Recovering at home (part 1 of 3)

Wow, our first days home with a little girl recovering from surgery have been a whirlwind!  The busyness hasn't been solely from caring for one four year old girl recovering from spinal cord surgery but instead from four children who are sick!  Apparently Lucy's big brothers were missing the extra special attention from Dad and Mom.  One brother began running a 103 degree fever another brother topped that with a thermometer reading of 104.4 degrees and the third was diagnosed with strep throat.  Second night home, I had four boys in sleeping bags on my living room floor (my dear 21 year old son voluntarily slept in the room with us) because I wanted to keep a close eye on rising body temperatures and make sure none climbed any higher then the 104 degree mark. So here I was back on a sofa in my street clothes - hmmm.....kinda reminiscent of the five nights we had just spent in the hospital!

Living room floor, a.k.a. "infirmary" 

So how's Lucy's recovery going now that you've been home a few days?

The first night home, our little girl slept 13 hours(only got up once because she was cold and Mommy gave her some pain meds.)!  Apparently, her little body was exhausted from all the interrupted sleep.
We continued to give her prescription pain medication the first full day home.  I decided on Thursday, (exactly one week post op) that I'd see if we could control pain with just using Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen- over the counter pain relievers.  Rotating between the two has been working well AND.....as the day went on, her appetite began to come back some which makes life easier.
Lucy has had ups and downs with standing and walking.  But the past two days we've seen great improvement.  Her right side (side with deformed foot and knee contracture) continues to be quite a bit weaker then her left but we're seeing progress by the day. On Monday, April 21st we will attend our first out patient physical therapy session at a local pediatric rehabilitation facility.  From what I can tell her most pain comes from sitting on the potty.  Something about that position must really aggravate her back/incision.

Rockin' the walker!

Some other GREAT therapy has been being able to soak in some rays and get some a la natural vitamin D!! Oh blessed SUNSHINE!

Who says if you're in a wheelchair, you can't help with the chores?

Mommy took advantage of the sun filled days to disinfect the house and wash everyone's bedding and hang it out on the wash line!

Alas......spring has arrived!!

Other types of "therapy" may look like this......

"Reading" a card

Reading a book with your best friend!

Thanks friends for all the get well wishes!!!

This recovery process is tiring and at times painful but we're sure blessed to have the prayers, love and support of family and friends!!  THANK YOU!!  We covet your on-going prayers as Lucy girl continues to recover over the next weeks.

We continue to give our Heavenly Father all glory, honor and praise in carrying Lucy and our family through this journey!!  He hears our prayers and strengthens us!

Romans 12:12

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

James 1:2-4

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,  because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.