Wednesday, January 13

Nicole had a huge event today, she stayed at her grandparents house all alone while they took the kids to school. WOW, a hole half hour, all alone. Of course grandma extracted a promise from Nicole that she would not move off the couch while she was gone! Her appetite is increasing. She actually eats more than four or five bites at a meal. No where near her previous ability, but nearing normal servings. She has also gained the ability to maneuver up and down the stairs, without her mom standing behind her to catch her. Wait a minute, didn't I already to through the stair climbing learning curve with her, oh well I guess its just another thing she has to learn more than once. She continues to gain strength and stamina.

Tuesday, January 12th, Simple Joys

**Guest Author Nicole**

So for today's entry my mom handed the reigns over to me. I broke out of the hospital yesterday and am now residing on my grandma and grandpa Jones' couch. The kids have been staying here and now so am I. Ben spends the night here with me but has finally left my side during the day. From what I hear he was pretty much glued to my bedside for the duration of my stay.

Today's big mention of note is today is the day that I could take off the bandaging from the chest tubes and SHOWER!!!! A real shower, no sponge bath. Hot falling, cascading water. It felt so nice. But it was also the most exhausting shower I've ever taken. I'm looking forward to the next shower being a little less tiring, and a little more rejuvenating. It's the simple things like showers that you really start to miss out on after a week or two of going with out.

As a side note, under the bandaging, we uncovered some pretty gnarly wounds from the chest tubes. They're healing but they're not pretty.

Monday, January 11

Great News!!!! Nicole's pulmonary doctor has been by and says she can go home today. Now we just need her internist and thoracic surgeon to agree. It won't likely be until this afternoon, but from the same doctor telling us needed to decide how we wanted the kids to remember their mom, to recommending her release, is huge. What a swing in two weeks. One of her internists reviewed her record before entering the room, and was afraid to open the door because he was afraid of what he would find. Once he came in he couldn't believe she had come so far so fast. He final assessment, Nicole had a head on collision with a truck and the truck lost.

Our plan is to have Nicole and Ben join their kids at Nicole's grandparents. They are home during the day, which will let Ben go back to work.

It's a fluid situation, the internist just came by, and agrees to the release. One more doctor! Then of course removing her PIC line and gathering the beautiful cards, pictures, balloons, knick knacks and snacks.

Sunday, January 10

Nicole is down to one IV pump for her antibiotics and the PCA for her pain medication. That is a great sign. While she was in ICU one of the doctors told us you could tell how sick a patient was by the number of IV pumps they had. At that time she had six. We made it down to four and then when things started to spin we went up to seven. We are happy with one for now. Yesterday's ultrasound went okay. The ultrasound result has raised some mixed concerns between doctors, however they did agree on the need to terminate her TPN (total parental nutrition) which can be an added stressor for the liver. They will continue to monitor her liver function to see if it resolves.

Nicole is getting stronger, she took a walk down to the waiting room yesterday evening, watched part of the Cowboy/Eagle game with Ben and her Dad and then walked back. Much farther than the day before. She is getting up and down much better. The plan for today is to tempt her down there again today (the long way) with one of her favorites - a Subway meatball sandwich.

Saturday, January 9

Nicole is up and walking in her room, well, really just from her bed, to the restroom, then to her sink and back to bed, but hey its progress. Yesterday she took the big walk from her bed out the door to the fire extinguisher, a total of about 40 feet. Last night she spiked another fever, and her liver tests show increased function (actually too much), so another ultra sound is ordered and she is up to four antibiotics. I really do not like sideways steps. I guess it comes from the mantra "know the plan, plan the plan, execute the plan." I hear some of you laughing right about now.

Her spirits continue to rise. Harrison continues to struggle with responding to Dr orders on the weekends, frustrating her dad. He feels the need to manage the entire hospital, a long story about staffing levels and pull systems for patient needs.

Friday, January 8

Nicole is a much happier camper. Her Doctor just came by and removed her drainage tubes. She had really worried and fretted about them. Now she is just glad they are gone. Dad brought in some outside food, so Nicole had some teriyaki chicken and rice, chased it down with salad and milk. First attitude then appetite, she is on her way back. We are still watching her white blood cell counts as the infection is still hanging around and being treated with antibiotics. As one of the doctor's told her, they took care of her for the last couple of weeks, now it was her turn to work at getting stronger. It won't be an easy task, but she's tough.

