Life at Home

Life at home has definitely been different than I expected.  Shailyn requires 24 hour care, she can't get up by herself, eat, drink, or get to the bathroom.  Since we have been home Tim has been taking the night shift and sleeping on the couch next to her to make sure if she needs something we are there.  Last night was the first night she slept through the night, which is really nice other than both of us got up a couple of times to check on her.  We have to feed her all meals and drinks through a syringe, which takes up a lot of our time.  The first day home it took about 10 minutes to feed her 2 ounces, now we are down to about 5 minutes but when you consider she needs to be taking in 56 ounces of fluid a day it takes up a lot of time!  She also had a rough morning today and broke down in tears because she just wants to eat (and I can't blame her!), we are trying to be as accommodating as we can but after blending up 3 different soups, making instant breakfasts, chocolate milk, sodas, water, milk, apple juice, and Pediasure by the end of the day I am so exhausted.  It is like having 3 full time jobs.  She is doing really well considering all that she has been through, even with a broken pelvis and hip she is able to move fairly well and enjoys being in her wheelchair.  Today we even went to my Mom's for a couple hours and let the other two swim and enjoyed a barbecue.  She only lasted about 30 minutes outside and then we took her in to lay down, it was so nice for her to be able to visit her cousins and get out of the house for a while.  Kyra and Brooklyn were both so cute with her, they got her anything she asked for!  I don't know how we would do this without the support of our family, just knowing they are there makes a huge difference!  Tim's Mom and Dad have visited almost everyday and both of our parents have done shopping for us.  Shailyn gets her splint removed and mouth unwired a week from today and we can't wait!  Thank you everyone for everything you have done for us, we truly appreciate it!

Feeding time...

Since Shailyn's jaw is wired shut, we are currently feeding her through a syringe with IV tubing attached.  Today she wanted pancakes... So I cooked up some pancakes, put them in the blender with some half and half, butter and syrup, put them in her syringe and I started feeding her.  Well apparently the pancakes were a little too thick for the IV tubing.  The IV tubing popped off the syringe and went all over Shailyn and her bed.  We had a good laugh before I had to give her a shower, thankfully our friend Fran and her family had brought over a shower chair about 30 minutes before this happened. 

Day 10

Finally Smiling again!

Her bruises are healing up nicely!

Getting Stitches out

WE GET TO GO HOME :)

Finally, her own bed to sleep in.  Maybe now she will start feeling better!

Day 9

Today was a very different day for me, we woke up a little before 6 AM and Shailyn wanted to get out of bed to use the bathroom.  As tired as I was I was still excited she actually felt good enough to get up!  From there I tried to get her to eat or drink something, and of course I failed.  Tim came up at 9:30 after dropping off Kaysie and Austin to school.  We spent the morning just the three of us, we talked to the social worker about getting some counseling for Shailyn as she is struggling with getting hurt - getting somewhat better - than going in for surgery and feeling horrible all over again.  After the social worker left I headed home and left the hospital for the first time, I had to get our mortgage payment overnighted today or it would have been late.  I headed home a little after noon and got there just in time to see kids walking home from Kaysie's school.  Luckily I pulled in just in time for Kaysie to call and tell me today was short day.  My mind has been so consumed with everything else I forgot all about Memorial weekend and her school schedule, I am just very grateful I got there when I did!  While I was home Tim was able to get Shailyn to eat some chicken noodle soup and drink some chocolate milk!  After I showered Kaysie and I went to Austin's school and the three of us headed back up to the hospital. 

It was great, they have a room here on the 3rd floor that has crafts, video games, and toys for kids who feel up to playing so we headed down there for about a half hour and enjoyed playing together. 

