Thursday, January 17, 2013

Progress.

Today it was mentioned that we might get discharged tomorrow.  Wow. Really?!  In order for that to happen, we have goals to meet.
Goals:
1. Remove epidural- done
2. Remove foley
3. Pain managed with oral meds only
4. Elimination on own #1 and #2

It may not seem like lofty goals, but they are a bit out of our reach currently.  Lollipop's personal goal is to make it to the playroom today.  The epidural is out, her breakfast is down, but we are still waiting on the foley before we go.

Once we are discharged from the hospital, we will still need to stick around for a day or two before we are able to travel.

We are keeping in touch with home via phone and Skype, but it still isn't like being at home.  Little Mama was missing sister, mommy and dada pretty bad yesterday.  So thankful for my parents and those who are bringing meals.  One less thing for my mom and dad to deal with.

The swelling that happened on Tuesday in my legs has dissipated, but I am spending as much time as possible with my feet up.  Would appreciate prayers for it not to return and for physical strength as Lolipop is not weight bearing for four weeks, need to clarify if that is four weeks beyond this week or including this week.  Having the wheelchair helps, but we don't have a handicap accessible bathroom, so... yeah, need strength.  Baby will be viable in about six more weeks.  Our goal is May (due in June), but reaching viability will be a load off my mind.

I am so grateful that God is in control and that we are only here because of rodding surgery and not something life threatening.  I know that He knows the end from the beginning, has a plan, and I simply have to trust

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

poormom shared an Instagram photo with you

Hi there,

poormom just shared an Instagram photo with you:


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"L's New Straight Legs"
(taken at Children's Hospital and Medical Center)

Thanks,
The Instagram Team

Got Sleep!

I never would have thought that two consecutive hours of sleep could be so much! (It's been a while since Mr. T was a baby...)  Other than some issues around 1am, Lollipop has slept all night!  Now of course I woke up every time someone came in the room, but if she sleeps I can sleep!  She is even back asleep after the anesthetologist coming in and chatting at 6:30!!!!  Sleep is so restorative, we NEEDED last night.
The med doc said that today (while we still have the epidural) we are going to try to transition to all oral meds.  That will put us one step closer to home, but I don't want to take any steps back in her pain management...
We still have not seen the x-rays, but the is the scoop according to the ortho surgeon.
Right Femur- had to break in 1 place to place rod.
Right Fibula- already broken, had to break in additional place and take out bone wedge to place rod.
Left Fibula- had to break in 1 place and take out bone wedge to place rod.
Her leg bones were bowed to such an extent that it was not possible to place any rods without first straightening the bone.  So pain management to promote healing is essential.  And lots of TLC.  And LOTS of prayer.
In other news, Rick saw the grandparents of the family we first saw on Monday.  (The 5 yr. old boy with the brain tumor that they discovered on Sunday.)  The little boy is doing well.  The surgeon thought he removed 50% of the tumor, but an MRI on Tuesday showed that 90% was removed with what remained shrinking in the hours since the surgery.  The tumor was at the base of his brain, pushing on his brain stem.  That is why a biopsy was impossible and they went from having an MRI and biopsy to MRI and surgery on Monday.  Please continue to lift up the little boy and his family.  He has an older sister and mom and dad are mom and boyfriend and dad and girlfriend with an overwhelming number of granparents and accessory relatives.  Divorce (or maybe just not marriage) seems to run in the family.  Still don't know his name, but with all the family drama and the boys situation... God knows it and that's what matters.
Please keep us in your prayers.  We have many hurdles to cross before we can go home and then she will be non-weight bearing for four weeks.  I am feeling okay, but yesterday noticed some swelling...keeping an eye on that.
Well the pain dance begins! Gotta go!!!!


Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Monday, January 14, 2013

Sleeping Beauty


She is resting comfortably. Have been in the room about an hour. Vitals are now going to be every 30 minutes instead of 15.
We are so thankful for the knowledgable and kind doctors and staff here. What a blessing!

Goodnight!

Headed to Recovery Soon

Lollipop did great and she will be headed to recovery shortly.
Three rods placed, epidural is in place and looks to be working. Next 48 hours it sounds like she will have the epidural to help control pain.
Thank you for continued prayers.

Headed onto Left Leg

Just after 4 we met with the surgeon.
They had to break her rt. femur in 1 place and broke her rt. tibia in one more place and took out a wedge of bone.
Though her recovery will be longer with both legs getting rodded, we decided that because of the continued bowing and fibula fx, it would be best to go ahead and also rod her left tibia.
They are planning on placing a catheter for pain medication. Please be in prayer for the anesthesiologist to be guided by God in placing it.
Surgery was only scheduled from 1-4, but her right femur (which had fractured in China) was 'hard as rock' according to Dr. E.

Please be in prayer for a family also here in the waiting room. Their son has been sick for seven weeks-various things. Took him to the ER yesterday and they discovered a brain tumor. He is in surgery now, they had only planned on an MRI and biopsy, to remove as much of the tumor as possible. Because the tumor is at the base of his brain a biopsy was impossible.

Still in Surgery

As of 3:30 it looked like they had begun her second rod. Not sure if they will do three. Depends on how she is, blood loss and docs stamina. They had only scheduled for surgery from 1-4...

They are talking about an epidural for pain management, pray for docs guidance. They know she had a L1 compression fx in November.

Headed to Surgery

Lollipop is very hungry and rather sad about not eating, but we have told her 'see ya later' and she is headed to surgery now.

Hello From Omaha (Nebraska that is)

On Saturday January 5th Lollipop was being a normal kid and decided to jump on the FLOOR of her bedroom (on the rug). The rug did not slip, no one bumped her, and I doubt she even made it off her toes (to her jumping is more like heel lifts), however, the force of even her little jump caused her right tibia to snap. Surgery set up was finalized on Wednesday, Mr. Incredible, myself and Lollipop drove 12.5 hours yesterday (Sunday) with only six stops in our 704 miles AND surgery is TODAY! Her specialist here will be rodding her right tibia, right femur and possibly her left tibia. We won't know more until we check in and they take x-rays.
Soooo.... Not what we had planned (yet again), but so thankful for God's provision, quick doctors, and that her right fibula did not snap as well (we have been fighting fib fractures for months).
I will be updating here with her progress. We expect to be in the hospital 4-5 days with another 1-2 days remaining local for the just in case.