Karen

Sorry to keep you hanging, but it has been a whirlwind and I am worn out. Owen came home from the hospital on Sunday afternoon. He was so very happy to be there, too. The look on his little face when he saw his dog, Libby, was absolutely priceless. He can’t walk due to laying in a hospital bed for 16 days, and also from still being medicated with a sedative. But, he crawled over to Libby and gave her a great big hug, and her tail wagged so fast I thought she’d fly!

Now that he is home, I also headed for home on Monday. I have no idea why American Airlines does not have a direct flight from Washington, D.C to Atlanta, but they don’t, so I went from Washington to Chicago, changed planes, and then to Atlanta. The deprture gate in Chicago was on the opposite side of the airport from the arrival gate, so I had to hurry up and walk as fast as I could. I almost stopped to buy something to eat, but decided against it, and I’m glad I didn’t–they started boarding about 5 minutes after I got to the right gate.

I found out something about myself on this trip: I am good with take offs but really bad with landing. That landing part just about scares me out of my skin. And I had to do four of them–two on the way up and two on the way back. I think it may be another 20 years before I fly again, unless it is a non-stop flight.

When I got to Atlanta, my prince of a husband, Fabgrandpa, picked me up and took me out to eat at my favorite place–Red Lobster. It was delicious as usual! Then we headed home with just a stop at Piggly Wiggly to get some of their Rainbow Sherbert. He loves that stuff! (so do I).  And, when we arrived home, this is what I found:

 

Someone missed me!

 

 

Last night my son, Seth took me, Amelia, and Michael to the hospital to visit with Owen. The last time I visited him there, he was completely sedated so he did not know I had been there. When we arrived last night, Amelia was the first person Owen saw, and started grinning ear to ear. When he saw me, he smiled really big and said “Hi, Granny!” I couldn’t believe he remembered me because it has been two years since the last time we were together. But little Owen was so happy to see us all.

The respiratory therapist had given Owen a bottle of “bubbles”. While we were all there, Owen spent about a half hour blowing bubbles to help strenghten his lungs. We all had fun catching and popping bubbles, and pretending to eat them, which made the little guy laugh. It was very obvious that this little exercise wore him out, though.

This morning Sarah posted this good news on her Facebook wall:

“Docs just came in to see Owen. They are pulling the feeding tube today and if he showing good progress with the weaning of the methadone and the Ativan and not getting the horrid side effects then he gets to go home tomorrow around 10am :)”

 

We are really hoping that he can come home tomorrow. He has been in the hospital since February 10th, and that is a really long time for anyone, much less a little 4 year old boy. I especially hope he gets to come home, because that would mean I would get to go home too. While I have enjoyed being here for the most part and spending so much time with my son and his family, I wish it had been under happier circumstances. And I really miss Fabgrandpa.

This is a very good day! Owen was moved from the Pediatric ICU back to the Pediatric floor. My son just called to tell me the good news! They have removed the IV that was in his groin, too. Things are really looking up for our brave little soldier.

Seth said when they were ready to move, he tied Owen’s balloons onto the bed. When Owen saw the balloons, he started shouting, “Hey, look at my balloons!” to everyone in the area.  The little guy will be in the hospital for a few more days, but it is just so great that he is no longer in ICU!

Yesterday the doctor removed the breathing tube from Owen’s throat, and brought him out of the sedated state he was in for almost a week. He was still frightened and upset by all that was going on, so he was given something to calm him down. He still has an oxygen tube, but it is the kind that attaches to the outside of your nose. He had a good afternoon and night.

This morning Sarah said they were able to lower his oxygen in his nose to 60%. He is still taking meds to relax and partially sedate him. His stats look good and doctors are hoping to pull the feeding tube today as it is annoying him. He still doesn’t know whats going on and is having drug withdrawal symptoms. They are going to see if he wants to eat today or drink once they pull the tube from his nose. Thank you for your continued support, prayers, get well wishes, love and kindness.

Last night Seth stayed home and made an “Island of Sodor” , which is where Thomas the Train lives, for Owen. It will be a surprize for him when he gets to come home. Owen loves Thomas the Train, and plays with his for hours. Seth created this on plywood so the track can stay set up all the time, and just slide under his bed when it needs to be put away.

When Seth and Sarah got to the hospital this morning, the doctor told them they would most likely be removing the ventilator tube early this afternoon. Once they have him off of all the tubes, they can bring him out of the sedated state he has been kept in for a week. He will have to stay in the PICU for 48 hours after being awakened before he will be moved to the pediatric floor.

Amelia and I made a video for Owen this afternoon:

WE are hoping he will be able to see it tonight.

I went to the hospital with my son last night and stayed a few hours, talking to Owen and holding his hand. He is still fully sedated but they say he can hear us and knows that we are there. Seth took the sound track from Cars, the movie,to play for him, because that is his favorite music.

While we were there, the respiratory guy came in and told us he was going to turn back the amount of oxygen being delivered through the ventilator to see if Owen could maintain the proper blood gas levels on his own. We decided to wait until they came back to do the test for blood gases an hour later, and were very relieved when all the levels stayed the same with less oxygen being tubed in. It was a good positive thing.

Seth and Sarah went back and stayed all day today. They took some of Owen’s favorite books to read to him. One of the nurses on the floor had downloaded some songs that Owen likes onto her iPod and was playing them for him. I can say enough how much all the nurses, doctors, techs, and other employees at this hospital are committed to taking care of their smallest patient. One of the doctors who was on rotation to PICU last week, Judy, came by on her own time to check on him, and left a long handwritten letter to Owen’s parents.

We aren’t out of the woods yet, but we can see the edge of the forest now. Thank you all again for you prayers and concern for our little guy. It really means a lot to me.

When I bought my ticket to fly up here, I had no idea how long I would need to stay, so Amerian Airlines gave me wht they call their “compassionate fare”. It is the same amount dollar wise as their regular fare, butit allows me to change my flight as many times as necessary for me to stay as long as I need to with no fee. I initially booked round trip leaving to go home on Tuesday, which is tomorrow, but changed that today to Friday. And if the kids need me to stay longer, I can change it again.

And while Mummy and Daddy are spending all their time taking care of Owen’s needs, I am here taking care of Amelia, who will be two years old on May 24, our mutual birthday. This is the first time I have been able to make it up here to meet her, and because she doesn’t know me, it hasn’t been easy. I am just that mean old hag who won’t let her walk on the sofa. WE made some progress this afternoon when she gave me a kiss and a hug for the first time. Who knows if she’ll still like me tomorrow or not.