Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Eureka! We're Nuts

Leaving the hospital was pretty scary. Along with all the preparation and training came a massive dose of reality; we were getting ready to leave behind our nurse call button. No more buzzer. We have to get her medicine and food ready ourselves. That's eight prescriptions, four feedings during the day and one continuous feed through the night. All through a tube.

As Monday unfolded, it became evident that small details were overlooked. That set us back a little. A few last minute phone calls and a few more visits from product and hospital representatives were made. Then we were finally able to leave.

Now there's the six hour drive from San Francisco to Eureka. Little Miss Ali hasn't had to stay in one place since she woke up from her coma. She did not take to the car seat well. Ali punished our sin of putting her in that car seat with a major poop explosion. The biggest one of her life. The charming and beautiful Susan said that the car seat scared the poop out of her. But the front passenger seat of our little Pontiac Vibe folds forward into a sweet little changing table so it all worked out. But it did take two of us to change her and get her cleaned up.

The next big challenge for us, well the charming and beautiful Susan (I was only
driving), was feeding Ali through her G-tube without a machine. Susan had to plug a huge syringe into the port of Ali's g-tube and gravity feed her 7ml every five minutes until Ali got a full 75ml while driving up a curvy highway 101 through the Redwoods. The beautiful and charming Susan got to accessorize her ensemble that day with blotches of baby formula. It was quite a fashion statement.

Every loose end in San Francisco or Florida was magnified a thousand times when we got to Eureka. We had to maintain a Ali's strict medicine and feed schedule, set up new digs, and put out a few fires I left smoldering back at the office. Picture bringing home a new born and setting up a nursery all on the same day. Now add setting up the mommy's room, too. Got the picture yet? One more thing: add a special needs baby to the mix. That's not scary; that's insane.

So keep those prayers coming. We've been in Eureka since Monday evening and we're starting to see a routine coming into focus. It's all about the routine. Here are our goals for this week: 1. get Ali to sleep in her new crib, 2. meet with new her new pediatrician, 3. meet her new physical therapist, 4. finish unpacking, 5. get some down time for the charming and beautiful Susan.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Byron,
Thank you for the update. Am praying for you all!

"And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus."
~Phil. 4:19~

Anonymous said...

Thanks for taking the time to up date us all with so much going on.

We could not agree more with Lynne Phil.4:19

God bless!!

Unknown said...

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

This came up as my verse of the day and it happens to be my life verse as well. I thought of you guys instantly. Every hardship you guys encounter shows what a powerful God we have who leads you through this time in your lives. The fact that you're able to share your fears and doubts and struggles with all of us is such a great testament of your faith. Prayers still going your way!!

-Liz

Anonymous said...

Hi Bryon,
My daughter and her family have moved to Port St Lucie, Florida. I am here visiting now, but return to Oceanside, CA on Friday. I thought of you and your family as we toured the area. I will continue to follow your story and keep you all in my prayers. God's work is so evident in your lives!

All About Jesus,
Jan Arant
Calvary Chapel Oceanside

Anonymous said...

I am so glad to hear Ali is "home". Thanks for keeping us informed. I will continue to pray daily for all of you. I am going to pray specifically for Ali to begin to eat without that tube. Susan is amazing!

Carole Turner said...

WOW! You guys will be pro's before long!

Praying for you A LOT!!

God Bless.

Anonymous said...

Trying to get caught up after a few days away. Still need to go back in your posts.

I'm always so impressed with what people can do, when they have to. But knowing that you and Susan are not facing all of this in a vacuum, that you are surrounded by friends--known and unknown--who share your faith and hold you all up in prayer, gives you an edge. That's not the same edge you probably feel, at times, you're about to go over.

My prayers join all the others, both for Ali's continued healing and recovery, and for you, Susan, Charity, Paul, his parents, and all who are affected by this situation. God bless you and give you all strength and His peace.