Get used to the Stairs

The hospital staff was sad to see Millie leave today, but we have never been happier to say goodbye to a group of kindhearted, sweet people. Traffic was never lighter and the drive was never easier than it was coming back from the hospital. Millie keeps progressing like the six million dollar man and just continues getting better, stronger, and faster. Her doctors reminded her upon her release today that she'll feel like doing things in the coming days/weeks/months, but she has to discipline herself to be a sloth. She can't really go anywhere, or do much of anything other than stay in bed and occasionally get up for carefully supervised grooming activities. It sounds kind of like being in prison. Millie asked me how I thought I would be able to handle bed rest and I said I thought I would be well suited to it. I've always been naturally inclined to sloth-like activities. That's one of the beauties of our marriage, where one is weak the other is strong. I'll...

Millie's brother and sister-in-law presented her with the most wonderful shock the other morning. They surprised her by flying her dad down to be with her for the weekend. When he came into her room she just started crying. As difficult as this process has been, it has been tempered by the presence of caring and attentive friends and family. We're grateful that while we're so busy at the hospital our son and dear daughters are in such good hands. I can only hope that our pet turtle is faring as well in our absence. Everything is progressing exceptionally well. Our fetal surgery team has gone to Austin for a conference, but Millie is on track for discharge on Sunday. Her pain is sill omnipresent, but every day it gets a little better. She'll be sent to her brother's house tomorrow where she'll be on strict bed rest. She returns for a followup appointment on Friday. Her folks will head home Sunday night, then Davey and I will fly out Monday morning. ...

Millie had a difficult night. It's been tough getting on top of the pain that she's feeling. She tries to keep a brave front, but one of the surgeons came to check on her and she just broke down. He was so kind. The head nurse came in and kept asking Millie if she could make her some hot tea, or cold tea to calm her stomach. Millie was so touched but had to say, "I don't drink hot tea," then "I don't drink cold tea." The sweet nurse said, "I've got to make you something!" and came back with hot apple juice. The medical staff has been so amazing. We keep expressing our gratitude to them. They (like so many of you) will never truly know just how touched we are by their actions. Finally this morning Mill's body has started responded well to the oral pain medications and she has been able to rest more peacefully. Her mom helped her put on some makeup and do her hair. Millie was so happy to feel somewhat normal after a ...

Millie's been out of surgery now for about 47 hours. She had a good night last night and has seen all three of the pediatric surgeons this morning. They all say she's doing just great. Today's a big day. They've already removed her epidural and she's started taking pain medication by mouth. She's experiencing a lot of pain and occasional mild contractions but she keeps enduring. Every contraction scares us, but the doctors reassure us that it's normal at this point because the uterus has been through so much. Millie had solid foods for breakfast and will need to get up later today for a shower. She faces every new challenge with her characteristic humor and courage.

Millie's night was long and uncomfortable. Her wonderful mother stayed with her while I went to her brother's house to be with Davey. I'm so grateful for Davey's aunt and uncle and cousins who are so attentive to him. He's been pretty grouchy, I think these past few days have been a bit trying for him. During the night amidst the frequent medication administrations, position changes, and vital signs monitoring Millie started experiencing some mild contractions. Her blood pressure was also dropping too low. The doctors didn't seem too concerned and were able to regulate things with some medication adjustments. Now her vitals all look good and Maggie's are all stable as well. Because of the combination of all the meds she has to be on she feels hot and itchy and generally in a haze. She can't open her eyes without great effort and it's difficult for her to talk. Channel 2 did one last interview with her before heading back to Salt Lake and she...

We're here. Houston seems a little smaller this time around, maybe we just don't feel quite so out of place. Channel 2 came to Texas with us on the same flight. We turn quite a few heads walking through airports considering we have Davey in his wheelchair, and a cameraman and reporter documenting our every move. After getting up so early that even the feral peacocks in our neighborhood weren't awake, we had stops in Phoenix, and El Paso, and were then met at the Houston airport by some close friends who took us straight to the hospital. We were welcomed there by our wonderful team. After more ultrasounds, paperwork, consults, and doctor visits we're ready for bed. I'm scared, getting the IV was awful--nurses never believe me until they see me in action. Matt reassures me that I did beautifully, I wasn't even close to passing out according to him, but I'm not so sure. Seeing my mom, nieces, and nephews helped to ease the pain. Davey is the best care...

Yesterday, Friday, Educators Mutual called us at 12:30 to tell us that we'd been denied once more.  Sad, mad.  Then at 4:30 on Friday we got another call saying we'd been approved.  Finally, an independent reviewer determined that the surgery was NOT experimental.  What a genius!  The insurance went over all the details to make sure we understood that it was "not in network" and that they would only cover 80% of the allowed amounts.  The 20% and anything over the allowed amount was ours to pay.  We didn't care.  This news meant we could do the surgery!  Thank you Educators Mutual. I immediately called Childrens Memorial Hermann Hospital, so they wouldn't cancel the operating room for Tuesday.  They too had faith that it would work out and hadn't cancelled the surgery yet.  Then I called the news to give them the latest for their 5:00 story.  Then I called my mom.  That was a sweet phone call.  I know this ...