Shailyn felt like she needed to lie down so Tim took her back to the room while Austin and Kaysie finished up there projects.  Afterwards I took them down to the cafeteria and we came up to Shailyn's room to enjoy dinner together.  It is so hard having our family split up, hopefully we can come home tomorrow.  Shailyn has consumed enough liquids today to clear her for going home, however she is refusing any narcotic pain medication other than morphine because she is afraid of getting sick with her mouth wired shut.  She has been taking Tylenol regularly and that seems to take the edge off for about 3 hours, and since she can only take it every four hours we end up with one miserable hour in between doses.  Hopefully when the doctor comes to visit in the morning he will clear us to go home.  This surgery has been harder on all of us because we had the expectation of leaving the day after.  Hopefully her jaw will stop hurting so badly and she can function as much as possible as one can on bed rest.  I hate to watch her in pain, I wish I could go through this for her!  Bless her little heart she is so tough, Love you Shailyn and we hope you feel better soon! 

Day 8 - Continued

Well, the afternoon was slightly better than this morning, Shailyn was able to sit up long enough to paint while her Dad and Kaysie were here.  Kaysie brought her a cream soda and she drank 83 ml (not quite 3 oz) of that which is the most she has drank at one time.  We haven't been able to get many things down her today so she is still on her IV.  We have been able to reduce her morphine and giver her some Tylenol to increase the amount of time between morphine doses.  We don't dare give her Lortab yet because we don't need her to throw up and have to cut the wires holding her jaw closed.  I am hoping tomorrow we can get her to eat / drink anything!  I can't imagine how hungry she is... everything sounds good but it hurts to try and eat, even through the syringe. The good news of the day is we were able to get her off her oxygen so that is one less thing we need to worry about before she can go home. 

She has been through so much, I admire her strength! 

Lunch - Chicken nuggets through a syringe...

No wonder I can't get any food down her, just looking at them made my stomach turn!

Day 8

Well today has been interesting to say the least.  As of Noon today Shailyn has consumed 6 oz and 1/2 tsp. of fluids... Not looking good.  She is also very miserable today, which has made her so ornery!  She has kicked me out of the room 3 different times, the only thing she can say clearly enough for me to understand right now is "GET OUT!" and she says it with all her energy.  Poor thing, I wish she wasn't so miserable! I also wish I wasn't the one who she decided to take it out on but I guess I am the only option right now.  I really hope she can start "eating" soon (through a syringe) she is hungry but her stomach still feels nauseated despite the medications they are giving her to prevent it.  Hopefully we can get something in her this afternoon so we can switch her pain medication and maybe just maybe that will help her stomach. 

Day 7 - Surgery

Before...

This morning we were up at 6:00 getting Shailyn ready for her surgery, she couldn't have any medications after 6:30 so we had to get up and make sure she got what she needed.  After getting her ready, I helped Kaysie and Austin prepare for the day, enjoyed my last morning at home and then we were off to the hospital.  We had to be to the hospital by 8:00 to check-in for surgery so my intention was to leave at 7:15.  It was a good thing I was planning to leave early!  Do you know how much more time it takes to get your daughter in the car when you need to get her there in a wheelchair and on crutches?  Well for me it was an additional 10 minutes, but we were still okay until Shailyn got sick on the way to the hospital!  Not a good way to start out a stressful day!

The Surgery:

After we got checked in we met with the Plastic Surgeon, Dentist, Anesthesiologist, and 2 nurses she was ready for surgery.  The procedure ended up starting 25 minutes later than scheduled, mainly because I had a billion questions.  Her surgery consisted of realigning her jaw and putting two titanium plates in her chin.  Then they had to call in a dentist to make some splints because she knocked 3 of her teeth loose on the fall so he had to make some splints so they could wire her mouth shut.  After 3 very long hours she was finally done!  Everything went well during surgery, and I practically ran to the recovery room because I was so nervous. 

