We are home!

We all felt great being home last night.  Zoe was asleep in the car when we left the hospital, was greeted by a warm bath, cried through the whole thing since it was torture I'm sure, then propped up in our bed on a new bean bag for the 950th showing of Tangled.  We got started on the medications, and like clockwork I got up very three hours to administer something to her so she would sleep peacefully.  We both (ha! ALL three plus the dog) got a GREAT night's sleep.

Family and friends stopped by for a little bit, and Zoe's chipper spirit was back.  Smiling, giggling, hugging, kissing, and bossing around (of course) is back in full swing.  She can't do much of anything physical yet, but I'm not expecting her to.  Dr. Swift said she would let us know when she's ready to do any of that.

We are up and relaxing this morning.  Jay headed into work for what he hopes to be a short day.  It seems like a nice cloudy day which always makes for a calm environment.  Thanks again for all of your prayers.  I wish there was a way Zoe could hug each of you because she would.  There's just nothing better than seeing your child start to feel better and function like her old self.  God has a plan for all of this, and sometimes it feels there is no rhyme or reason, but I'm constantly reminded of what was said in Isaiah 55:8-11,

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." "The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it."

Zoe finally home and huggin' on her Mama.

Bananas, Chocolate Milk, and Rapunzel...again

Pain was controlled all night and she slept like a champ.  Even through me giving her pain medicine orally, she was able to get some well deserved sleep. I woke up curled up next to her this morning, and she asked, "Mom? Want to wake?"  It was very sweet.  The doctors think she will get to go home later today. They want us to get her up and moving, but she just starts crying with the slightest adjustment so I'm pretty nervous about transporting her to the car.  We will see.

So as you can probably tell by the title, she's scarfing down a banana, munching on Cheerios, sipping on chocolate milk, and watching Tangled for the 900th time it feels like. We may venture to the playroom in a little bit and see how that goes.  I'll update you all once we're home.  Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers. We love you!

Feelin' better!

She's starting to come around!  Both Zoe and Mama got a nice 2+ hour nap this afternoon in addition to her on and off naps this morning.  She's currently enjoying a combination of goldfish and reese's pieces and sipping chocolate milk right now, excited about her visitors who are about to start trickling in.  We can't exactly reposition her yet as she's still in some great discomfort when we try but Dr. Price, Dr. Swift's partner, has assured us Zoe will let us know when she's ready.  Dr. Price is thinking we may go home tomorrow at the earliest.  Zoe will continue to want to lay around in between naps, but activity will resume soon.

Praise the Lord for a quick turn around!  Sleep definitely does a body good, and so does chocolate milk according to Zoe.

Rough Night

The doctors just came and checked on her, and they think she might go home today. That would be awesome, only if the the I.V. could come with us too. She was very uncomfortable during the night even with all the morphine, Valium, and Codine/Tylenol combo. I ended up in bed with her around 3:30 just to keep her calm and let her try to sleep. I think she would look around briefly and not be able to see me, so she would cry out, "Mama!" in her hoarse little voice. I just wish there was more I could do for her. Currently, Zoe is sipping on cold apple juice watching Toy Story. She's been sweating all night, but she yells if you take off any of her friends or blankets. She's a grrrreeeaaat patient ;)

During the night, I was praying over her sitting in her bed, and I prayed specifically for angels to just watch over her and be in this room. I specifically prayed for one to sit at the end of the bed. At that moment, I felt the presence of the Lord immediately and Zoe went to sleep instantly. She was so peaceful for a good two hours too.

My mom reminded me of a scripture this morning that was very energizing and encouraging. Isaiah 40:27-31

27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God"?
28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.
30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted;
31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

We are open to visitors today. Zoe would love a visit from some friends. Hopefully we can get her in the wagon soon and take her for spin around the floor. She's not interested in moving right now. We are at Medical City, Room 615D. Also, Starbucks Via packets are the greatest invention ever. Besides neurosurgery of course.

Finished

When Zoe was starting to wake up, Dr. Swift came out and said, "She's a little ticked off."  We knew exactly what that meant.  She was not happy (screaming, crying, and shouting at everyone) when we first saw her in recovery, but she's finally starting to calm down and quickly approaching a well deserved nap.  I don't know who looked cuter on the tiny little hospital bed...Zoe with her Angelina Jolie lips and quivering bottom chin or Jay snuggled up tightly next to her. Leave it to Woody and Buzz to calm her down though.  Thank goodness for Disney.

We are currently in our private room and hoping to lay low for a few hours.  She's not up for much visiting at the moment.  Dr. Swift said the surgery was very successful in that they inserted the tubes for draining and didn't actually have to cut into the lamina.  He said he's never done this exact procedure on someone so tiny (glad we didn't know that ahead of time!), and it was quite difficult and took longer than expected.  Which was why we were still waiting to see her 5 1/2 hours later.  Thankful it's over.  Now for the hard part...the dreaded recovery.  The nurse informed us that she's got pain at the incision at the base of her neck, but possibly all the way down her spine as well.  Poor thing!!

Thanks for all the messages of encouragement today.  I feel like the next 24 hours will be the hardest on all of us, but God will continue to surround us with His presence and peace.