Gymboree Time

After Tehilla and I both took naps, we both felt better and ready to take on our new living arrangement. First we ate some dinner and watched some Peppa Pig.

Then we decided to go for another walk. Her Tito (Uncle) Chaim came from the IDF army for a visit and this brought Tehilla to life. She played with him endlessly. We went for another walk and rode the see-through elevators up and down. 

We got off at the entrance floor where there are two large gymborees. She asked to come out of the stroller and go inside. We were hesitant but since she hasn't been active and wouldn't put any weight on her legs, we thought this could be the push she needs.

Very carefully we removed her and the oxygen tank from the stroller. She was very unsteady at first. We supported her and carried the oxygen tank through the gymboree. She was so happy!

She got stronger and more steady and needed less and less support. But obviously after only 4 days post heart surgery, she became tired. We quickly moved her back to the stroller and walked some more. 

We came back to her bed and Tito (uncle) Chaim had a balloon fight with her. It had her using her arms and moving around a lot. Tito Chaim is our new physical therapy program.

Not only has he helped with her movement but he has brought her spirits up to the point where she didn't freak out when the nurse came to take her vitals. 

Our surgeon also stopped by to check on things. He mentioned that they are not sure yet that she needs another chest tube, so they are watching and waiting. This would be a very good thing to specifically pray for. That her fluids drain and she needs no additional tubes. 

Thank g-d, we are moving in the right direction and really just focusing on moving progress forward. 

Unsettled

Tehilla had to be bribed to smile fir this picture. We both had a hard time with this adjustment.

Our surgeon made it clear that we are staying in the big noisy, public awful room until Sunday minimally.

We are on our first walk to get away.

Transferred

Oy. We are here. On Floor 4. With no quiet, no privacy and just general frustration.

Tehilla and I talked about it and we decided that she is going to get better fast.

Currently, Tehilla is hooked up to oxygen and we didn't get a clear answer about getting an oxygen balloon so we can move around. So we are stuck here.

We are going to make the best of the situation. Somehow.

New Drain

This morning, Tehilla is happy and playful. She is eating and drinking nicely and freaking out when any doctor comes by. The nurses she is starting to get a bit calmer with.

Dr. Erez, our surgeon, came by. He sees that Tehilla is starting to build up fluids on her left side. They will be putting in a chest tube again on that side. This will not change us moving down to Floor 4. It will however extend our stay on Floor 4.

We have packed up for moving floors. I had to take down all the beautiful pictures. As soon as we get a proper room, I will put then back up.

4:30 am Naughtiness

At 4:30 am, the nurse heard Tehilla whining and walked in to find that Tehilla had ripped out her ONLY good IV and had blood dripping all over her dolls, blanket, pillow, nightgown, bed- basically everywhere- and was spreading it around.

They came and woke me immediately and we had to clean everything up to a very miserable Tehilla crying and yelling, "Leave me alone!"

Thank g-d, all the medication that she is currently taking she can now take by mouth. They will wait until the morning to put in another IV.

She was very sad about all of her stuff being taken away for laundry. All except for her new Hello Kitty. Luckily, I still have quite a lot of goodies waiting. I surprised her with a yellow shirt with a pink flamingo that matches her flip-flops (Thank you, Rita!) And a penguin doll (Thank you, Eleanore!) to which she said, "It's lovely! My penguin!"

Now, she has fallen back to sleep and I will do the same!

Stepping Down

I've got great but awful news. Absolutely great, but "oh my G-d, not this again" news.

We are going to the step-down unit tomorrow morning. We are leaving the PICU and moving to floor 4 Post Surgery ward.

It's great, because it's a huge step in recovery and in getting home eventually. It's G-d awful because it is the most awful place to be. We will be put in a room with 8 other families that are recovering from all different kinds of surgery. It is noisy, extremely not private and the nurses are rougher.

It's kind of like trying to recover from surgery while out-running an alligator.

So...we have a lot of experience and what has worked is finding other areas to go to in the hospital that are quiet and private. Tehilla will be allowed to move and I will put her in the stroller and go for walks.

We will survive this. There are no guarantees of how long we will be on Floor 4 because Tehilla still has one chest tube in. But we won't be in that big room for the whole time. At some point we will get a regular hospital room on that floor.

Tomorrow morning. Here we go...

PICU of Dreams

If you were to enter Tehilla's PICU room right now, you would find it challenging to find the medical equipment. This is the story of how today brought endless smiles to our brave heart princess.

It started with Tehilla's Abuelo visiting and bringing her a magnetic sketching toy and an enormous Hello Kitty balloon bouquet.  Tehilla immediately started playing and even starting using her arms more and moving around.

Next, Aunty Sarah gave her two presents. One was a kaleidoscope and the other was princess jewelry and crown. Tehilla was so happy getting dressed up.

The hospital staff couldn't get over the smiling princess in the hospital bed. Aunty Sarah also brought sushi for us. Tehilla immediately asked for some and we got the all clear, matched with many laughs, to give her sushi.

20 minutes later, a delivery man came with an even larger Hello Kitty balloon bouquet, with a Hello Kitty doll on top from Amy and Jonathan!

The doctors and nurses were so stunned and couldn't stop joking about the Hello Kitty palace that we have created in the PICU.

Thank you for everything that everyone made, sent, did, wrote and contributed in any way. Tehilla's spirits are being lifted and her road to recovery is going more smoothly because of it.