Thursday, December 23, 2010

Packing

Rumor is we might be going home today - hooray!  It's scary and exciting.  Though, you know you have a special situation when your child's doctor gives you his personal cell phone number to call anytime over Christmas.

The biopsy went well.  The surgeon said they lifted the very thin bone and took out a piece of tumor about the size of a nickel.  Stitches should dissolve over the next few days.  They only shaved a very small part of her hair, like we asked them. 

She came back from surgery to the PICU.  There were 3 IVs - both hands and one foot.  They haven't used them since she left surgery, so they will come out this morning.  We spent the afternooon in PICU, but she was back on the regular floor since 6pm.  The nurses were almost as glad to see us as we were to see them.

We have stopped breastfeeding, and I am now pumping and bottle feeding.  We struggled with latch problems from her first day, and now with IVs and bandages and everything else, it is much less stressful for momma.  It's a little sad, but we might pick it up later.

Now, we are just relaxing in the room as she naps and we wait for rounds to discuss discharge.  Hopefully, my next post will be from home!

8 comments:

Andrea said...

It's so awesome you are headed home for the holiday weekend. I'm very glad that you won't be in the hospital on Christmas and that the biopsy went well. You are in everyone's continuous t&P's, and don't be sad about the BFing. EPing is super awesome and given the situation, sounds like the best option. You are super mama! God bless your sweet family.

Amy said...

Good to hear the biopsy went well. Hold that little girl tight. We continue to think of you and wish you all the best.

Jennifer said...

You all have been and will continue to be in our thoughts and prayers. So happy to hear you will be home with your precious girl for the holidays. You have such a strong spirit about you that she will continue to lean on and learn from in the days and years to come. God bless you all!

Vicki said...

So happy to hear Scarlett will be able to spend her first Christmas AT HOME!!! I wish you all a Merry Christmas and hope you have a peaceful and uneventful weekend. Lets hope next week brings hopeful news. You will be in our thoughts!!

Kimberly said...

Brandi, I am from BBC (July 2010 birth club) and am praying for your precious daughter and I also post on The Bump and am going to share your story with my friends over there so that they can be praying as well. I have made a badge for us to add to our signatures with a link to your blog using baby Scarlett's picture. If this is not ok with you, just let me know. I am just very touched by your family and want to spread your story to as many people as possible so that they may be praying as well.

I hope that you are all able to go home today and am praying for great results from the biopsy.

You can email me at kim@hunterfoster.com.

Anonymous said...

Scarlett is a true gift from God!! The number of people who she has been able to touch in a short time is just proof that she is a real life angel. She is and will make me and probably thousands of others better mothers. There is no way I will ever be able to repay her for that and no way we can repay you and Chris for being so kind as to share her with us all. I am not a religious person AT ALL but there is no other explanation for how many people she has helped and touched than being God's gift. I haven't prayed in over a decade but it's the least I can do for a girl as amazing and special as Scarlett. I hope that she gets to spend her first of MANY Christmases at home with her family!

Jessica said...

I heard about your story on BBC.

I am so sorry your family is going through this. I have an almost 18 month old - our friend has a baby the same age who almost died this summer - she spent 3 weeks in the PICU and 1 week in the regular unit and is now doing great. So many people prayed for them and she truly believes that is what helped her little girl get through it all.

I know it was hard for her and for you to see your little angel get stuck with needles and IVs and not be able to hold her when you want and nurse her when you want and just see her as the normal happy little girl you know and love. It's ok to cry.

I am praying for you and I hope that you get great news and have a wonderful Christmas - don't let this scary situation take over a wonderful holiday full of love and happiness.

Anonymous said...

Saying so many prayers for your sweet little girl and for you and your family... I am a brain tumor survivor. It is a terrifying experience to go through, but I cannot fathom having one of my children be affected. You are amazing, brave, and loving parents - Scarlett knows it. She feels it. May you all be strong and have HOPE.