Monday, June 2, 2008

Post-Op Day 10

Finally a little bit of progress!

We've got the oxygen off, including the canula, the old piv out and a new picc (peripherally inserted central catheter) line in, no blood draws today, and two successful dressing changes on the packed incision. Drew did very well during the placement of the picc line and all they gave him was fentanyl and benadryl. He was able to hold very still for the 45 minute procedure and everyone was pleased with him. It was difficult for me. I'm pretty sure I'm going to need years of counseling after this hospital stay.

Drew's buddy Jacob came to visit today and it was all he could talk about since yesterday. Unfortunately Drew wore himself out playing this morning and slept for about the first two hours that Jacob was here. Then he had to have his picc line procedure. We finally got to play with Jacob in the playroom at from 6:30 to 8:00. Drew has been so much more himself this afternoon. I think it really did him good to have his friend here and spend more time out of his bed. He was even walking around a little from table to table.

Drew and Jacob playing cars

Keilani and Ava playing kitchen

Drew and Jacob playing tetris

So, no huge strides, but we are making baby steps. Thanks for your prayers and encouragement. I was starting to feel myself withdraw, but things are looking a little better this evening.

29 comments:

Kate said...

those pics are great andrea! so good to see drew getting back to himself, and to hear that you are getting back to yourself as well! and keilani is SO cute with her little smunchy face, haha :-)

Kacie said...

sooooo great to see drew playing with jacob! nothing like a good friend to lift the spirit. hooray for everyone who has made the trip down there. love and hugs.

Jennifer Herring said...

Hooray! I know you still have a journey ahead of you, but it sounds like this evening was definitely AT LEAST two steps in the right direction. :-D

DeAnna said...

Glad to hear that those baby steps where made! I am so glad that Jacob came and that he was excited to have him, I am sure that lifted his spirits too see a friend there!

Unknown said...

Look at that smile! It's so good to see him playing and having some fun. Poor kid had so much going on that playtime was the last thing he got to due. He'll have many more play dates in the near future!

Keep your spirits up. I'm sure your drained but this is almost over.

Quayle Covey Blog said...

I just knew you were gonna put that picture up! We enjoyed visiting today. When we got home tonight Jacob woke up a bit and said, "Mommy, thank you so much for taking me to see Drew today." It was so precious and sincere. He loves his buddy so much! Drew was a real trooper today, but you were a super trooper Andrea! We love you guys and can't wait to celebrate Drew's homecoming soon.

Anonymous said...

Andrea Drew is looking so good today, must be the friend, & the baby steps, you are such a wonderful mother, Drew will cherish the two of you forever for always being by his side 24/7. May God continue to give you strength to get thru this hospital stay.
Love, Gina L.

Paige said...

bby steps are great Andrea... I'm trying to get myself together to come visit soon. Thinking of you everyday.

PJ

Anonymous said...

WOW! Even as a person who doesn't know Drew, he looks much improved! I am so glad you are on the up swing, I will continue to hold your family up in prayer,
amber

Kathy said...

It's great to see Drew smiling more...and not so many "forced smiles"...

what good friends you ALL have!!
Here's hoping for a BORING Tuesday!!!
Naps for everyone!!!
Lots of love,
Kathy

Taria M. said...

YEAH!!!! Praise God for all blessings! :) Drew looked a little more like all of his other smiley pictures. Sometimes we all need just a bit of familiarity, like our friends, to make us renewed in spirit. I'm so happy that today had some small strides. God bless you all!

Lexi and Linzi said...

These are great pictures! And great to see Drew playing with Jacob and out of bed, I think I even saw a smile:) It is a great way to start off my day!!!!! Praise God for all of the steps forward, even baby steps are steps in the right direction so this is all good news! Hang in there Andrea and know that you are in my prayers today!

The Portas said...

Baby steps are good! It's so good to see a smile on that cute face. It looks like playtime with a friend did wonders for his mood.

Hang in there. Little by little, you are all getting there!

Matthew said...

I am so glad that Drew got a visitor that was just for him! Your kids sure are cute! And good news about the oxygen and everything. We love you guys and are still with you in thoughts and prayers!

Kristen Ewers said...

I'd call that smile on his face HUGE progress! I think his little friends are the best therapy! Hooray for Jacob, what a great buddy to wait all day to play! And how sweet that Ava had a playmate in Keilani as well. I know today's visit from Eben will be an encouragement as well! Try and enjoy the baby steps. Oh- and I know where you can get some free therapy :-) Love ya!
Kristen

P.S. Shae says to tell Drew, "I love you and I want to come back again to see you!!!"

