Everyone has seen those kids...the 'sick' kids. They could have a wheelchair, or crutches, a shaved head, or a tube out their nose and taped to their face. We all feel sad for what they are going through and for their parents, wonder what's wrong, hope they get better, and give silent thanks that our kids are fine or hope it doesn't happen to us. I say this without vanity, simply in all honesty (and most of you know me to tell the truth, even when I shouldn't). But it is a very different and humbling experience when you have that kid. We have been at the hospital for two weeks now. For the first week, James was skin and bones, cried and clung to me all day, had the tube taped to his face, circles under his eyes. He didn't smile or talk for 3 days except to ask for milk, water, or mommy. I tried to take him out of his room, outside, anything to perk him up.
We now have a completely different child. It is fun now to see the nurses from that first week who watched me cry and held my hand come back from a few days off or a different rotation. They are amazed. The resident dr for our floor said seeing him walk for the first time was the best part of her day (prior to this, people were actually asking if he knew how to walk or talk). Today we played hide and seek in the halls while he ran and did his devil laugh. Last night I spent 30 min staring at his back and running my hand up and down, marveling that I couldn't see any vertebrae and could actually feel some cushion. His legs are thicker than they've ever been. His fingers are a little chubby. I can even feel some fat on his neck. He weighed in this morning at 21 lbs 3 oz. Apparently they retain water on TPN, and we can expect him to lose a little bit when they take him off, but not that much. We've always said James just wasn't sick enough for him to get the really proactive care we wanted for him and felt he needed. I'm very sorry he had to get this sick, and I don't want to do it again. Ever. But it might have been the best thing to happen to us.
We now have a completely different child. It is fun now to see the nurses from that first week who watched me cry and held my hand come back from a few days off or a different rotation. They are amazed. The resident dr for our floor said seeing him walk for the first time was the best part of her day (prior to this, people were actually asking if he knew how to walk or talk). Today we played hide and seek in the halls while he ran and did his devil laugh. Last night I spent 30 min staring at his back and running my hand up and down, marveling that I couldn't see any vertebrae and could actually feel some cushion. His legs are thicker than they've ever been. His fingers are a little chubby. I can even feel some fat on his neck. He weighed in this morning at 21 lbs 3 oz. Apparently they retain water on TPN, and we can expect him to lose a little bit when they take him off, but not that much. We've always said James just wasn't sick enough for him to get the really proactive care we wanted for him and felt he needed. I'm very sorry he had to get this sick, and I don't want to do it again. Ever. But it might have been the best thing to happen to us.
I am so glad to hear that things are turning around. On a side note, you are a fantastic writer. Truly. Even though your topics can be heartbreaking, I find your blog entries fascinating.
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