Thursday, September 15, 2011

Homeschool Wrap Up....at the hospital again!

Homeschooling? Yes
Started? No
Why? We are in the hospital with pneumonia.


Deja vu? Sort of. 1.5 years ago we took Jie Jie to the ER and was admitted into the same hospital with pneumonia. 


You can read about that ER experience here. And here you can read what we did during our hospital stay.
What was different?
1. ER experience. We didn't have to spend the night. We were transferred to our room before mid-night. Trauma was there for another family though. We watched and prayed for almost two hours for this little girl's life as the medics worked on her frail body. Machines were screaming, doctors were running in and out, nurses were flying around with medicines and needles, and the parents...they were standing like statues. The mother, face wet with tears, had her hands wrapped around herself. The father, shoulders slumped, stood near his wife. He looked like he had just been beaten, though no marks were on his body. His contender was Fear. My husband and I prayed for his young family. In the end, the medical team won the fight. She was stable enough to be transferred, but the battle wasn't over. Another troop of doctors would be rounded up to stand and fight for this little life. My heavy heart lightened a little.
I don't know where they went or even if that little girl is still alive, but I will be forever changed by that scene in the ER room.


2. Our room: We are facing the mountains, but we do not have the bed by the window. We have the middle bed, but we do get some natural lighting which helps. There are no screaming machines here...just a few screaming babies, but I'll take that over machines any day. Screaming babies=alive and fighting.


3. No Feeding Tube: This has been good and bad. Don't get me wrong, I love that she does not have one, but it was convenient during those times she didn't want to eat or drink. I could just squirt a large syringe or two of water into her stomach. She has an IV now that handles the hydration part.


4. New Technology: We have been graciously given an iPad, so she has been able to watch her favorite TV shows (no American Idol this time) while I use my computer for writing.




5. Length of Stay: Last time we were here for 5 days. This time? 2 days. We are getting released sometime today. Love this difference, of course.  She'll still be on antibiotics, but the oral kind. 


So, maybe homeschooling will start up on Monday...but, only if she is feeling 100% back to normal. I DO NOT want to come back here for some time. 


She is having a good time. If she hadn't had blood tests and
a x-ray to prove she had pneumonia, I wouldn't believe she was sick.

Working the iTouch apps. Her favorite? The
Doodle Pad. Why? She likes the eyeball stamp.

6 comments:

Carolyn V said...

I'm so sorry to hear about your poor little daughter. I hope she feels better soon and am so glad this trip was better than the first.

I hope the other little girl recovers. It's so heartbreaking to hear of a little ones who are so close to death. It really is life changing.

MaDonna Maurer said...

Thanks Carolyn! My daughter is doing so much better! And I agree, life changing...so hard to watch and not be able to do anything.

Marcia said...

MaDonna, it sounds like the timing was arranged so you could pray for the little girl. How heartbreaking, but what a privilege, in a way. Glad your daughter is doing much better, and pray that continues.

MaDonna Maurer said...

I think you are right, Marcia. I think God just had it planned that way. Thanks, she is doing better and getting more and more energy, which is good when I have the energy. HA!

A.L. Sonnichsen said...

Altogether, this seems like a better experience than last time. I'm so glad Matthea is on the mend. I'll be praying for that other family, whatever happened. Man, that must have been tough. I'm so glad you were there to pray!

Amy

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

I'm so sorry your little one has been sick. It sounds like she is doing better. I'm so glad. Take care and worry about school when she feels better.