After:

She is so swollen!  We were in recovery for about 20 minutes until they brought us up to our room.  She has been very tired today, I am sure it is from the anesthesia.  Then she gave me another great scare, she had to use the bathroom so we managed to get her out of bed and into her wheelchair, from there we headed to the restroom.  She was still sort of out of it, although this was a few hours after surgery, so she was kind of wobbly trying to sit up.  Then she told me she had to throw up, it was a nightmare!  I didn't know what to do and couldn't reach the nurse call button so I was in the room screaming for help trying to hold her steady on the toilet while hoping she didn't throw up because her mouth is wired shut!  It turned out okay, she had dry heaved a few times but nothing ever came up, a nurse or tech came running in here to help me and took over because I was freaked out.   She hasn't been able to drink much tonight, she has had less than 4 oz of fluid since surgery so she is still on morphine and can't start her other meds until she has something in her stomach.  As of right now it looks like we will have at least one more night in the hospital, but that is subject to change.

Day 5

Today we were released from the hospital.  What an experience that was!  The doctor that released us made me feel horrible.  She wanted to put Shailyn back on the antibiotic that she is allergic to, and when I refused she got an attitude.  I told her I would be fine with that if we could stay in the hospital but she told me that was an unreasonable request.  I told her I was concerned about taking her home without oxygen as she has had it every night we have been at the hospital, her response was I was over reacting... So frustrating! I realize that she deals with these cases every day, but I don't; and once is enough for me!  Turns out, she did think my concerns were at least somewhat valid because she ordered a chest x-ray to verify there was no fluid in Shailyn's lungs.  The results: no fluid but she has 3 fractured ribs on her left side.  She also wrote on the discharge paperwork that Shailyn has an allergy to the Clindamycin.

Being home tonight has been nice but also stressful, Shailyn is doing well but is on bedrest and in a wheel chair.  She is only allowed to pivot on her left foot long enough to get from bed to the wheel chair.  We go back in a week to the Orthopedic specialty center to check on her hip, pelvis, ribs, back, and any possible sprains.  Because she is bruised so bad from the fall and on bedrest they are not too worried about the sprains.  Hopefully when she is able to put more weight on her legs we will find out more about her back.  She is currently on 8 different medications and they each have their own dosing schedule... After the second medication I decided I need to keep some type of medicine journal to remember when I give her what!  It looks like we will be spending a lot of time in doctor's offices for the next several months, we have follow up appointments with everyone we saw at the hospital and her pediatrician.

Kaysie was so excited we were home and she wanted a little extra Mom time which I didn't mind except Shailyn needs me too right now, so the bottom line is - this is going to be a very hard adjustment on all of us and Kaysie is still in her cast which means she needs extra help too.  Hopefully I can figure all of this out but as for now - It's late and I am beat, I haven't had more than 2-3 hours sleep at a time over the past several days and haven't slept more than 4-5 hours a night.  I will try to get some pictures up tomorrow, Tim is waking up with Shailyn tonight so I can finally get a full nights rest, so as for now I am calling it a night!

Day 4

Today started out really well, Shailyn was actually smiling!  Because she was doing so well when the doctor came in she authorized us to go home later this evening; however this afternoon Shailyn developed a rash which we are assuming is an allergic reaction to something - we just don't know what.  She got to get in the shower today for the first time mainly because I requested they show me how to bathe her with all her wounds.  She is not able to wash the top of her head until the gash that was missed in ER is healed.  My Mom and Dad came and spent most of the day with us, and brought me La Hacienda for lunch!!  It was so yummy, but I didn't get too much time to enjoy it because today has been pretty hectic. Natalie, and Todd brought Kaysie with them and then Tammi, Anika and Kyra came to visit.    Shailyn's friends came to visit us again today, it is really good for her to have a reference back to life at home! 

We spent the morning preparing to go home, the doctor's came in and informed me what to look out for... Wow, I am so terrified to take her home now!  Her spleen injury can be reinjured at anytime but especially during the first year, if anyone bumps her in the area it could cause her laceration to reopen and we could start all over from square one.  She does have a mild traumatic brain injury so there is a list of things to look out for in the future mainly relating to memory.  We were also told her veins are very weak in that area and if she strains too hard she could break a vessel which could cause a stroke.  And lastly the nutritionist came to meet with us, she will be on a liquid diet for the next 4 weeks... 

