I'm sitting here in the "Family Room" with my mommy. We were blessed to run into our sweet CICU nurse Nicole when we got here yesterday and she got us this room for the night. It is free, and is right outside the CICU (literally 10 or so steps). We got some pretty good rest last night once we finally got back to the room (around midnight). I woke up a few times because the phone rang, but it was always a wrong number. At 8:40 this morning I jumped out of the bed and looked at my watch and was horrified -visiting hours started at 8:30! I was still groggy from the little bit of sleep medicine I had taken last night but I put on a bra, brushed my hair and ran out the door to the CICU. I'm sure I was a sight, but I was greeted by the sweet smiling face of our daytime nurse, Wendy. She is not a nurse we have had before, but I immediately knew my little girl had been in good hands since the shift change. She had also had a wonderful nurse last night who had told me she would call me if she cried for me during the night. Thank you Lord for these precious, caring hands that have been with my girl.
Anyways...I know you really want to hear about YouYou. The most important thing is she is in good hands and she is going to be fine. She will probably be moved to a regular room today and hopefully we will only be here for a few days. They are going to give her iv antibiotics (possibly already have) to treat her for pneumonia. I don't think they are positive that this is what she has but they want to go ahead and start the antibiotics because her chest x-ray looks worse this morning. They had considered putting her chest tube back in because she also has some excess fluid in her chest area but they don't think there is enough to warrant that. I guess I'd rather have her with an iv again than a chest tube again, but really I just want her to feel better. I can't even describe the defeat I felt when Dr. Romp said he wanted to have her admitted again. I wanted to crumple into the floor (yes, I know that sounds dramatic). YouYou was sooooo glad to be home and her little spirit was starting to return, and I know she thinks this must be a never ending nightmare. I keep telling her she is here so that she can feel better and we can go home again, but I wonder if she believes me :)
My mom went to check on YouYou while I was typing and got an update...she is still sleeping and they just gave her the first round of antibiotics. The nurse said they have to keep her for about an hour afterwards and then she can be moved to a regular room (we'll be in room 520).
I wanted to let you all know that I have gotten several emails from people that want to read our family blog and I will definitely respond to each of you as soon as I can. I haven't posted anything to that blog since before YouYou's surgery so you aren't missing anything :) I would love to have you read about the amazing journey we have been on the past few years...may God receive all the Glory.
Some of you have called too, and I'm so sorry I haven't returned your calls yet. It hurts so bad to talk right now that I'm trying to just save my talking for YouYou and the doctors. I know the antibiotic I am on has to start helping soon. I am thankful at least that I am not running a fever so far today.
Specific prayer requests:
- That YouYou's body will respond to the antibiotics quickly
- That the nurses and doctors will have wisdom as they treat YouYou
- That YouYou will be in good spirits and will cointinue to eat and drink
- That I will feel better so that I can be fully attentive to YouYou's needs
- That His light will shine through us
I'll try to post again soon...
Jamie blushed when I read this to him. He said that if you are going to put "inappropriate" content on the blog (i.e. putting on your bra), then you should at least warn us first! Ha! Ha! We thought you could use a good laugh right now! He made me write this to you just in the hope that you would laugh out loud, and it would make you feel good even for a second! I hope it worked!
ReplyDeleteSeriously, my sweet friend, we love you so much. I am so very thankful for the testimony that you are giving to so many people right now. God is receiving so much glory through you and your family. We are praying immensely for you and YouYou and all three of your boys. I was looking at the blog today, and Isaac came up and said, "That's YouYou. I love her. She's so cute!" We all feel that way, dear. We have never met her, but we love her. It is an overflow of the love I have for you and your family. May He hold you in the palm of His hand today and reach down with His loving arms and hold YouYou and heal her! With all our love,
Joie
Oh Erica...nothing I can say can make it better, but I do know of some words from our Great Physician that bring healing...
