Michaela goes home!!!!

Well, we really weren't sure we would be taking Michaela home today, but miracles do happen!  This morning Michaela called me to tell me that the nurse said she could go home.  About 2 hours later, she called to tell me that she was vomiting again:(  I got another call about 2 hours later telling me that she had eaten 2 bags of pretzels and if she didn't throw them up, she could come home.  I knew that Michaela would do ANYTHING not to have to stay there another day.  I think it had something to do with Kirk having a birthday tomorrow:)  She really didn't want him to have to sleep on that uncomfortable pull-out couch another night.  I also think she wanted him to take a shower since he hadn't taken one in 3 days. LOL!  ( I may get in trouble for posting that) 

My flight got into SLC about 2:30pm and we were on the road about 4:00pm.  We were a little scared about the trip home, but again, Michaela proved us wrong.  She was a trooper.  She looked funny holding her pan in front of her (in case she got sick) and singing along with the radio!  We had to stop 3 times so that she could stretch and use the restroom.   I'm not sure what people thought of her when they saw her in her bathrobe, but she didn't seem to mind. 

When we arrived home, we stopped in to see the family.  My parents and sister, KK, and her husband, Bryan, were there to greet us.  DeAnne and Kortney had made a 'welcome home' sign which we noticed on the front of the house.  That brought a smile to her face!

The best part of the night was going over to DeAnne's house to wash Michaela's greasy hair. LOL!  DeAnne has a hair salon in her home with a chair that reclines back to the sink, and because Michaela can't bend over to wash her hair, it was the perfect solution.   Her hair was so greasy that we needed to use Dawn to get the grease out before using shampoo!  Yikes!  Michaela was determined to have clean hair before getting into bed!  That's my girl!!!! 

Thank you so much for all you have done to help us get through this tough time.  We are so blessed to have great friends and family.  Your prayers and words of comfort have meant the world to us.  Michaela has felt  of your love and support as well.  The doctors want Michaela to take it easy for the next 2-3 months.  She will be be ordering us around all summer, but we are more than happy to help:)  We continue to pray that Michaela's body will recover fully from her surgery and that she will be able to live a normal life again. 

Again, thank you!!  We will keep this blog to inform you of her progress. 

Well, Kayla finally had a bowel movement!!! yes, i know thats exactly what you wanted to know!! But you have to believe how good that is! There is now a chance that she could be discharged tomorrow! YES!! I'm sure Kirk is super tired of sleeping in that hospital room! Tomorrow looks promising and if we can keep up on her pain meds then hopefully tomorrow will be the day!! Thank you all for the prayers and thoughts, I know that they have been the deciding factor in all of this. There have been moments that I've felt so helpless and all I had was prayer and faith. Thank you again!!!

I just talked to the nurse about Michaela's progress.  Since she is not able to eat solids or drink liquids, she will not be able to go home tomorrow:(  Michaela is really frustrated and upset about this news.  There is a chance that she won't go home until Wednesday. 

I have been staying with a relative of mine who lives in Bountiful.  It has been wonderful to have a nice place to sleep and shower everyday.  However, because I need to put in a few hours at work, I will fly home tonight and come back tomorrow afternoon.  Kirk will stay with Michaela and keep us posted on her progress. 

Please keep Michaela in your prayers.  We know that Heavenly Father answers prayers and will heal her body so that she can return home soon. 

Michaela has been sitting up for most of the day.  She is much more alert and her pain is under control for the most part.  She has been off oxygen for about 5 hours. Yeah!  She is still not allowed to eat or drink.  She says she is STARVING!  She is craving a pretzel with cheese from Preztel Time.  Funny!  Kirk has her hooked on them.  She has been walking without her walker and she even went up and down the stairs!  The PT was explaining how to climb the stairs, but before she could finish, Michaela was already all the way up and starting to come back down.  Michaela is a very determined girl!  She really wants to go home tomorrow.  Keep your fingers crossed! 

Michaela is feeling good enough to join Kirk and I in our Monopoly game.  Kirk has been beating me every time:(  I need some help!

Sunday, May 22

It looks as if we are here for at least another day.  Michaela was completely out of it last night due to the heavy medication.  She is still hooked up to the IV and oxygen.  The doctors took blood tests this morning and it looked a lot better than yesterday.  It looks as though she will not have to have a blood transfusion:)She is tired of being so drugged up on medication and sleeping all the time.  I think she is going to try and go without as much pain medication so that she can be more alert. 

Kirk has been so incredible through this whole ordeal.  He is constantly trying to make things more comfortable for Michaela.  He won't leave her side.  He has slept in her room every night.  I know this is very hard for him.  I couldn't ask for a better son-in-law! 

Kirk and I have taken up playing monopoly against eachother on the computers.  Yes, we are BORED!!!!
I don't know for sure, but I think he is winning:(

We appreciate hearing from all of you and your support during this difficult time. 

another rough day

Just when we thought Michaela was improving and on her way home, things started going downhill.  She is back on the oxygen, and in a lot of pain.  She has been sleeping quite a bit which is great, but the narcotics are the cause of the vomiting and lack of oxygen.  They still need to figure out how to balance everything.  The nurses and aids have been so kind.  They are so willing to help with anything we ask.  Luckily, she hasn't had to get a blood transfusion yet, and we hope she won't need to.  They will wait until tomorrow to determine that.   She has just been taken off of all liquids and food for the next 12 hours.  They hooked her up to the IV again and we will see if she improves.  Poor girl.  She is trying so hard to be strong and get well.  She apologizes to the nurses when she is not feeling well:)  She is an angel. 

We are hoping for a better day tomorrow:)))))

The Zipper (Beware: This is not for the weak hearted!)