Then this rash came, she is itchy all over and it keeps spreading.  The doctor came in tonight and we are taking her off Clindamycin and trying a different antibiotic.  Now we can add Benadryl and hydrocortisone to her growing list of medications.  I really hope this will help, she has been so miserable and itchy this afternoon and tonight, I feel terrible because there is nothing I can do!

Shailyn Day 3

Today I talked to the Sargeant who was at the scene of search and rescue.  I finally got the details of how she fell.  She was talking to two friends on her way down the trail, she lost her footing at a turn in the trail and plunged vertically about 20 feet, she grabbed onto a branch that was about 1/2" in diameter but the branch broke and she tumbled / cartwheeled approximately another 85 feet. 

Shailyn's teacher, Mrs. Laver came to visit today, she let us know that Shailyn was only alone for about 15 minutes after her fall, she was conscious when one of the parent volunteers reached her.  The first thing she wanted to know was where her shoes were.

Today Shailyn started Physical Therapy and she is one tough kid!  She has a broken right hip and sprained left ankle which doesn't make it very easy for her to move.  She is able to put weight on her left leg long enough to pivot into a wheelchair this is great news as now she can get out of bed.  We took her on a tour of the Neuroscience Trauma Unit where we are staying and then down to the gift shop to get some nail clippers.  Chelsey came and gave her a manicure and pedicure, Shailyn really enjoys having pretty fingers and toes to look at.  Once we got back to the room we attempted to brush her hair, that was not an easy task as she has a hematoma and a couple good size scrapes on her head.  We got about 3/4 of the way through and she was done... Hopefully we can finish that job tomorrow so we won't have to get a new hairstyle.  They also had her attempt crutches but her body is a little too beat up for that right now, her left shoulder and elbow are extremely sore so holding her weight was not easy, she did accomplish about 10' to show the nurse she is an "experienced  crutcher".

Kaysie came up to the hospital with Chelsey and spent the majority of the day with us.  It was so nice to be able to spend some time with her, I miss her and Austin so much!  Today she put more tears in my eyes when she told me she just wants to have our family back together and in one piece.  I know how hard this has been for me, and can only imagine what it must be like for her and Austin.  Thank you Kaysie for supporting your sister!  We hope to be back together soon!

We had many visitors again today, I am so grateful for everything everyone is doing for us to make things as easy as possible on us, I don't know what we would do without all of you! 

Love to all, and thanks again for all of your support!

Shailyn cont.

This picture for some reason did not load yesterday, this is her left hip.

Shailyn

Yesterday was absolutely the most terrifying day of my life.  I received a call from one of Shailyn's teachers, Mrs. Miller to let me know Shailyn had fallen on her field trip at Mt. Timpanogas the ambulance had been called, but she was conscious and alert.  The nearest hospital was American Fork Hospital so I jumped in the car and headed south, Then I received call number 2... She was being life flighted to Primary Children's Hospital, my body started shaking and I honestly think I went into shock.  When I arrived at the hospital, they weren't aware Shailyn was coming, search and rescue was still working on getting her off the mountain.  We waited forever (they say it was about an hour) before she arrived, once she got here they wouldn't let us see her until the trauma team analyzed her.  FINALLY we were able to see her, and found out she had fallen between 65-80 feet down the mountain. 

As of tonight the internal bleeding on her spleen has stopped. She will be having jaw surgery on Tuesday for her broken TMJ joint and chin. She has fractured her pelvic bone and her right hip, she has a hematoma on her head, had to have 12 stiches in her knee and possibly sprained her left ankle and elbow. Her back and neck are not broken but she does have some disks that are compressed. We don't know what effect this will have on her until she can get out of bed. She has a lot of cuts and bruises but she is going to be okay. With the bleeding stopped they have allowed her to have some clear fluids, if things continue to improve she will be moved to a full liquid diet tomorrow, and she is really looking forward to a milkshake for breakfast! We will know more about her fractures tomorrow when the Physical Therapist comes and allows her to try standing for the first time since the accident.

