This morning has been tough for me. I think reality is starting to sink in, and I'm no longer in business mode. Everything has seemed almost surreal up to this point - like it's all a dream, and not really happening. Maybe I was in denial - still not quite letting myself believe that Kol was in as bad shape as he was. That he's have the surgery, recover, and we could get on with our lives.
When the charge nurse came to talk to me this morning, she said sometimes families who transfer over from PICU go through a bit of PICU withdrawl. She's right. In PICU, there was one nurse whose job it was to look after Kol. Just Kol. He had a room to himself, and the sliding glass doors shut out any sounds from other patients if they got noisy - which rarely happened. Visiters were limited, and the staff were all really friendly and calm.
The general ward is busy, and noisy. There is one nurse looking after 3 patients in observation room that we are in. Both of the other patients were watching movies, which, after the virtual silence of PICU was jarring. There were machines beeping constantly; admittedly some of them are Kol's monitors, but they're louder than the ones PICU used.
Kol's recovery also seems to have slowed a bit. Maybe I was just expecting too much. Kol wasn't as alert last night, and was complaining of more pain. He was probably groggy from the sedative they gave him for the MRI, but he wasn't as alert as he has been. He got morphine this morning, and he was happy, moving easily, and playing with Annika a bit, but within 30 minutes of the shot, his headache was bad again. I'm also starting to be concerned about a whole lot of other things that aren't an issue yet.
hi kirk, totally understand the difference between the ICU environment and the ward. We experienced that with siri too- 8 weeks in the NICU and then when she had her hernia operation she was on the ward...what a crazy place. still thankful for the care...but not sure how they expect kids and families to get healthy with all the chaos of having multiple kids in the same room. Praying for peace to surround you and kol in the days to come. Praying that God will provide timely healing to Kol and for the staff caring for you, that they will be sensitive to kol, you as parents and the other kids...make sure you take care of yourself too!
ReplyDeleteblessings
kathryn (wally, mara, abbey and siri)
last post should have been addressed to kirk and kristen...:) sorry kristen... some truth for you today....
ReplyDeletePsalm 139: 13-14
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
Kristen and Kirk,
ReplyDeleteI know you've heard this many times before but we are all praying for you and thinking of you.
I especially am praying that Kol will recover quickly in spite of being in the general (noisy) ward. I know how unsettling it can be.
Lord willing he will be at home soon and can recover in relative peace.
Thank-you for sharing your experience with us.
Love,
Julie S.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overlow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
ReplyDeleteSurely the Lord is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me. Psalm 54:4
Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with you and your whole family.
Once Kol graduates from popsicles, maybe we can sneak a Blizzard in for him.
Shelley Froese