ReplyDelete"And wherever he went--into villages, towns or countrysides--they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed." Mark 6:56
"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion--to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor" Isaiah 61:1-3
"And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." John 14:13-14
I am agreeing in prayer over all your requests you've mentioned...I pray you can get more rest soon too.
Sending you lots of love and hugs...
Laine
Erica, I am so sorry that you had to go back to the hospital. I am just now catching up as S had her surgery Monday and we got home Wednesday and she is getting back to her normal self and me to mine. But I am so sorry for YouYou and you and your boys and Aaron.
ReplyDeleteI wish I had a magic button. I don't think you are being dramatic at all. You are just spent and you have been through a lot. You are human and you are a Mommy who just wants to take all the pain away for her baby. Totally normal and very noble.
I am trying to remember what they did at VCH for S's mouth. I know it had some raw spots from the vent, but I also remember the PICU nurses using some sort of "moistening kit". That is all I remember them calling it, but I remember them saying if they did not keep her mouth moist it would get very sore. Thankfully it did not. Maybe it is just raw from dryness? But what could you do for that, I'm not sure? I wish I could help!
I will say that S had her chest tubes in for 5 days, though I wanted those things out so badly so we could go home. Looking back I am grateful for the advice of her very conservative cardiologist who wanted to keep them in longer. S also still takes a diuretic to prevent fluid build-up but is being weaned off of it slowly.
I don't know how to help Erica. I wish I could do something. If I was there I would come and sit with you. Please know I will pray in agreement with everyone else as well for your requests. You are a blessing to us all and especially to YouYou.
And yes, you are one very BLESSED person to have her. I GET IT!!! :)
Leslie
I am so glad that you were able to get the Family Room and that YouYou was able to get the medicine she needed. I still think those 2 nights home were worth every moment. She will be home again so soon and hopefully for good this time. I made a little something for YouYou today and can't wait to give it to her. We may come visit but are waiting to hear when you think you will be coming home. Keep your head up, remember to smile but be firm in your requests for what you want for YouYou, and DO NOT STAY UP ALL NIGHT like we did! Can't wait to see you all. Have you had a chance to listen to the song i added? I thought it fit.
ReplyDelete"I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him." 1 Samuel 1:27 (NIV)
Hope you feel better SOON, so you can take care of your YOU YOU!
ReplyDeleteLove to all,
Heather Yell
Thank you for the post Erica..it helps us know how to pray.
ReplyDeleteLily was walking around our home this morning chanting.."I LUB YOUYOU" I almost cried. Ok, I did. She seems to understand that YouYou is sick. I can just tell when she looks at her picture on the blog.
We love you, and we think (and talk) about you often.
God has big plans for this precious child.
Love you bunches.
Still praying. I hardly know what else to say each time I post, but I want you to know that there is a constant stream of prayers going up for all of you.
ReplyDeleteGreat song, Emily. Yes, we can praise God in this storm. He is our strong tower and shield.
Amen!
Mary R. and fam.
I was so sorry to hear that you had to return to the hospital. The Stewart's are praying for YouYou's quick recovery so that she can get back home to her Baba and gege's. Caleb said he had a dream the other night that Carter and Jackson came to our house. :-) Thanks for letting us know all that we need to pray for. Hang in there! I know that our sweet Father is with YouYou and with you during all of this. I am praying that you will feel His strength with you every moment.
ReplyDeleteWith love,
Kim
Oh sweet family, please know that we're praying for you........
ReplyDeleteWanting to say we are praying for YOu YOU and your entire family. I found you on the Weathers blog.
ReplyDeleteHi Erica, We are praying for You You and all of you. Love you.
ReplyDeleteThe Lord is good and His mercy is everlasting!
Michelle
Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness;come before Him with joyful songs.
Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.
For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.
I wanted to add my voice with the others here and let you know that I'm praying for y'all. I happened to check yesterday and saw the update. I trust that no new news is good news. Hang in there!
ReplyDeletePraying for you and You You and your whole sweet family. May you all be back home soon and feeling better.
ReplyDeleteLove you!