Home Again, Home Again Jiggity Jig!

AT LAST!!!

Benjamin is home from the hospital.

24 days. 95 pounds.

Even better than being home...

he is home without tubes or PICC.

This alone is worth a cheer.

We were so ecstatic when he suddenly started progressing

to the point the NG tube could be pulled on Wednesday.

He began clear liquids on Thursday,

and all went well.

Then it was just a journey through the food chain, to home.

Hooray.

Now.....

If the problem is fixed permanently

Life will be Wonderful.

The surgeons feel somewhat optimistic.

Optimistic enough to say 4% chance of recurrence.

Not Bad.

Time will tell.

I have faith. :)

either way..

It's good to have the whole family in one place again.

I need a vacation. :)

Home Health

Nurse Nikki I am not!
I really don't want to become one either.
But it looks like I might have to.

The surgeon has declared that Ben will come home this weekend....
regardless.
If his output finally slows enough to pull the tube, he will eat and then come home.
If not, he will come home anyway. Tube, PICC, suction and all.
Still not being able to have any food or liquid by mouth.
Home health will deliver his TPN (food iv) each day.
I will be in charge of taking care of his PICC etc.
This scares me a little, I'm not ganna lie.

They are very confident his intestines will recover and work fully.
It just might take some time.
They don't want to rush the process, so will send him home to continue
waiting for a few weeks if necessary.

We really don't want to bring him home all hooked up.
It will be soooo hard for him, not eating, when we all are.
As it is we don't eat in front of him or talk about eating, unless he brings it up.
So we are really praying for a major change here in the next two days.

On the up side, we will love having him home again. :)

Absentee Teaching?

I feel like a slacker!
I have been absent from my Sunday School calling for 3 weeks!!
I am feeling somewhat guilty. Although, I don't think I could handle that one added thing.
Preparing a lesson takes a little time, of which I honestly feel I have none.

I haven't even attended church for three weeks.
This feels like forever.
I did get the sacrament brought to me in Ben's hospital room for two weeks.
Today I was too late for that, but gone during our church.
I know I shouldn't feel guilty, but I do. Is this nuts?
Luckily a great brother in our ward is just combining our classes until I tell him otherwise.

I am an absentee teachers aide too.
I haven't worked in two weeks.
I might like it to much.
It will make going back extremely tough.

Ben is progressing. His output has slowed some.
Yesterday they put him on a rotation.
6 hours off suction, 2 hours on.
They are hoping this method will force the small intestine to wakey wakey.
It seems to be working some. The output has slowed. And he isn't getting nauseous.
This is all a good sign.
He is hopeful that the tube will come out shortly and he will get REAL food soon.
No more food by IV. That's his mantra. And "Third times the Charm"
Meaning 3rd time in the hospital is the last.
We all concur.

Racing for Kids

Yesterday Benjamin and I had a fun surprise.
A bunch of Formula race car drivers who are here in Utah for a big race tomorrow at the Larry Miller speedway came to the hospital to visit kids.
So we wandered to the third floor lobby and Benjamin got to visit with the racers.
They were really cool. Talked about how they got into racing etc.
They all signed a hat, and various pictures and gave it to him.
Channel 4 ABC news was there too taking footage.
They interviewed Benjamin personally. ;)
He thought this was awesome.
I haven't had a chance to see if he made the news....
I did have Bailee DVR it. We will see, maybe he had 5 minutes of fame
straight from Primary Children's.
He also got a visit from a friend of his dads who flies on Air Med.
They gave him a hat and t-shirt. Being that he collects baseball hats, he is very happy about the two additions.

Originally we were hoping to be home in a two week time period.
Not going to happen. That would be today.
Still too much out put.
Who knew the body produced so much....Gunk.
Maybe sometime next week.
Yes, I really am tired.
All the back and forth etc.

Thanks to all who are helping me. You know who you are....
People transporting Brooklyn, people keeping Brooklyn for an hour or so after school.
Those who have brought meals.
Whoever is being a long term sub for me at work.
All the great nurses and volunteers at PCMC, especially the Math tutor. :)
And especially all those who have visited in the hospital.
It really brightens Ben's day and breaks up the monotony.