"Hugs & Kisses"

What a fitting name for the quilt that was given to Jessica while she was in ICU.  Hugs and Kisses is what she has been surrounded by these past couple days.  Our nurse “Fred” was amazing and felt really bad in how much pain she was in.  He said he found it frustrating because working in ICU, he can go home knowing he has taken the pain away from the children patients.  In Jessica's case, he was unable due to the type of pain and the ordered Morphine was making it worse.

Last night a resident from Orthopaedics came to visit Jessica to take a look at her incision and have her dressing changed.  Her incision is exactly where the last one was, however, it looked at little different than last time...more blood on the bandage. 

Steve had a good grip on Jessica because it’s true what everyone is saying...SHE’S A FIGHTER!!!  The Doctor said the incision looked great and had no concerns.

Montreal sick Kids Hospital is a teaching hospital.  You usually get seen by the residents before the actual doctor comes to see you.  We had an amazing Doctor that was working in ICU while we were there.  When Fred stated he was concerned about Jessica’s distension in her stomach he came to see Jessica...not the resident.  He did a rectal exam and stated that her plug or obstruction was much higher because there was nothing in her rectum.  Suction was put on her g-tube to take excess fluids and gases that were building up.  Within seconds, over 50 cc’s of fluid came out which relieved her cramps a bit.  Jessica did have a restless night.

In the morning the doctors came by along with the pain management team and suggested to put her on Nubain.  Nubain is similar to Morphine but doesn’t cause constipation issues like Morphine.  They also suspended her Nutrin Junior feeds and have ordered her on a “special” intravenous diet that had all her fats, protein and carbs...that should come tonight as it takes time for the pharmacy to brew it up.  We have doubled her dose of laxative to get things moving.  We are willing to try anything after last night.   

Around lunch time they moved Jessica down to the regular ward.  Before moving her they gave her a dose of Nubain and both Steve and I couldn’t believe how much it knocked her out and relieved her cramps.  Yeah!!

Not even a smile L

There is definitely a big difference moving from ICU to the regular ward.  Jessica had the one on one care in ICU and the nurses on the ward are run off their feet.  There were a couple of times Steve had to call for a nurse for pump & med issues...HE’S ON IT!!!

We had a visit from Ian around 7pm to make a brace for Jessica.  This brace will help prevent sudden movements which may loosen some of the hardware that was placed in her spine.  Ian came at the perfect time because Jessica was starting to feel uncomfortable again and we were able to give her some Nubain.

I don’t think it would have gone so good without that medication.  It pretty much knocked her out and we were able to roll her over.

Jessica isn’t as rested and is more irritable than last time. There have been times when Steve and I are constantly by her bed trying to sooth her or rub her stomach. Hopefully the Nubain helps and her bowels will start moving!!!

Thank you NUBAIN...sleeping peacefully!