Tuesday, June 2, 2009

~ X Marks the Spot~



Today was another GREAT day! He is still sleepy and in a lot of pain but he his progress has been great! His lovely nurse Katie created a board for his goals he needs to accomplish in order to be released.

Katie explained the criteria for Anthony to be released from the hospital. There are typically 6 goals that children with his type of injury and his level of severity, have to meet. First thing is to stand or walk 4 times a day, second thing is to be able to urinate, third thing is to be able have a bowel movement, fourth thing is to be eating on his own, fifth thing is to be able to drink and tolerate liquids, and the sixth goal is that they have to be able to take oral medication. So on the goal board that Katie made for Anthony were 4 empty squares for each time he stood up or walked a little bit and when I left his room to meet my husband, kids and my best friend Alauna, he had already earned 3 X's. By the time we got back he had to get up to make a bowel movement so he killed 2 birds with one stone by passing off his goal for a bowel movement and getting up for the fourth time today!

I am so proud of you Anthony. You did it! You got your 4 X's for the day! Yay! So out of the 6 goals, has already accomplished 3! Can you believe it? I can. He's my lil fighter and always will be! I'm so proud of him. He absolutely hates taking any kind of medicine and will NEVER tell you when he is in pain because he's such a sweet kid and doesn't want to inconvenience anyone, and like I said, he hates medicine. Even if I ask him if he hurts he'll tell me no. The only way I can tell is when he starts to blink his eyes to try to stop the tears.

So far he passed the standing up four times a day rule, urinating, having a bowel movement, being able to take his medication orally, and he tries to drink as much as possible but he is having a really hard time with tolerating it, so they told me as soon as he starts to eat and his stomach can tolerate liquids and food, he can be released! I can't believe it! I am soooooooo happy. It may still be a while because right now he says he can't even take a sip from his sprite and what kid turns down pop? He must be feeling really bad. I can't even imagine him being able to eat anytime soon, but I am hopeful!

Anthony got a new toy today from Alauna, and some get well soon cards from the neighbors and the kids at his school. We would like to thank all of you from the bottom of our hearts! It really means alot.

We were hoping his neck would be cleared today but unfortunately, he didn't pass. He can't move because it hurts too bad so he will be in the brace for a couple of weeks at least. Speaking of his brace, he was also visited by Beto, Marcel, Zander, and Alyzea. I guess she didn't like her big brother in that neck brace either because she kept grabbing it and pulling on it! Lol

He is now complaining about severe pain in the arm that's not broken so I'm a little worried because he never complained about it before. I asked his nurse to see if they Xrayed his whole body when he came into the ER to make sure that his other arm isn't broken too, and they didn't so he is off with the Xray tech at the moment(Update: his other arm is not broken:). I think it hurts so bad now, because they took him off the morphine and it made him sleep alot. So now that he's on oral medication he's not sleepy and it seems to ware off faster than the morphine. I think it's hurting him so bad because of bruising, but thankfully he doesn't have 2 broken arms, one is bad enough!

Anyway, I am ecstatic with the progress he is showing and I can see the light at the end of this long tunnel. Of course it's gonna be a long road ahead of us, even when he gets released because he will need constant care until the pain subsides, but I think he will be so happy to be home that it may help him not to think about his pain. I don't know, but I can't wait to go home and be with my family, but I am not leaving this hospital without my son. I am just so grateful that they do no think his head will stay deformed, he has not had to have any surgeries, stiches, and any other permanent damage. It's a miracle. It the only explanation for how fast he's healed and how minimal but painful his injuries are!

~Jazzy~

Well yesterday was another great day. I finally found out what my neighbors name is who is the nurse that came to the house to assess Anthony. Her name is Jesse, and she came to visit with her husband and her cute little boys. I was really surprised. I am amazed at the outpouring of love and support we have received, not only from friends and family, but strangers and the new friends we have met from this experience. Marcels teacher came to visit too, but I was knocked out from exhaustion and never even heard her in the room. It was weird because when I woke up I saw 2 bags. One had food in it and a card, and the other was a bag of clothes. I thought it was the weirdest thing ever! I must have been loosing my mind because I could have sworn someone had moved in my room while I was sleeping. I finally found out from our nurse after texting all my friends to see if they came to visit while I was sleeping, that she had come to visit and didn't want to wake me. She also wanted to bring the bag of clothes to donate for my boys. Thank you guys so much. It really means alot to us that you came to visit. Anthony would like me to tell you guys Thank You and to Gavin and Vonn as well, who both brought Anthony coloring books and a balloon. Thank you from me too!

Anthony is still doing great and has improved alot. His doctors want him to try to get up today and walk around 4 times. He doesn't think he can, but he said he would try. He has also started to drink liquids, which has been going pretty well. He's only thrown up once :) He is still in alot pain and on the morphine but he's waking up more and more and watching TV :)

I told my nurse I normally don't look like a blow fish and she said don't worry about, stress makes you ugly! Huh. Well, alrighty then! Time to take a shower and put some makeup on!


Anthony was also visited by Jazzy today. Jazzy is a Therapy Dog that visits children while they are in the hospital. He was so happy. I think it's amazing what they do and what a great service! Here's a picture of him. He's really cute but kinda shaggy so you can't see his eyes.

I've also been thinking alot about Irony. I had to go to Walmart yesterday to get my baby some formula and I noticed the little sign by the credit card machine at the checkout line for donating to Primary Children's Medical Hospital. Everytime I have been asked to donate a dollar to them I have and I am so thankful I did. I will definitely be donating EVERY time I am in a Walmart checkout lane and I would just like to ask you all to do the same. They really do a great job and I am so thankful to them and their passion!