March 23, 2011

• Rest and Relaxation ???

  As I tried to get comfortable on the recliner in PICU the other week, I began thinking about the "comforts" of hospitals.

  I remember 26 years ago, my friend Pat and I were expecting our second babies.  I had had a home birth for our first one and was actively planning another this time.  Pat couldn't understand why I would want a home delivery....I couldn't understand why she would want a hospital birth. 

  Her answer was, "I want to just rest and relax."  I thought that funny, because I thought I'd rather rest and relax at home without worrying how my little girl was faring without me.  Now 26 years later I still don't understand.

  In the four days that Lavina was in PICU in Marshfield, WI with pneumonia, I am convinced that if anyone wants to rest and relax in a hospital, they have a LOT to learn.  I was informed that in ICU the schedule is every 2 hours versus every 4 on the regular pediatric floor.  Hmmm.  Every 2 hours???? Lets see, first its the automatic blood pressure cuff hissing every 15 minutes, then the vital signs which includes taking her temperature.  Next the IVs are changed...there was a time when she had 4 different drips.  Her blood sugar levels were being checked periodically because the steroids they had her on caused that to rise.  So the insulin they gave her made her potassium level to drop.  So they had to inject her with something to take care of that...Then there was the chest XRays at 5 AM!  I wondered if it would ever end.

  Every 2 hours??? Well, it might have been if everyone would have synchonized their schedules with each other.  As it was, neither of us got too much rest nor relaxation.

  On the other hand....We are thankful Lavina is doing better.  It WAS a long 6 days.This picture was taken right before we took her to the Emergency room.

   I have a video of her but couldn't post on here...its in Videos on the top of this page. 

   

   

  • 10:07 pm
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