In the Hospital

I'm writing from Ellie's hospital room. Ellie's blood counts dropped a bit, so she was given a red blood transfusion after which she perked right up! This is why we affectionately call this type of transfusion "go juice". Due to some kind of ordering "snafu" the TPN for tonight did not come... so we're enjoying a nice uneventful night in the hospital. A nice perk is that any medications can be given through her port instead of taken by mouth - something we're taking full advantage of! The TPN always goes on at night, so hopefully by tomorrow night Ellie's will be started.

The nicest thing to happen today was a surprise visit from one of our PICU doctors - Dr. Shaw! John was coming into the hospital this evening when Dr. Shaw was going out, and as soon as the doctor found out that Ellie was here in the hospital, he turned right around and followed John up to the room. We haven't seen him since the day after Ellie was extubated (the last time) so it was very nice to get to show him a much happier and healthier Ellie. She regaled him with stories and showed him pictures from the blog. (He was finally able to hear her voice for the first time.) One of the hard things about being in the PICU was trying to convey to all of the caring doctors and nurses who Ellie was. The Ellie that they saw was so sick and drugged that she was barely a shell of her true self. The nurses, bless their hearts, would talk to her and try to do things the way that we told them she would like them... but they couldn't see her personality or hear her speak, other than in a hoarse croak. So it was very touching to see Dr. Shaw get to connect with the "real" Ellie. In true Ellie fashion, she almost didn't let him leave - I'm convinced that he would still be here listening to her stories if we hadn't intervened... Although she doesn't remember it, she promised Dr. Shaw that she would give him a hug once she was extubated, but was unable to do so... until today! These are the kinds of moments that come along amidst all of the pain and suffering and warm our hearts... being able to see how much the doctors and nurses really care. The kids are not just medical cases to them - they are real people with names and feelings. We don't have a choice to be in this place... but they do. And I say - God bless them for it!

I will continue to let you know how things go here, but I'm expecting that this should be an uneventful hospital stay. We just may be here longer than we had thought. Another of my quirks (of which there are many - and by the end of this ordeal, I'm sure I will have confessed them all) is that I actually kind of like staying in the hospital. I can't believe I just told you that! It's sick, I know. I am always ready to go home, though. Maybe it's just the change of pace I like. Well, for whatever reason, we're doing quite well. Ellie has a playroom to cut the boredom, I have a good book (not to mention a gigantic coffee machine down the hall and a menu of gourmet food choices), and John has the freedom to come and go and burn off energy as needed. Talk to me in several days, though... I'm sure by then I'll be ready to pull my hair out.

I hope you all have a good evening and day tomorrow. I'll check back in later. Lots of love!