Thursday, April 17, 2008

She'll be comin' 'round the mountain...

Well... we made it home with Hannah!


A strange series of events made our stay a little more difficult, but shorter. So, shorter is better... it's kinda the same thing you think about when you really, really have to go to the bathroom, and you're only about 20 miles from home, but you're passing a rest area... 'man, if I just deal with this pain right now and suffer, I'll be home sooner!'. Kinda...

So, on Monday morning, one of the nurses was looking at Hannah's hand and she didn't like the way the IV was making her hand curl... so she got another nurse to help while they re-taped the IV so that her hand wouldn't be in pain. Well, did I mention Hannah can bench press a truck? They couldn't hold her once the tape was off... so the IV pulled out. Have you ever seen someone trying to find a new born baby's veins to thread an IV? I have ... six times now, but I've never seen one performed successfully... poor Hannah, but daddy was there and she was calm for most of it... we discovered that she has thick skin, which will come in handy in the future...

So, once they discovered that they couldn't get the arm or leg they decided that they would try her head... I didn't object, but suggested that it didn't happen. Some say that I can be intimidating, but I did say please. ;-)

While we waited for them to figure out what needed to be done, we enjoyed Hannah for the first time without a wire hooked to her hands... she was using the IV lead kinda like a bolo (I think) where you sling this thing on a string in circles and take out your aggressor?! I think that's right.. Nip let me know... they are in those Karate movies we watch... that was nice... and she didn't hit herself either!


Then we got the news... we have decided not to put an IV back in Hannah, but will finish the necessary antibiotics via shots instead. Ok, sounds GREAT... there will be 3 series of shots with 3, 2 and 3 shots respectively. So 8 shots. Ouch! The final round will be given on Tues. around 11am and then they will want to monitor her for 24hrs and then discharge her. WOW! That's a day earlier than we expected to leave... That's great!

Well then Monday passed and Tuesday arrived... we discovered Hannah has a great vocal range during the first and second round of shots... the kinda stuff that makes your hair stand up on your neck... On Tuesday, when the Nurse Practitioner arrived, she mentioned something about the last series being around 2pm and then maybe we can be discharged.. Huh? 2pm is later, but discharged today? Ok... I didn't say anything to Kim at first because it was a maybe... and sometimes it's better not to get someone anxious, but I finally mentioned it to her when a nurse was talking about the next series being pushed back to 2pm.


And it happened... The last opera performance occurred between 1:30-2pm Tues. and then we began being discharged... The docs thought her progress was impeccable... clear xrays of the chest... this time I heard the word C L E A R...

Preparing for the journey...


I had noticed over the week that 'things' kept accumulating in our room... I shoved and pushed and crushed many bags to keep things out of the way, but it was overtaking us sure as can be. A few days back, I went to the house and cleaned up and changed some clothes out and while I was there, I grabbed a moving truck on wheels... our biggest piece of luggage... I told Kim and she thought aloud, why?, I have plenty of room in my suitcase still... Ha. I said, OK and brought it anyway... left it in the truck just "in case"...

"In case" occurred and I wish I had a picture... it was something like when Bill and Hillary left the white house... Anyway, there were several nurses that picked on us on the way out, but it was endurable... I was thankful that I had the big suitcase...




We stopped by Grandma and Grandpa Bowers' house on the way home so that they could visit with Hannah. Grandpa has been laid up in bed after foot surgery, so this was their first meeting. Hannah enjoyed laying on Grandpa's bed and trying to figure him out...

Hannah is enjoying her new home and had a tough night the first night home, but night number 2 was much better... daddy was bound and determined that the little rascal would stay awake more during the day time... and she did... we all slept very well through the night!!!

So, for now, that brings you more or less up to date...

8 comments:

Keetha Broyles said...

What a FUN post!!! I realize for you guys, while all that needle poking was happening to Hannah it WASN'T fun, but you told it to us with such humor!!!

Thanks.

Hey - - - I LOVE the picture of the trucks in front of the White House, where in the WORLD did you find that?

Watch out, Mike - - - I believe the blogging bug has bitten you.

Kim and Mike said...

Hey Keetha! Well, I have always been a narrator/commentator at heart, so I have enjoyed the play by play and allowing everyone to feel the situation as it played out. We were in good hands at the hospital so that made many things easier as well!! What good is humor if you don't use it...

Thanks for staying tuned in!

Kim and Mike said...

Oh, actually the pic was one I had seen years ago when the Clintons actually did leave the White House, but then the White House wasn't in the background... this was funnier! I guess Hillary forgot something, so she wants to go back!!!! (sorry for the political jab)

Amy said...

Yes, this was quite entertaining. Perhaps you should write a book. Glad everyone's home & healthy!

Anonymous said...

Mike YOU are a hoot! If your day job ends you could be a Stand Up Comedian! I'm so happy for the three of you, Hannah is so beautiful and I can't wait to see her!!

LeeLee

Keri said...

Mike you're hilarious!! I love your story telling!

WELCOME HOME!!!

J. Roscoe Womack said...

So glad you are home! I'm sure it's nice to be sleeping in your own bed (well, for the time that you are actually sleeping). Although it sounds like she is doing ok so far. Keep it up, Hannah. Repeat after me, "Nighttime is for sleeping..."

J. Roscoe Womack said...

That last comment is Jaena (I'm signed in under Jim's account on his laptop).