It's Still Thursday?

What a day!

It seems like a week has passed.  This has been an extremely long day.

First I must apologize for not returning all of the calls and messages that have been coming today.  I am sure you all understand.

I have not had Internet access at the hospital today.  Even so, I do not think I could have replied to all of those who have sent their prayers and wishes our way.  As hard as the day has been, we have felt so wonderfully covered in prayer.

We woke to nausea and it lasted for hours!

Every time Valerie would move, she would get sick.  As quick as I tried to react, there was not enough time to help in some cases.  This resulted in changing the sheets, which caused more movement, resulting in more sickness.  The motion of being sick caused more pain for Valerie in her head and neck.  This was a cycle that continued all day.

To top it off her arms began to hurt.  One arm had an IV and an arterial line.  The nurse noticed her arterial site was leaking.  This is similar to an IV, but it goes into an artery to monitor your pulse, blood pressure, and to draw blood.  The nurse continued to watch it, but more blood work had to be drawn and they were still needing to closely monitor her vitals, so they could not yet remove it.

Her other arm had another IV, which was also hurting.  They began to thin down the morphine with saline, because it was burning so bad.

The nurse said that it looked like both of her IV sites were failing.  They would probably have to find another IV site.  

Not good.

I have not posted about all the times she has had to have blood drawn.  Her veins don't hold up well.

After a couple hours and we had the blood drawn and the results, they said they could remove the arterial line.  While doing this the nurse said she would go ahead and remove the IV on the other hand.  

Lots of tears.

We really hoped the IV that was left would hold out so that they would not have to start another one.

After another hour, the pain of the medication going into the IV was too much.  They had to remove that one as well and start an entirely new IV site.

Poor little girl.

Three failed Sites.

We tried to eat, but each attempt resulted in being sick.

At 5:00, Robbie called to talk to Valerie.  She was excited to hear him.  She asked "you come here?"

"Yes, I am coming to see you. I love you." Robbie told her.

"I lub you" she said.

Oh my, I am crying again just writing this.  My baby girl actually said those words.  We were not sure how long it would take or if she ever would say she loved us.

Valerie smiled as she told him good bye. She talked with Rachel and got excited when she found out that they were ten minutes away.  When Elise got on the phone, tears started to roll down Valerie's cheeks.  She absolutely can not wait until they get here.

The visit was short, but wonderful.  Valerie sat up and played with her sisters for a few minutes.  

She ate a few chips and some dried seaweed, her favorite snack.  She drank a few sips of coke and some ice chips.

They said good night and headed home.

She has not thrown up since.  She has had all of her medicine, her new IV site is working well and she is sound asleep at 11:15pm.

Thank you LORD for the love of her sisters.  Thank you for her love for them.

Thank you God, for everyone who has been praying us through this.

Thank you God for the strength you have given me.

Thank you for Your healing hand on my daughter.