Sunday, November 23, 2008

sunday afternoon

Steve brought the boys in today, as he did yesterday, and it was so good to hear Daniel's chatty chatter and see Ben's big grins. I think he's getting ready to crawl! He's getting good at lifting his butt into the air and scooting forward, as he did on my hospital bed. I missed seeing that progress in the past week, so it was a fun surprise. Both boys have charmed the nurses. Daniel says "hi" to anyone who comes into the room, and he likes to push the buttons that make my bed go up and down. He's getting better about staying out of non-childproof areas, and today I even walked with him down to the lounge so he could look at cars and bridges from his seventh-floor vantage point. He thought that was cool.

I am still at the hospital. We spent a good part of the morning going back and forth about plans, but the end result is that I am going to spend one more night here (to get another dose of antibiotics). Tomorrow morning, I am going to have my Hickman catheter removed, as they believe it is most definitely infected, and replaced with a PIC line inserted into my arm so I can be sent home for two weeks of antibiotic IV treatment to get rid of this infection. The PIC line will come out after the antibiotics are done, and I don't know what they'll use for my next round of chemo, which is scheduled for later in December.

I'm not too happy about these latest developments - shooting the breeze in the hospital for another full day with nothing to do but wait for a round of antibiotics tonight, losing the convenient catheter that I've been so careful about maintaining for months (and that has allowed me to avoid many an arm poke for blood draws). I'm not happy about it, but I don't want to dwell on it today. This whole week has taxed my spirits and scared me a lot, and I need to find some way to breathe back some positive vibes.

I really want to say thank you to all of you for your support. I don't know some of you in person, but I do feel like I've gotten to know you through your blogs and our shared experiences. (Card Blue and L, and Josh, and other sarcoma bloggers especially.) I am offering up Thanksgiving prayers for you all week.

20 comments:

Madwoman of Preserve Path said...

That's our girl! Happy you're taking a deep breath and pressing on. Kids are wonderful therapy (most days, anyway) and keep us in the moment, don't they? Bunches of hugs to you. Bon courage!

Agape said...

May your spirits be lifted up in the love that surrounds you through your family, your beautiful husband and two gorgeous boys and all your readers you pray for you, worry about you and lift you up by there prayers. You are blessed and gifted and loved.

I think this book my be a blessing to you. It is a beautiful story of a beautiful life.http://www.amazon.com/Lynettes-Hope-Witness-Lynette-Katherine/dp/1888212993

I am sorry to hear about the hickman. I had a port a cath when I went through my chemo and radiation. It was the biggest pain but helpful, like you said.

Cheer up , you are here and will be home soon!!

Love, Lisa

Janet said...

Hello again. Glad to hear you moving past this crappy week. Glad to hear you are ALMOST out of there and home again (again). As nice as that view on the seventh floor is (I know)...nothing beats being at home in your own cozy space.

I can totally relate to your frustration with your Hickman getting infected. While I totally HATED mine when I first got it, I grew to LOVE it (no pokes). What kind of sicko says such a thing? Love a Hickman...I must be nuts! I took pride in the way we (me & my DH) took care of it, flushed it with Heparin (or Hip-hip-hip-hooray-heparin, as my DH used to say), and kept it clean. I'm sorry yours has to be removed. I've known other people with port-a-caths, so I hope that works well for you this time around.

Keep up the good fight against this dreaded sarcoma. You are strong! I don't know you personally, but I know a fighter when I see one. ;-)
-Janet- (osteosarcoma, diag. 2000)

battynurse said...

Crap. I'm sorry you are loosing your hickman. I hope they are able to get the infection taken care of. Hang in there and I hope that this is just a bump in the road and you will soon be home and doing much better.

Unknown said...

May you have a peaceful night's sleep, Emilie!

--Laura S.

french toast girl said...

Hi Emilie!

You might not remember me - we exchanged emails about artwork this summer. I came across your email tonight and wanted to see how you were doing. I wish you lots of strength and love. :)

darcie said...

I just wanted to pop in and say hi - I hope you are hanging in there. I don't imagine it's easy but know that we are praying for you and for you to get home soon to your family!!

Carey said...

Im praying for you Emilie. Hang in there.

kristine said...

Oh, Emilie. I wish this weren't happening..
I hope you are home soon.

rae said...

I just wanted to let you know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Rebecca said...

Ug, I'm so sorry this all is happening! Hopefully you get a wonderful Thanksgiving at home with your family and lots to be thankful for.

Amy said...

Hoping this note finds you doing better in many ways. I'm sure it was wonderful to have the boys visit you. All my best.

Valerie said...

A lurker here but just wanted to say I am thinking of you.

kate hopper said...

I'm so sorry about these new developments. I'll keep my fingers crossed that the antibiotics work their magic. Thinking of you so much right now.

K~ said...

Thinking about you Emilie.
Love
Kathy

Susanne said...

Em, sorry I haven't replied sooner, as I didn't have access to email this weekend. But Mom kept me posted; she said she had called you.

I hope you are going home soon, and you (as always) are in my prayers.

Agape said...

Emilie, I hope you had a good day and you are home now! I have been think about you and wondering how you are getting on.

Totally unrelated but I have been meaning to tell you:

I wanted tell you that I LOVE how you made your blog into a book for your kids and I have been wanting to do this with my Xanga for years!

I was so excited when I first saw that this service actually exists and you did it!

Unfortunately, Blurb doesn't import Xanga. Do you know any other companies I could check into?

Anti-Supermom said...

wishing that the day speeds by and you are home with your family on Thanksgiving.

My thoughts are with you, Emilie.

Roxane B. Salonen said...

Emilie,
I said a special, long prayer for you today. Sorry you're going through this but I know sunnier days are coming. The rays of sunshine will be your boys' faces. Keep your sights on that. Do not lose heart!

Kir said...

I am so happy to hear a "lift" in your voice, even when you're really fuming.
I am thinking of you and praying and hoping that you are home and comfortable very very soon.

Little boy giggles have become my "therapy" lately too.