Wednesday, April 20, 2011

The Bug is Home!

Home Sweet Home!

Sorry to go silent yesterday. I was called back to see Kate around 3PM and went into the 'cone of silence' otherwise known as the cardiac unit where no cell phones and computers are allowed. We were actually in the area where they do the day-surgeries so we didn't have a regular room. The nice thing is that we didn't have to share the room. The not-so-nice thing is that we didn't have a bathroom. Sharing a bathroom with the unit was not so bad at night when most patients had gone home, but this morning, it was rather comical trying to get in there once patients started to arrive for their out-patient services. There was no shower. Let's just say, I look like crap.
{Am I allowed to say 'crap?'}

Enough about the bathroom facilities.

Kate came through everything well but the poor little tyke was very sick from the anesthesia, despite the anti-nausea meds. She had to lie flat for 6 hours and it's a bit difficult to throw up when you can't sit up. Poor baby... I held her head to the side and stuck the barf thingy under her and she did the best she could. They tried giving her IV fluids but that didn't stop the nausea, so after an hour or so, they tried a steroid. Thankfully, it worked after another 30 minutes of heaving. She perked up once the meds worked and then started to eat.
And eat.
And eat.
I have never seen her eat so much. The poor kid was starving!
We had an uneventful night with not enough sleep on our rubber pillows and mattresses, and now we are home.
Our room and beds. Don't be jealous.

The doctor came and talked to me after the cath and said that her fontan is working perfectly--which was good news. He has no recommendations about a full repair surgery yet. He will have to confer with the surgeon and do a lot of measurements and calculations to decide if Kate will be a candidate. If not, we will get a phone call. If so, they will call us in for a consultation. We won't hear anything from them for a few weeks.
{Oh...and I woke up in the middle of the night realizing I gave the incorrect time regarding her recovery. It's not 3-5 months, it's 2-3 months in hospital.}

I always come away from these cardiac tests and surgeries with such profound gratefulness for the staff. They are so kind to us...work so hard...and I am so thankful that God makes surgeon's and doctors with such brilliant minds. I was telling Jeff on the way home that it cracks me up how fast Zoey and Kate become little diva's at the hospital. They kind of like going--except for the needles. Hmmm...they get to lie in bed and watch tv all day, eat in bed, eat whatever/whenver they want, have people telling them 4000 times a day that they are soooo cute, etc. What's not to love about that?!

Despite getting all that special treatment, Kate was happy to get home. The kids were waiting at the back door, jumping and waving. When Kate saw them she said, "I missed everybody." Later she went up to Zoey and said, 'I missed you, Zoey," and gave her a hug. Zoey said she missed Kate, too. So precious.

Thank you for praying! I will keep you posted.