~Our Growing Family~

Friday, February 13, 2009

14 Nov 08 - Ronald McDonald house

The first night Cady was in the hospital PICU, George and I stayed at a small hotel right across the street from KU. However, I knew I wouldn't be comfortable staying there without him (didn't feel really safe). I was put on the list for a room at the Ronald McDonald house over by Childrens Mercy. The 2nd night after her surgery, I was told I had a room available and we went to check in. George stayed there that night as well. The room was very nice. We had our own private bath with a shower. Even though there isn't TV in the rooms, they do have wireless internet and I brought my laptop. The kitchen was well stocked with necessities and there was a group there every night that week that I was there to cook for the families staying there. There was even a night where a couple of KC Chief's families were there and the players were giving autographs... however, Cady was having a bad day as far as her pain so I didn't go back until late and I missed them. Anyhow, they offer such a nice service for families to be comfortable during a time when they are going to be exhausted the most.

the beds.... select comfort mattresses.

the bath... even though we weren't supposed to have food and drink in the rooms, I did set up my little hot pot to heat water for hot tea during the night... kept it right on the vanity.

view from our window.. see the windows right across? that is a small TV room where George watched a football game the first night we stayed there. One neat thing to point out is the rocky area on the ground... at night that is sparkly with blinking lights... supposed to look like a little stream.

and ol' Ronnie himself... this guy greeted me every evening when I arrived to the house.... and scared the shit outta me every morning when I was leaving...I would just catch a glimpse of him outta the corner of my eye and it was just dark enough that I thought it was a real person sitting there.... never failed... EVERY SINGLE MORNING...

ALL THIS for only $7 a night!!!

14 Nov 08 - Cady's new "do"

We were able to get Cady an appointment with the hair salon that is right in the hospital. The ladies there did a fantastic job cutting and styling her hair so that you can't even tell she had surgery. It really perked her up and she was more than ready to go home! When the doctors made their rounds and asked if there was anything she wanted... she replied, "whatever it takes for me to go home today".... we were out of there by 3pm... LOL

13 Nov 08 - Jhace's 1 month pictures

While I was in KC with Cady, Victoria and her mom took Jhace to Sears in Topeka to get his 1 month pictures taken... so cute. The pics posted here are small because they are just thumbnails from the sears website that I downloaded. The first picture is the one Victoria & Drew got framed for their wall.

12-13 Nov 08 - Cady at KU

Nov 12th - they removed the EVD and bandage from her head. I honestly wasn't prepared... I stayed at the bedside while they removed the tube and although I've been a nurse for 13 years and have seen my share of stuff.... I got a bit nauseated and wobbly in the knees. I'm sure it was only because it was Cady and if it had been a regualr patient, it wouldn't have bothered me.

I attempted to wash her hair before I took this pic, but it was still too tender. the "gunk" that is in her hair is bits of wax and adhesive from when they did her EEG.

Nov 13th - She was feeling much better and was moved out of the PICU into a regular room. Even though she was still having headaches, they weren't nearly as severe as when she had the tube in. She was able to watch movies, had access to PS2 system and games as well as better wireless reception for her laptop.

they shaved quite a chunk of hair... she showered and we pulled it back but it's obvious that we need to get her hair done...

Friday, January 9, 2009

11 Nov 08 - Jhace, Drew & Cady's kittens

Cady wanted me to go home and check on her kittens, get her favorite teddy bear (powder), and take some picture of Jhace for her.....

unfortunately little Lilly had passed away.... but Tank and Cloe were doing fine.
Tank

Cloe

Drew

too funny.....

8-11 Nov 08 - Cady at KUMC

on Friday Nov 7th, Cady underwent brain surgery to have a shunt placed. Based on MRI's, they determined that she had either ventriculomegaly or hydrocephalus (water on the brain). She was having symptoms such as chronic headache and problems with her balance. Since she was in the pediatric ICU after surgery, George and I stayed at a hotel right across the street from the hospital.

the next morning... it took us 40 minutes to drive around the block to get from the hotel to the parking garage. it happened to be "free drive-through flu shot" day.... cars were lined up for blocks and not only did the KUMC campus police have to come direct traffic.... the regular Kansas City police showed up as well... it was pure madness.

8 Nov 08:

below is a view of the front drive of the hospital from the walkway...looking one way....

... then the other way.....imagine the cars lined up around the left side of the building... for blocks...

they had her sitting up a bit and watching TV... however, she said her headaches were worse... but that was an expected outcome for the first day or so....

the nurse in me found it interesting that they stapled the bandage directly to her head...

9 Nov 08:

she began to eat some... was more difficult to have her head up due to the increasing headache... at this point they were beginning to give her more IV pain medicine.....

her arm where she was stuck multiple times to try and get an IV... they eventually did place a PICC line.

11 Nov 08 - Her condition was not getting any better.... she had maxed out on one IV med (Fentanly) with no relief, and they had changed her to another. (Dilauded). She was semi-concious at this point... sleeping most of the time... but when you'd wake her up... she would cry that her head hurt.... when she would sleep her heart was beating really slow and her breathing was really slow and shallow. before morning, she had to have oxygen put on her.