December 13, 2014
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Getting Creative
If you happen to have a child who HATES, absolutely, 200%, H-A-T-E-S, having anything on his face or head and you need to have him on oxygen you must get creative.
The fight to keep his O2 levels where they need to be has been a challenge to say the least. Even being sedated he fights the dreaded mask. This has lead to a lot of sleepless nights and busy days, especially now that Joshy is feeling better and wanting to sit up and play. We have tried hanging the mask around his neck, but we still have to keep his arm tied down :/ Plus his levels really are not as high as they should be.
We thought about an oxygen tent, but the hospital only has a small, infant size, tent. However, yesterday we decided to see if we could make it work. Because it is small and Joshy's platelets are low, the nurses padded the support poles. Also, Joshy cannot sit up inside of it, so we are setting the levels high and attempting to oxygenate the bed area. We are not able to keep his levels as high as we would like, but he is a happier boy.
We are thankful that we are seeing improvement. Yesterday's labs showed that his white, red, and platelet numbers are holding steady. Not sure about the other results. Labs likely will not be run today or tomorrow due to it being the weekend. LORD willing by the 1st of the week everything will be looking better and we can discuss coming home. I don't look for a quick release, but I pray he will be home for Christmas.
Yesterday we had another complication - mama had too many nights of not enough sleep. Not enough sleep + hospital stress gave me a massive migraine. The best thing to do when a migraine strikes is rest in a quiet, darkened room... ummmm... hospital rooms are anything BUT quiet, especially when you have a child who is fighting an oxygen mask :/ Jerry had his classes, plus inadvertently mine, to cover before he could come to the hospital to take over. Bekah has a cold so couldn't come. All I could do was curl up on my cot and pray the room would stop spinning. The nurses ended up picking up what I usually handle. I did my best to hang on until Jerry got there, but after I was sick again, they let me head home. A full nights sleep has me feeling much better!!
I have spent today at home. I haven't rested as much as I probably should have, but I have tried to take it somewhat easy. I am pleased that the Christmas gifts we already had have now been wrapped. With Kei's help we also have cookies baked for tomorrow Sunday School project & frosting made for the cookies, as well as, for next Saturday's Children's Christmas party. The girls & I also got a little shopping done.
Jerry & I are going to need to get creative to cover classes & Christmas events. After yesterday's headache, I just cannot be at the hospital every night. We are going to need to switch off and on more. Please pray for us.
Comments (3)
Glad you could get some sleep. I wonder if the new oxygen arrangement will help him at night? Hospital stays are awful in Japan. I can't believe what I was reading in a book about life as a foreigner in Japan who was raving about the medical system. Grrr. Haven't been able to finish the book.
Thanks for the update. Praying that the oxygen situation will improve, and that you will be able to get some adequate rest.
Praying that God will send help for you somehow.