Monday, 19 November 2012

Goodbye Ronald McDonald House

As I type, I can hear Josiah's breathing.  I learned today that morphine should take away the perception of breathlessness from Josiah but that we will probably still hear laboured breathing sounds.  That will be challenging.  I often want to take deep breaths when I hear him breathing. 

Graham went to Ronald McDonald House today and signed out.  We think we may be able to go home on Wednesday.  We've both been sleeping here since Friday night.  We all had a relatively good sleep last night.  Our nurse gave Josiah his 3:00 AM and 6:00 AM feeds and his enox shot at 7:00 AM so that meant we could sleep more. 

We gave Josiah more morphine today.  That's likely the reason he didn't have a bowel movement today.  He'll get something tomorrow to help with that.  He wasn't Mr. Smiles today but he did well in physio and then fell asleep sitting in a chair.  The OT recommended a specific high chair and I found it on Kijiji today a few hours after it was posted.  The post listed times tomorrow when someone could pick up the chair just five minutes away from my parent's home.  Thank you Lord!

Oxygen will be delivered to our home in Kitchener tomorrow morning.  A portable tank will also be delivered to our room here for our trip home.  It sounds like we'll be able to take a transfer ambulance home.  There will be two workers who are not paramedics with the vehicle but Josiah will not have to be in a car seat and we can accompany them.  We thank God for providing this. 

We took Josiah off his floor for the first time today (apart from when we had to go and get an xray with our nurse).  I think he liked the new scenery.

The CCAC team in Kitchener is coming to SickKids tomorrow to meet with the CCAC team here and then with us.  Our liaison here said she hasn't seen this happen before.  I believe the missing piece right now is the nursing support but that may not be in place for our arrival home.  We've heard that there may also be some concern about the fact that Josiah has a picc line.  We'll find out the details tomorrow.  The team here has been very supportive.

I'll say goodnight.  We're hoping to get to bed early.  Thank you for all the comments and email support today.  All the words are so encouraging.  God has used each of you to bless us tremendously.

By the way, there is a little girl in 4D who has had the three operations that children like Josiah would typically have.  They found out on Friday that the last surgery may have failed.  They won't know for sure until this Wednesday after she has a cath.  She asked me today if I had seen any miracles recently and she said they were coming.  They are far from home. 
 
Thank you for your prayers!

Blessings,

Elizabeth

2 comments:

  1. Dear Elizabeth and Graham.

    Now therefore, our God, we thank Thee, and praise Thy glorious name. 1 Chronicles 29 v 13.
    Let all those that seek Thee rejoice and be glad in Thee: and let such as love Thy salvation say continually, let God be magnified.
    But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O Lord make no tarrying. Psalm 70 v 4 & 5.
    Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. Mark 9 v 23.
    Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. Mark 11 v 24.

    Yesterday's photographs are beautiful, and most pleasing to gaze upon.
    I pray to our Heavenly Father, in Jesus’ precious name and in the power of the Holy Spirit, that God will continually look upon Josiah Nathanael Gabriel, surrounding him with love, comfort, strength and healing, and granting sound sleep to him and his parents tonight, that they will be refreshed and confident tomorrow, as You God, and the positive experiences from The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), Ronald McDonald House, and Toronto accompany them on their way!
    I pray to our Heavenly Father for safe protection for you Elizabeth, Graham and Josiah on your journey back home to Kitchener. May Josiah really enjoy being home again, and bask in relaxation and delight. Thank you God and we give You the glory.

    For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the fields shall clap their hands. Isaiah 55 v 12.

    Love and prayers from your auntie Julia.

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  2. Hi Elizabeth and Graham,
    Although I don't comment often, I am reading your blogs daily and am touched by your honesty in sharing your journey though this difficult time. It draws me in and makes me feel as if I'm a part of your life and drives me to keep praying for your family. As I was reading in Ephesians 1 this morning, I was reminded that "Christ fills all things everywhere with Himself" and I prayed that His presence would be very real to you again today as He stands by you in the hospital room with Josiah.
    With continued love and prayers,
    Aunt Sheila

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