The Day After

Kate is still on a PCA which is running continuously but at a lower dose than yesterday. She can now press her PCA button and get an extra boost of morphine. Her pain, while still present, seems to be better than last time. Although, two weeks ago she was also much more alert and able to move around a bit more. Morphine is great for pain, but a killer on the diet. This girl has eaten nothing. I bribed, begged, and pleaded for one bite of a roll, which she did eat. She now feels like she has upheld her part of the bargain and will have nothing more to do with food.

Her cast is gigantic and heavy. Her Dr. said that we can use the bar between her legs to help move her around. That used to be a no-no. She still has her drains in and 'wires everywhere' according to her. I had hoped we would be going home tomorrow, but it's not looking good. We need to be eating, off the PCA and onto oral meds. We also need to get her up to a wheelchair and transferring with our help.

I'm tired. Seriously. I got 6 hours last night, but could fall asleep standing up if I weren't listening for Kate. Not the easiest thing to do for the slightly deaf. Hoping for a good night. If anyone is throwing a prayer out in Kate's behalf, we need pain control and an appetite. Thanks.

In Our Room

We made it to our room. Not shared this time which will be nice. I neglected to mention that Kate had a transfusion in the last post. I was having a one track mind about seeing my girl. She was low from the last surgery and they did a blood draw right before she went in to surgery to cross and type in case she needed a transfusion. I literally had to hold her arm down so they could stick her with a butterfly, smallest needle ever. She went much more willingly into surgery.

I wheeled her in and sat next to her in her wheelchair while she proceeded to tell the anesthesiologist that the gas mask had something sticky on it and it needed to be cleaned. Here is a girl who speaks her mind. She was very calm this time as they held the gas mask on. So much better than two weeks ago. She still did her little arm spasm and giggled and then went to sleep. So much easier on mom when the patient is willing.

Things seemed to take a little longer this time. Three hours before we could see her. Finally got walked back to the PACU with a nurse who told me how cute and funny Kate was being. When I saw her, she had a red teddy bear in her arms courtesy of the hospital for Valentines Day. She did tell me that her leg hurt and that one leg was heavier than the other, but not crying like last time. She fell back to sleep only to wake a few minutes later saying that we had spelled her name wrong. The nurse and I looked at each other and the nurse kind of asked, "spelled your name wrong?" Kate opened her eyes, looked right at the nurse and said, "yes, in my dream we were painting and you spelled my name wrong.". The nurse apologized and Kate drifted back into la la land.

Kate is mostly sleeping, but when she is awake she is still complaining that one leg is heavier than the other. Not sure how we can fix that. Hopefully that sensation won't last long. She has a drain in her right leg like last time. She is on a PCA that is currently continuously pumping her full of morphine. Let the nose itching begin.

Out Of Surgery

Kate is out of surgery and is still in recovery. I haven't seen her yet and I'm waiting impatiently to do so. Dr. Wenger told us that everything went very well. He said that we will take the cast off in 4 weeks, 2 weeks shorter than we thought, and then they will take an X-ray and if everything looks good the cast will stay off. Yay!! If not, they recast her at that time. Not yay. Pray for fast healing bones.

Once the cast is off she will go 4 weeks in a wheelchair with zero touching the ground with her feet. He says if she does touch the ground we have to recast. Seatbelts, duct tape, I will be prepared to keep her off her toes. Hate that cast.

More after I have seen my baby, which is not happening soon enough.

Right Leg Tomorrow

Going in bright and early tomorrow to Children's.  Surgery is scheduled for 9:10,  which means we will be starting around 10:30-11.  I told Kate I was going to shampoo her hair and get her ready for surgery tomorrow and she said she would much rather have surgery than have me brush her hair.  Poor kid is getting both! 

I will be updating the blog tomorrow as Kate comes out of surgery.  Hoping for sleep tonight.  Small goals, small steps.  

