Long Overdue

Sorry I am alittle behind, but Miss Kendra is a 24-7 hands on right now.  We came home on Easter Sunday, she is improving beautifully.  I have been able to reduce her pain meds to three times a day and the valum only at bed time, just so she will relax.  She is VERY mobile and headstrong.  She started getting brave on Tuesday night doing things on her own!  She is cooperateing very well with her sponge baths at night and allowing me to take off and put back on her brace..  Her and Kiristen had a mini-egg hunt and she had a ball!  She looks great and is eating great.  The only thing right now is she is very demanding and whiney which I am told that it is pretty much par for the course.  Here is a few more pics I hope you enjoy.  Thanks and huggs and kisses from us..................

Back to Extended Stay

Sorry that I did not get to update yesterday, but we waited from 1200pm til after 500pm while the coordinator searched for a pediatric wheel-chair.  Needless to say we have not found one in Cincinnati that can be serviced in West Virginia. The Hospital loaned us one to use here until we go home and then we will have to do something different there for trips to the store or prolonged times when she will need to walk.  But we are back at the Hotel and Kendra is progressing very well.  Her trust level has increased and she will slowly walk small disstances by holding only your hands.  She is getting more comfortable and not needing as frequent pain medication, from every two hours alternating the valume and oxy. we have moved to 3 hours.  She is still quite comfortable and not sleeping as much.  We did go out and stroll around the parking lot for alittle more than an hour (she wanted to see her ducks), just for a change of scenery.  She loved it and did not want to come back in.  Hopefully the wind will die down and not get colder and we will try to go to the park later today after she has napped.  Her appeatite is increasing and has ate better today than since Tuesday, Kiristen has been a very big help and is over anxious wanting to walk with Kendra.  They are playing together and trying to get alittle rowdy at times.  Here is a couple more pics I thought you would like.  Kendra looks great and the swelling from laying on her belly during surgery and all of the IV fluids has subsided.  Will add more later.........Thanks again and huggs and kisses

This is her new Monkey....and her new brace.

Apologies for the hair, but it was the last of our worries.

This tinkerbell blanket has become a comfort thing, it is very hot but she wont let it out of her sight.  Smiling for the camera, telling me "I'm a princess, Mommys baby, and I love you...:)

Day 2 post-op

Kendra has had a pretty rough night.  I will try to remember everything.  She sat up on the side of the bed once, and walked with 90-95% assistance to the bathroom but needed carried back.  I was hitting her pump in advance but seemed not to offer alot of relief.  She does not like the idea of having a diaper on and wants her panties (one of the first things she asked for when she woke up). But they removed her cath.  As of midnight she had not urinated and they did a straight cath which she hated, but it relieved her.  They are saying her kidneys are working fine it is just from the pain medication and anisthesia that her bladder is not releaseing as it should.  Her bowels are working fine with no issues.  They have put her on medication to help with this but we are still waiting.  About 930am they decided to insert a regular cath again and she peed everywhere!  But til now there has been no more so its just a waiting game as to what they will do there.She has been up walking to the bathroom today with the same assistance as last night but not as much crying from her while doing it or sitting on the potty or toilet.   All of her iv fluids are removed but we still have the ivport for her antibiotic.  It is a large one in her right hand and is only functioning for intake and will not draw so we had to draw labs manually.  We casted her for her brace and I had big discussion with them about how the last one disabled her.  They have assured me that this one will be different, lighter and easier on her.  Kendra had to go down to xray so Kiristen got to pick out the design of purple butterflies for her (they only had pink in camo...).  We are still waiting on PT as the order somehow got misplaced..........  We allowed her to get a good nap with the way her night and morning went and then we are putting her in a chair and takeing her out of the room for a stroll.  I will take pics and post them tomorrow.  Dr Jayne was in and was very pleased with her progress, and feels we will see more mobility and cooperation from her tonight and tomorrow.  She is still trying to be little "jaws", but if it were me in that kinda pain I probably would be too!!  Hopefully the internet will be working in the room tonight and I will add more.  Thanks again and huggs and kisses from Kendra

One More

Post-op pictures

Spine Surgery

Sorry that it has taken me til now to update, but it has been a very rough couple of days.  We arrived at same day surgery yesterday morning at 530am, we were fortunate to meet with the entire team before surgery including Dr Crawford, Dr Jayne, and the entire anisthesia team, nursing team, and pain team.  I went with her into the enduction room and held her (she wanted to hold her own mask with strawberry air), I laid her on the bed as I kissed her cheek they were all very supportive and assuring me they had kids of their own and they would take care of my baby girl.  Her monkey stayed with her as always and I went out.  They called me at the waiting area and told me they were beginning surgery at 922am.  The proceedure lasted 4 hours and all went wonderful.  Dr Crawford and Dr Jayne met with me and was very impressed by how it all went. They were able to correct to a 0%..........She had no surgery issues as her heart, lungs, blood pressure and all went beautiful.  They did intibate but not the traditional type (used micro laser with a scope). Ortho was releasing her to go to the pac unit, but just to be on the safe side I agreed with anisthesia to keep her in nicu over night to be sure of the pain management.  By 230-300pm Kendra was sitting up trying to play with Kiristen.  She tolerated liquids jello and by 900pm was eating her vanilla wafers!!  She had a pretty good night as we increased her pain pump from 3meg to 4 just so that I could reposition her and control her spasms with alittle more ease.  Her and Kiristen are having it rough as they only allowed Kiristen to see her for a few minutes yesterday.  This morning has gone well, they have removed the continuious pain meds (now on orals), and only has one iv left (just in case).  She still does not want to be moved and tried to bite the nurse to let her know!!!  The blue gloves arent allowed they had to get white ones as she gets freaked out really bad when she sees them coming.  We just moved about an hour ago to A3, and they said Kiristen is welcome here to assist with kendra's rehab!!!!!  Dr Crawford has Kendra on a move at will order, so today we will be encourageing her to get in a chair and move what can be tolerated.  She is continueing antibiotics, and is still running a midgrade post surgery temp, but no issues.  She ate a couple bites of bacon this morning but not going to really work hard on solids til later this evening when the meds are alittle more out of her system.  They will be in anytime to cast her for her brace, and she gets to pick the color (I am sure pink will be her color of choice!).  I will update again as more comes up.  Here is a couple of pictures taken yesterday right after surgery when they let Kiristen in.  Thanks  God is good..  And Thank you Daddy as I knew that this day was your birthday and you would be with us all the way.