Thursday night, January 7

Nicole is settling into her room on the forth floor. Room 408. That's right she had made the move. She still has not really slept since she came off of the ventilator. She is making up for the nine days she couldn't communicate. I really think she is worrying about them removing the drain tubes, she finds the thought of the doctor removing the tubes while she is conscious terrifying. Her medical status is much improved, but she still has away to go. She still has a lot of mucus to cough up out of her lungs and remains on antibiotics to fight the pneumonia. Her digestive system is returning to normal, but her appetite has yet to return. That is itself is a sign she still has a road ahead of her.

We are so grateful for all the love and friendship shown to her and our family. The prayers and thoughts from around the world have brought comfort as we have survived the last couple of weeks. The snacks and food you have delivered as we tailgated in the ICU waiting room have been a godsend. We have transferred some of them up to the Fourth Floor waiting room (the ones we didn't consume), our new home. Our worries have relaxed a little, but Nicole has become a little more work. She actually asks for things. Wants some ice chips, wants a Popsicle, a cool wash cloth, to look at her Facebook (it took a little while but I finally got her in, she couldn't remember which email address she had used). Non of this is complaining, we are just thrilled she can ask for things.

Thursday, January 7

Nicole is moving upstairs later today!!!!!! She is grateful to be in Bremerton, yesterday depending on when you talked to her she was either Utah, California, or Oregon. She wants to apologize for being so emotional, she was having a really hard time grasping why folks were traveling so far to see her. She begins physical and occupational therapy this morning. I'm sure she will learn to love them, once she sees some progress, right now she is not sure. Yesterday it took about 5 hours for her to be able to reach her nose.

Wednesday Evening January 6

It has been an interesting day. Nicole is awake and talking. We can understand most of what she is saying. Some of it is pretty entertaining, some medications can really change your perspective of reality. Her pneumonia continues to improve as does her digestive system. She still has 2 chest tube drains from her earlier surgery. Hopefully they will come out in the next couple of days. Her pain level is still significant, but she is breathing ambient air along with the rest of us. The doctor's think she will come out of the intensive care unit in a couple of days, as long as she continues to improve. She is drinking liquids and eating soft foods. Her choice tonight was lasagna along with chocolate pudding for her Daddy.

Wednesday Morning, January 6

Nicole's breathing test went great and she is off the ventilator. She is trying to communicate, as you can imagine. Her task for the day is to breath deep and cough up stuff from her lungs. So Mom was in charge of the suction. Mom is now updating the blog because Nicole is going to kick her butt if she uses that suction on her one more time. Nicole is back. Still sick, but the attitude has returned. Not long after she was able to be understood she asked, "What happened to me?"

Tuesday Evening, January 5

Nicole was more alert today, kept opening her beautiful brown eyes and looking around. All part of reducing her level of sedation in preparation for the test in the morning to see if she is ready to come off of the ventilator. We are still watching her digestive track, it is improving, albeit slightly.

Mid-day, 5 January

Doctor has taken another x-ray of her abdomen, tracking the digestive issue, and postponed the test for removing the ventilator until the morning. She remains critical, but stable and though she is still sedated she is more alert today. Opening her eyes, and showing displeasure.

Tuesday Morning, January 5

We have been waiting on the Doctor before updating the blog, but it's getting late. So we'll go with what we know. Her white blood cell count continues to come down. The transfusion was successful in resolving the anemia she had developed. Her digestive system has slowed down due to the anesthesia she has received, and is causing some concern. No word yet on the status of the ventilator, waiting on the doc.

Monday, January 4 evening update

Nicole has responded well to the adjusted settings of the ventilator, beginning the weaning process. We have spent the day concentrating on her blood chemistry. They have been adding electrolytes and are now doing a blood transfusion to restore her blood chemistry to "normal" ranges. While she remains critical but stable, the doctors are becoming more optimistic of her recovery.