One Step Closer to Home

There is beauty in every situation, even the worst ones if you look hard enough. Although our situation is far from the worst, still exhaustion, pain, frustration and fear are collectively taking their toll on my family. The what ifs of what tomorrow will ultimately bring and if we will be up to meeting the challenges are never far from my mind where David is concerned. Last night though....the beauty was still shining through as I got to watch the most beautiful snowfall I think I have ever seen. From our hospital room window which overlooks an amazing park complete with an ice skating rink....I got to watch the pillowy soft flakes fall against the lights of the city. It gave me amazing peace and made me realize that everything has place and purpose and right then and there was both my place and purpose. Perhaps it was God letting me know that although this journey to David walking isn't always a pretty or pleasant one.....in the end our prayers will be answered.

In comparison to our last surgery go around....this one is a walk in the park, but still we have the speed bumps to make our way over. Yesterday David experienced the back lash from the previous days delay in seizure meds. On surgery day I had to wake him up to give him his meds at 3:45 a.m. He usually gets them between 6 and 7 a.m. Then he did not receive his noon meds until after 5 p.m. I braced myself because I knew this disruption of meds was likely to set something off. It did. Yesterday afternoon he had two of his mini seizures. Each time his heart rate jumped to almost 200. I had never seen him have a seizure while hooked up to monitors. I have decided that I am just as happy not knowing what goes on internally when these monsters (mini or otherwise) hit.

We also began with a fever. It began at a 100 and eventually made it's way up to 102.3. My stomach began to churn as the fear that infection might be setting in started playing through my mind. I could feel myself becoming "THAT" mom who wears on the nursing staff, but I really didn't care. Ultimately I am the one responsible for keeping David safe and healthy and in my head they just needed to fall in line!

By 10ish last night his temp was coming down and it was explained to me that this surgery he had was considered a trauma to his body and this sometimes can bring on temperatures. This morning he seems to be temp free. He is starting to develop a small amount of congestion and we are keeping him full of fluids and making him cough. Again....another not unexpected side affect.

Yesterday he ventured out of the bed and into a wheelchair for about 3 hours. With the epidural still in tact he was feeling no pain and seemed to enjoy taking visitors from the chair instead of the bed. Once back in bed we had more visitors and he fluctuated between entertaining his aunt, uncle and cousin and drifting off to sleep. We also were treated to Imo's pizza. For those of you who have had Imo's no explanation is necessary. For those who have not......I will have to devote an entire blog at a later date to the subject.

Last night I found it difficult going to sleep knowing that today was the day they would pull the epidural and we would start seeing his "real" pain. Also....as a Mom....I don't sleep when David has a fever, so until I knew his fever had subsided....I stood watch. It made for a short night.

This morning I was awaken by a doctor saying "Ma'am! Ma'am I need to talk to you!" Crap! I am not coherent being woke up like that which was really not a good thing since he was the hospital neurologist checking in on David's seizures. I am pretty sure by the way I couldn't remember words, make complete sentences and continued to wipe sleep drool from my lips....that he thinks I am on drugs. I am fully expecting SRS backlash from this mornings visit. :-)

Since that incoherent visit the room has been full of pain specialists, physical therapists, nurses and at one point I think there were just various sight seers in the room. Through all the commotion though David did get his epidural removed and is now on IV pain meds, Z and I learned how to transition him from bed to chair and back again and David managed to eat my breakfast, his breakfast and last I looked he was eyeing Z's breakfast. In case you were wondering.....his appetite is fine!

After having his epidural pulled he seems to be doing well on just IV pain meds. He tolerated being transferred to a wheelchair just fine and even went on a field trip with Z to the Teen Room where he came back with a literal haul of stuffed animals, a blanket and some amazing books. His spirits are high and Z said David had the best time going downstairs.

We are still on track to go home tomorrow unless something changes....which in Davidtopia and Lisaland....that is always a possibility. However....we are still shooting for tomorrow. Please say a pray that we stay on track and that the weather cooperates. Thanks for reading!