New Room, New Attitude #8301

Well, it’s 9:00 and Emme’s asleep until they wake her up.  Today was uneventful, yet full of milestones.

My day started by watching our churches service online.  We attend Cornerstone in Nashville and today was their big 4th of July celebration.  It was good on screen, but I’m sure it was phenomenal in person.  Pastor Chris has been here all week for visits and he did a really good job today.  Who knew he could dance like that?

First, we had to devise a plan to get Emme to take her formula.  The nurse in ICU decided that it was time for a little “tough love” and I decided to take her advise.  We had brought Emme’s own bottles in after the advise of a friend, but she still wasn’t taking the milk.  So today, she got nothing to eat, except milk.  We decided that if she got hungry enough, she would take it, and she did!  So far we are up to 24 oz for the day which isn’t bad considering we had nothing except applejuice and Pedialyte for the past week. 

Next, we moved up to the 8th floor.  After 5 days in ICU, it was a pleasant change of scenary.  Don’t mistake me, I was thankful for the constant care that the ICU provided, but it’s a little overwhelming to see trauma after trauma.  There are a lot of hurting folks here at Vanderbilt Children’s.  Please keep them all in your prayers. 

After moving up to the 8th floor, Shannon went to fetch us some lunch from Jason’s Deli.  I was so thankful to eat, since it had been almost 24 hours since my last real meal.  In the ICU, you can’t bring any food back to your room so you have to leave to eat.  Here on the 8th floor, you can bring food into your room which is nice.  We have enjoyed snacks all day from some friends who visited yesterday. 

Lunch was great, then two of my students and their parents came to visit.  I’ve never worked somewhere that has shown me so much love.  My Stoner Creek family is amazing.  I guess when you go through something like this, you just realize or put into perspective the important things in life. 

After our visit, Shannon and I snuggled ourselves onto the lovely twin and a half pull out sofa.  I can’t say that it was too comfortable, but while you’re here you just don’t even care.  Emme slept and so did we for nearly 2 hours.  Well…Shannon got 3, but are you surprised?

Emme got up and I fed her a good bottle, then we took her out for a walk in the hospital.  We took her out to a play area on the 6th floor, to the fish pond on the first floor, and for a little piano playing on the 2nd floor.  Daddy played and Emme sat and smiled.  We’re almost back to normal.

We should be leaving here either tomorrow or Tuesday.  I have a good feeling about it being tomorrow, but we will see.  Shannon says he’s ready to get home, and of course I am too, but I don’t want to jump the gun.  We will do what Dr. Kelly thinks is best. 

I guess that’s about it for now.  We are signing off and going to bed. 

Still in VCH #5423

Still in VCH #5423

I didn’t post anything yesterday and had planned on posting last night, but it was such a busy day that I was tired! 

Yesterday was our best day by far.  Emme’s eyes are fully open and she has her same sweet smile and laugh back.  She’s playing with all of her stuffed animals and charms all of the nurses and doctors here.  She is still taking quite a bit of pain medicine which is keeping her comfort controlled.  We tried to back off on the pain meds a little bit yesterday, but she didn’t like that too much.  So we are back to every four hours, but maybe today we can try to back off again.

Shannon and I had a lot of visitors yesterday.  Each visitor was special in their own way and we continued to be reminded of just how blessed we really are.  It seems like each time we have a need, God meets it through a special person.  Thank you to all who have come by and shown us God’s amazing love.  On that note, I haven’t really answered to all of our comments on Facebook, MySpace, Shannon’s website, or Twitter (we are too technologically in tune I think) but please don’t feel that I haven’t read them.  I have read them all and they each mean something special to me and Shannon too. 

Emme rode in a wagon yesterday for a little bit and she slept very peacefully through the night.  She gets a little agitated when the nurses come in during the night to take vitals and administer medicine.  Each time she gets irritated, I pull out my phone and turn on some of Shannon’s music and she calms right down.  She ought to know the words to Beulah Land, He Set Me Free, Amazing Grace, etc. by heart by the time we leave here.  It really is quite sweet how she reacts to his voice.  She is definitely a Daddy’s girl. 

Shannon went home last night and I stayed with Emme.  He should be back to the hospital soon (but we all know Shannon’s sleeping habits J) so he can get a glimpse of his little girl bright and early.  The resident came by just a little bit ago and said we would definitely be staying another night.  I’m hoping to get moved to another room this morning on the regular floor.  I love the care in the ICU, but selfishly we would like to have a bathroom in our room, as many visitors as we want at a time, and to be able to eat without having to go somewhere else to do it.  The hospital was full yesterday so we didn’t get moved, so we are keeping our fingers crossed for today. 

Our prayer request for Emme today would be that she will begin to take her formula again.  She has rejected her formula since surgery.  If she doesn’t start drinking her formula, we will be here longer.  I think she got a taste of apple juice and pedialyte and has decided she likes that much better.  Today my plan is to show a little tough love and not give her anything else (within a reasonable time limit) and somewhat force her to drink the formula.  If she gets hungry enough, I’m hoping she will do it.  If not, the plan is to mix some formula with rice cereal really thin and try to get it in her that way.  I’m hoping!

That’s about it for now.  I’m going to also upload many new pictures to all of our sites so please be sure to go check out her progress, you’ll be amazed!

Thanks for praying for us, supporting us, loving us, calling us, letting our dog out, cooking for us, and all of the other things I know I am forgetting.  We are so grateful for everyone, but God first. 

I’m off to watch our church service online, and I can’t wait.  Have a great day!