Friday, June 27, 2008

Post-Op Day 35--We've Left the Building!

Woo Hoo! We're out of there!

Drew was acting really cranky this morning and I was afraid he was trying to get sick just when we were about to leave! Luckily he seems fine now and hopefully he was just as tired of being in the hospital as I was. We had to have them change the dressing on his PICC line before we left and that was pretty traumatic as usual. Lots of tears and screaming, but we kept telling him it was the last thing he had to do before he could go to the hotel. Except, then his line came out a little bit so they wanted to do an x-ray to make sure it was still in the right spot. I swear it took forever! The last hour was the slowest! I finally went out to go for a walk and of course, the second I left they discharged us! So now we're all at the hotel and I'm just trying to get as organized as possible. We are waiting for the Home Pharmacy people to come deliver our supplies and then teach us how to give the antibiotics.

Drew gets his IV linezolid at 7 am, 3 pm and 11 pm and his IV Ceftriaxone is at 9 pm. His oral medications, Lasix and Aldactone are at 8 am and 8 pm. If we have any free time in between we can visit some local attractions and we are to "use our discretion" about where to go. We are still suppose to be careful about crowded places because of the risk of infection. When I asked about our radius of how far we are allowed to go the attending doctor said "we have a don't ask don't tell policy, just don't tell me where you're going." So I won't!

Our schedule for next week looks like this:
Monday, June 30th: 12:30 cardiology clinic for them to check the incision
Thursday, July 3: 7:30 CT, then an x-ray, 12:30 appointment with cardiology, then hopefully removal of the PICC line and freedom to go home!

We've met some wonderful people at the hospital and I will continue to think of them even though we won't be seeing them everyday anymore. Since we have to stay local I plan to do a little shopping and bring some joy to those families who are still in the hospital or still waiting at the RMH. I'm near tears just thinking of the love and encouragement we've received since we've been gone. Thank you everyone! We couldn't have done it without you!

Drew and Kiersten, our favorite NP

Last x-ray

Last pizza in bed

Drew riding into the elevator

Drew is outside of the hospital!

Family Photo

In the car

Back at the hotel

22 comments:

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

OMG... YOU'RE FREEEEEEEEE! How exciting is that? I couldn't be happier for you guys. Praise God!

Anonymous said...

Thank God - you're finally out of there! Next stop - HOME!

Praise God indeed!

Anonymous said...

Hi sister!! I am sooo happy that he is finally out of there. iv been thinking about both of you allll the time! me and marshall want to come visit soon. maybe once you are all back home we can come stay there and help out a bit. i love you and will hopefully see you soon!

-Rachel xoxo

Anonymous said...

So glad to hear you made it out of the hospital. We are hoping you will be home soon.

Anonymous said...

Yeahhhhhh!!! So happy for you guys! What a big step! love you all very much!!

Gina and the Gang said...

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT...I LOVE IT! I am so glad to see that your happy family is together again, even if out-of-town! Drew looks so happy in all his last hospital photos. Let me know if I can help with your "thanking project" for the hospital.

Peter Scott said...

WOW! AWESOME! I'm so happy for you guys. Can't wait till you come home and live your normal life.

Anonymous said...

Hi Himmelbergers
It is so so great to see you out of the hospital together as a family. We will miss you tomorrow but we will be happy to celebrate you and bore you to death with lots of pictures and videos etc.
Lots of love
Kristina Tony and Tommy

DeAnna said...

WHOOO HOOO! I am jumping for joy for you right now!!! I am praying that you get to come home for good on the 3rd!!!! We miss you all so much!!

Anonymous said...

Well, I think this calls for a celebration...

Hugs,
H

Kacie said...

HIP HIP HOORAY! My heart is singing right now. Sooooo great to see pictures of Drew OUT of the hospital. Thank you God.

Anne Marie said...

Sweet! We are so happy to see him back in his car seat, and beginning the steps to get back to his old routine. Nice job,guys!

Kate said...

SO HAPPY! oh, i can barely see to type right now, i just can't stop crying. i'm so excited and relieved. but to be really honest, i'm a bit sad too because you are one step closer and still not home where you belong. i miss my himmelbergers SO much and i'm just sick of not having you here. there, i'm not afraid to be selfish on your blog, ha! love love love to you all!

Kristen Ewers said...

I am in tears looking at Drew sitting in the hotel. Praise God for freedom!

Unknown said...

Woohoo!!! We are so excited to hear that you are out!! What a blessing! Hopefully we will see you back in town on Thursday.

kritiostodd said...

congratulations! Still waiting for the day you guys arrive home. There's no place like home, huh?? Miss you guys!

Jen & Todd

Amy said...

We are all so happy to hear this, it's the best news in a long time. The last picture says it all, your family is so wonderful

Anonymous said...

AWESOME NEWS!!!!

SO happy for you all!!
Love, Beth

Jennifer Herring said...

That is amazing news!!!!!!!! Praise God!

Praying for continued healing,
Jennifer

my life: said...

I LOVE the photo diary of all the "lasts"! I'll admit, you drew a tear from me when you said that it's on your heart to shop for the families left behind....that says sooo much! It also makes me think of more opportunities at my own local children's hospital...hmm...
it's good to see you "free at last".
:^)

Anonymous said...

Yeah!!! Iam so glad to see that your away from the hospital. It must be so nice for all of you.

I would love for you to come home on July 3rd. That would be the best birthday present ever!!! I will be praying that I get to see you on my bday!

We can't wait to hangout with you again. I was talking to Eben about Drew leaving the hospital and he was sooo excited. He didn't realize that he was staying in a hotel for a week. After explaining the hotel situation he decided a week was too long and we should just move to Palo Alto. I told him Drew would be home soon enough!

Yeah!
Jen

Unknown said...

Your out of there!!! I hope Drew has a good time out of the hospital. How nice...you all get to sleep in the same room!

Lots of love,

Vanessa