Anonymous said...

Yea! What great news! And I love the pic of Drew with the GIANT smile (considering!). Hang in there, momma, you are doing great!
love ya!

Anonymous said...

If Drew is not to pooped out from visitors his own size Tommy and I are looking foward to coming to see you all on Thursday
Praying Praying Praying.....
Kristina and Tommy

Katie Scott said...

I am so happy to hear that Drew had fun playing with Jacob yesterday! It was great to see him smiling in some photos and having fun! And he has another friend coming to play with him today! I am glad, too, to hear that you are doing a bit better. We will see you on Friday!!

Amy, Steve, Molly, Paige and Garrett said...

Awesome! Nothing like a little friend therapy... for Drew AND Ava. I'm sure Ava was as happy to have a friend there as Drew was! Hang in there you guys! Every little baby step brings you closer to the end!

Jenny said...

Dear Andrea,
I heard about your blog through Leslie Kasahara and have been checking in over the past couple weeks. I just wanted to let you know that you and your family have been in my thoughts and prayers over the past several weeks. I cannot even imagine how challenging this is for you and Dan to endure, your strength and love for your children is tremendous and an inspiration to all of us. Both of your children are amazing (and totally adorable!) to be "putting up" with everything happening to them, there is no doubt in my mind they will grow into wonderful adults with you and Dan as role models. I know you wish you could do more to make Drew happy/ smile/ more comfortable, but you are doing everything you can, and he will be okay at the end of this.
Hang in there, stay positive, and remember that you WILL get through this. Warm hugs are coming your way from Washington, D.C.!!
Love & AOE,
Jenny Nieto Carey

Unknown said...

You are such a strong woman and you seem to be doing really well..just hang in there and continue to put your faith in something higher! The picture of Drew smiling just warms my heart. (Anything we can do to help from Davis? If there is an errand I can run for you in Sacramento or anything you can think of PLEASE let me know.)

Do you know the poem "In the Valleys That I Grow"? I keep wanting to quote part of this poem...and I don't want to post the whole thing here but I will put an excerpt.

"I do not always understand
Why things happen as they do.
But I am very sure of one thing,
My Lord will see me through....

Continue to strengthen me, Lord
And use my life each day
To share your love with others
And help them find their way.

Thank you for valleys, Lord
For this one thing I know
The mountain tops are glorious
But it's in the valleys I grow."

You will be stronger for all of this because you know and recognize what is really important in your life. Stay strong! You're doing great!
Carrie

Anonymous said...

HI!
Drew is looking great! Hang in there-I know the waiting is tough but you can do it! What a blessing that God has put you in a place with such wonderful support and friends (for you guys and Drew) to make things a little easier!! Love you!! Aunt Jamie

Jane said...

Glad to hear some small steps are being made. Drew looks a bit better to me in these photos, more "there" somehow. It's so cool that he had a friend come to visit.

You and Dan are doing a great job. You guys are a beautiful family.

Anonymous said...

It's great that Drew is doing some walking around. That's a big step (no pun intended)! Hang in there and try to remember that, in the long run, this is a short period of time. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with you.

-The Thompsons

Kym said...

Those baby steps are gonna grow into leaps real soon! In my thoughts and prayers!
Kym

Christina Canavan said...

It's so nice to see his friends visit. Baby steps...baby steps...praise God!!!

Anonymous said...

I am so glad we got to see you today! You and Dan are enduring so much right now and I am just in awe of you guys and how well you deal with it all.

It was nice to see Drew play and eat so much pasta. THese small things are getting you closer and closer to getting you the heck out of there.

I pray that Drew continues to walk and play more and more everyday. I pray that you and Dan can both get some down time that you so desperately need right now. I pray that Ava gets better too.

So happy to be with you today!
The Scott Family

Kathy said...

mama...
I just wanted to check in on you!
I think about you guys all day...I love Stanford...but, I don't like hanging around there for too long!
Love,
Kathy

Anonymous said...

Drew looks like he is feeling better and slowly getting back to himself, he has been through so much, but is doing so great. Hang in there, I am sure the time is ticking by, but you will be home soon. Take Care, you are in our thoughts and prayers.

Rebecca Myers