Setback with Joel's tongue, Looks like revision will be necessary

Unfortunately, it appears that it's healing separated after all. :o( This is a "softer" photo than some of them. So sorry! Poor kid!

Joel's latest hospital adventure

We went to the annual family reunion at the park and within 30 minutes Joel had tripped and fallen against the edge of a step on the playground. Because of the blood thinner he is on it was an especially scary sight to see Joel's face and hands when Gabe brought him to the pavilion. Although some thought he had a bloody nose, I immediately saw that Joel's tongue was split and Mike and I drove him directly to the hospital.

This photo is Joel's tongue after he was cleaned up and the bleeding stopped. Be glad you're not seeing the other photos. ;o)

Here is Joel in the ambulance because the local hospital didn't want to try stitching him without his heart doctors near, especially since he was already having lung problems and sounded awful. Children's didn't want to risk it either and postponed the surgery to get his lungs "optimized". They took him off the steroids and Coumadin and put him on Lovenox and a different nebulizer inhalent. He was put on a liquid diet. We were told that the surgery would have to be done or Joel's tongue would stay split.

Here is Joel the next day. His tongue is healing without surgery, praise the Lord!

Joel continued on breathing treatments. He allowed the mask which was very good.

Here are some visitors that came to see Joel Sunday evening. I think this photo is funny because it looks like one of those photos where a group of people tries hard NOT to look at the camera.

Gabe and Joel enjoy all of this face-making. Everyone asked to see Joel's tongue.

So many "toys" to ride and push! So many choices! Joel rode and pushed them all.

On the go in his favorite black car.

The toy room. Out of all the toys, what did he choose to play with?

A Madagascar coloring book.

His roommate had Madagascar 2 on DVD and Joel watched it so many times I lost track.

Here he is naming each of the characters on every page.

Joel loved pushing this little wheelchair. I had a hard time keeping up with him!

Pepsi Deb is one of the respiratory therapists. She's known Joel for many years and sends him Veggie Tales movies and related toys. She came in time to give Joel his last breathing treatment before he was released.

Joel began to figure out how to make the wheelchair move while sitting in it. Here he is trying to escape in the chair.

Waiting for Papa to come and take us home...

And here he is! With the kids! Time to go home.

And who would've known that this week I would add another nursing skill that I never wanted to my list? I am giving Joel his Lovenox shots at home. Twice a day, at least until his Coumadin levels are therapeutic again. Not as hard as I'd thought it would be but I hope they tell us he's therapeutic tomorrow... we went to lab today.

Saturday: Joel in Children's, split his tongue on playground; attempting "tune-up" of lungs before reconstructive surgery

We're home

Joel was a very sick little boy, asthma triggered by infection somewhere...the worry is always his heart valve. Fever and coughing up blood, I took him to the Emergency Room.

Antibiotics started through IV...

Soon Joel was up and walking. And walking and walking... they said it's the steroids. He said, "All done sleeping." Above you see that he was giving the thumbs up sign to a doctor who did that to him the first walk around the floor. If someone does something once, like the nurse who said "boo!" to him, he repeats it every time after that. He loved taking my iPhone with him on the walks, singing to "If I Didn't Have You" from Monsters, Inc... over and over.

Joel looked at the menu and mimicked me, "Whadaya want?"

He flipped the lightswitches on and off and again mimicked me, "It not working!"

Joel got into his backpack and put his shirt and shorts on over his hospital pajamas and put his backpack on and attempted to escape, thinking nobody would notice...

The scariest part was when he pulled his IV in a flash! Blood everywhere, Coumadin you know. The nurses came and helped immediately, Joel saying, "What happened? What happened?"

Be still my heart!

Here we are having breakfast together right after Joel's shower on the last morning. We had grilled cheese sandwiches, yum!

It was good that we had a couple of grown children at home to help with the other little ones while Joel and I were in the hospital and Papa was away helping to give baby Garrett his blessing in New England.

We go back to the doctor today (Friday the 17th) for more blood tests. He still sounds very junky and loud when he breathes, continuing meds at home.

Thanks for your prayers and comments, dear friends!

In hospital with Joel 3 days, asthma/infection, hope to come home soon

Memory Quilt

In the midst of all of the things going on at our house, I received a most amazing gift from my cousin Julie. She made a quilt in memory of Mama. It's beautiful!!! I have no idea how she did this but I can see that she put many hours of time, talent and love into it. I'm grateful with all of my heart for this tender, heartfelt gift. I slept with the quilt and will soon hang it on my wall in a place of honor. Thank you Julie! You know just how I feel: so far away and needing something tangible.
Love and hugs,
Dolores

Water babies

Yesterday was such a nice day, the kids enjoyed bathing in tubs on the deck. ;o)