Still Here...

Well, we're still here and Lizzie is doing well. They turned her drains off yesterday and she did well. I could tell that she was having increased pressure in her brain because her behavior got all strange and manic. Today they took the drains out. That was so traumatic. They don't sedate kids to take drains out.

So she was laying in her hospital bed with 4 people holding her down while the doctor stood above her taking the drains out...it was sick, I almost lost my lunch. They numbed the two sites, pulled the drains out of her brain and then stitched her up. She was so sad and in a lot of pain with it, but now we are free to wander around the hospital without having to take the pole and without a nurse coming with us...if you have a brain drain, you have to have a nurse with you at all times if you leave your room area.

I then got into bed with her and we took a nap together and Ben was on the couch next to us asleep - I guess that experience wore us all out!

Ben and I have been trying to come home to spend time with our other kids and we don't want to leave Lizzie to update the blog, so that's why we haven't posted in a couple days.

Now we just wait out the weekend and on Monday she'll have another CT scan to see what her fluids are doing. If things look good then we can get released soon, but if there are still pockets of fluid then we will do another surgery to implant an internal shunt. If the surgery happens, then we'll probably be there until later on next week. We are a bit weary, but we know she's in good hands.

Spencer and Calli are doing really well. They came to visit Lizzie again and had a much better experience! Spencer had brought his blanket up to the hospital room with him and I said, "why did you bring your blanket up here?" He said, "well just in case....you know." I told him I didn't know what he was talking about and he told me it was just in case Lizzie started having a really hard time again and so he could have some comfort from his blanket - he is a sweet kid.

Sadness comes and goes these days. I came home tonight to be with the kids and was driving up the hill and saw all the lawn chairs set out for the parade tomorrow. I couldn't help but think of last year and how much fun we all had as a family on the 4th. I hate these unwanted blasts from the past - I feel we've accepted what our life is now, but it doesn't mean we like it or feel happy about it all the time. Lizzie is so bored at the hospital, so we're excited about the fireworks to distract her from just hanging out in a hospital room - have a great weekend!

(Last 4th of July with Spencer and her BF Savannah)