struggle took a shower. The amount of iodine around the incision area and in her hair was amazing.  After several shampoos it is still in there.  We took a walk as far as a neighbor friend's driveway and came home. She ate a good dinner and slept peacefully.

Today she is like a different kid.  She is totally herself has had no Tylenol or Advil and walked to a friend's house two streets away.  Other than guarded movement she seems like she did last Sunday. We are sure there may be a few more bumps but if she continues to progress like today we may be able to send her back to school ahead of our goal!

We have had a lot of well wishes, visitors, and gifts but what we are most grateful for is the love and support everyone has shown us.

We have been asked a lot throughout this experience:

How do you do it?
Really, the only thing we can say is we just do.  We have no choice but to believe the outcome will be positive; there is simply no other choice.

Why you again?
I wish we knew, but, we cannot wallow in self pity. We have no control over things like this and cannot waste our energy on the whys.  It is what it is...

How can you be so calm?
We are really good actors.

Don't get me wrong we do not want any more challenges.