Happy Mother's Day!

Mother's Day started out great!  Tim made the coffee, and he and the girls cooked up some turkey bacon and eggs!  He and the kids bought me a bonsai tree that is as many years old as I have been a Mom! (14 years, I really can't believe it!)  I was able to relax and enjoy the kids company this morning before we headed out to Tim's Moms.  After we were done visiting we headed to my Mom's for a barbecue and our first annual family baseball game.  That is when things got eventful... During our baseball game, Austin ran from third to home but got out so he was attempting to run back to third base thinking he would be safe.  However Kaysie had already made it to third and when Austin got there he toppled right on top of her, Tim ran over to make sure she was okay and she looked up and said "Dad, I just broke my arm."  Well, Tim usually over reacts and assumes any injury needs medical attention, I wasn't aware of what Kaysie had told him so when he offered to take her to InstaCare I just said okay (not to mention, I really thought he was over reacting to the whole situation) so Austin, Shailyn and I waited at my parents for the phone to ring and when it finally did it was bad news.  Kaysie broke both her bones in her right arm, and not only were they broke but we needed to take her to Primary Children's to see an Orthopedic specialist to have her bone correctly set back into place.  I told Tim I would take her, so he brought me the Suburban and Kaysie and off we went.  Once we arrived, we had to go through the ER.  It was one of the most traumatizing doctor visits I can remember... Once they reviewed the X-rays, they gave Kaysie an I.V. so they could administer the sedation.  (Kaysie is absolutely horrified of needles, so this was not a fun process!) Then, they brought in a mobile X-ray machine, an orthopedic specialist, a respiratory specialist, the doctor and the nurse; then they gave Kaysie what they call a conscious sedation.  It was horrible!  The sedation was very mild but it had a memory blocker in it, so she could feel everything she just can't remember it!  I sat there and watched as my poor baby girl was screaming through all of the pain of having her arm set correctly in place, it was pure torture to have to witness that!  She was sedated about 20 - 30 minutes and when she came to sure enough she couldn't remember any of it (Thank Heavens!).  The nurse then offered her a variety of sugary drinks, and poor Kaysie looked at the nurse and told her she couldn't have any of those  because she is choosing a healthy lifestyle... The nurse was perplexed but explained she needed some sugar in her after being sedated so Kaysie was able to enjoy a cherry slushee.  After she finished that they brought her back in for more X-rays, and everything looked great!   Now we just have 8 weeks in a cast to look forward to, and then we can put another memorable holiday behind us.

"I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much" ~Mother Teresa

Today we found out that Kaysie has pre-diabetes, or hyperinsulinism.  We are going in tomorrow for a full glucose tolerance test, a thyroid test and a liver test to find out the extent of what we are dealing with.  Fortunately, pre-diabetes can be overcome by making healthy life choices (Or a very strict diet, but Kaysie gets angry when I call it that).
Tonight we spent some time going through the food lists and deciphering what we will be eating from here on out.  To my surprise, school lunch is out!  Kaysie will be bringing a lunch from home the majority of the time because the items they serve at school are on the forbidden list!  (Honestly, I was shocked to find out that school lunch is SO unhealthy!) Afterwards Kaysie and I headed to the grocery store... 2 1/2 hours later we left with a carload of whole grains, fruits, veggies and lean meats.  Kaysie seems to be dealing with this okay, other than she is scared of what people will think when she has to eat her "special" food.  I am overwhelmed trying to take all of this in, and hope that we can be the support she needs to overcome this.  I am feeling a lot of pressure, knowing that this is the one chance I get to try to overcome what could end up effecting her the rest of her life.  Hopefully the tests go well in the morning, and I can figure out what to do with the ground turkey and turkey bacon that is now sitting in my fridge!