Sunday Morning

Just when you think you've hit your groove place,  things go to pot.  Have I mentioned how much I hate this cast?  I'm probably second only to Kate.  She couldn't sleep last night because she was itchy inside her cast.  We gave her a little Benadryl and got her thinking about something else and she finally drifted off.  Only after telling me how much she hates her cast and wants it off.  I told her we will have a ceremony when the the stupid thing comes off and get rid of it good.  I'm feeling funeral pyre ala Darth Vader and watch the dumb thing go up in flames.

We got things wet inside again, so much dang fun.  Blow dryer out in full force this morning on the last little spot. Called the Dr. on call just so they know this cast is coming in wounded on Tuesday. She said things will be fine until Tuesday and to blow dry and pull out wet cotton.  Been there, done that.  I have pulled every bit of cotton out of this sucker that can come.  The only bright side is I think we have learned a lot and will, hopefully,  keep the next one dryer.


Time for church, Kate is staying home again this week.  I think she will go in a few weeks.  Her wheelchair is just so big since she has to be mostly reclining,  it's going to be brutal getting her anywhere without some difficulty.  Time to chill and be off for church.  Thank you for all the continued support, meals, toys, visits,  blankets, PJ's, and prayers.  I can't tell you much they all help.

Goofy Girl

One week from tomorrow we go in for the right leg.  In some ways I wish it were tomorrow.  I just want this over with.  Pretty sad considering it's just beginning.  Kate is doing great 90% of the time.  There have been a few times when she has been very tired or having some discomfort that she will ask us to please take her to the hospital for them to remove her cast.  I tell her that we have to wait for her hip to heal,  but she says it never hurts to ask.  So heartbreaking.  I hate that dumb cast.  Using a bedpan is a joke.  She is doing better than I am the last couple days, if you can't tell.

Kate can move around a lot better now and she is using the trapeze above her bed like a champ.  She jokes with us that she is going to be very strong using her arms like that every day.  Getting the hospital bed was inspired.  She can move around and get herself comfortable in positions that I would never put her in. 

One issue we are having is that Kate won't eat.  Nothing sounds good or tastes good.  I had one hour the other day to run to the store and I'm sure I looked like a crazy person throwing anything Kate has ever eaten or craved in the cart.  Sadly, it was mostly donuts, chips, ice cream, etc.  I'm not being picky right now.  Food is food.  I'm not sure what we haven't tried, but I'm open to suggestions. 

Kate's schedule is also screwed up.  She is sleeping in until 10:30-11 and staying up until 1.  Can't win.

These pictures were taken right after we did a shampoo in the kitchen sink.  Yay, for that.  Clean hair feels great.  Kate was acting like her usual goofy self, I grabbed the camera and she hammed it up. 

Clothes are interesting as well.  I bought some size 14 sweats and some size 14 shorts.  The sides of the shorts have been cut and velcro put on in preparation for the next cast.  I think I will want to burn these few outfits when we are done.  Thank goodness the shirts can be interchangeable.  

Thanks to everyone who have sent activities and gifts for Kate.  It really lifts her spirits and mine.  Thank you. 

Home!

Going home took a little effort.  Kate and I went last Saturday to learn how to strap her in using a vest so she can lay down across the seats in the van and still be belted in.  It involved bean bags, blankets, and pillows.  She wasn't going anywhere.  Of course, by the time we got her ready to go she was tired and every blanket was wrong and she just couldn't get comfortable.  It's so hard to not be able to make it better for her.  That has been the hardest part of the last few days.  There is only so much you can do and then you just pray she will find some peace and comfort. 

Once we were on our way she fell asleep.  She slept in the van for a couple of hours outside in our driveway while we watched.  Good thing we live in San Diego where it was perfect weather to do so.  She woke up 15 minutes before her hospital bed arrived so we fed her a little in the van and then transferred her inside to her own bed.  She was very excited to see her cat, Cleo.  She missed the cats in the hospital.  She did a few craft things,  watched Aristocats, and ate dinner. 

Tired now. The second day without sleep is always the worst.  Glad to be home with bed and wheelchair for Kate.