Brave Ma Ma

She said "Ma Ma" today for the very first time.  She was chewing me out, and she only said it one time, but she said it.  It was a gift from God.  I know it.

The day started horribly. Yesterday and today actually ran into each other. The little turkey made herself famous in the PICU and then on the 5th/Intermediate floor when she was transferred this afternoon.  She managed to pull out everything the doctors and nurses had attached to her little body, despite being observed almost constantly.  The neurosurgeon was even impressed when he was called in because she had managed to pull the drain out of her head.  By the time we were transferred to the Intermediate Care floor she only had EKG leads, an O2 sensor, the nasal cannula for O2 and one I.V.  She helped the doctors and nurses discontinue her arterial line, an I.V., her Foley catheter, wound drain, and nasal cannula...but she kept the I.V. for morphine and antibiotics.  She's a smart little girl.  They did have to devise a way to keep the O2 sensor on (her foot) and they taped and covered the remaining I.V. but she convinced them that everything else could go.
Adeline was finally able to relax and sleep at about noon.  It was like a switch had gone off and she settled down for a while.  So then we could settle down.  It was such a relief.  She had periods of discomfort during the day, but it was nothing like those first 12 hours after the anesthesia wore off.  As long as there is Lortab on board she does pretty well.  Her face is swollen and she is starting to bruise.   We are told it is most likely going to get worse. But it's a perfect circle!
She is really starting to come back...but I'm still waiting for her smile.
My mom and dad and Nile came to visit.  By the time they arrived she was pretty calm, and didn't have much connected to her.  Nile did well...he was more concerned about the presents she had waiting for him to open. My mom and dad seemed to do well too.  We Skyped in the hospital room with Grandma Hot Dog and Aunt Carole.  Still not sure if hospital policy allows that, but it was worth any risk!!!  I am so glad that none of them had to see her earlier.
She has been scratching her face and tummy a lot so they have her on benadryl.  We are trying to see if she can go without morphine, and she hasn't had it since this morning.  She has been eating well...but no one is surprised about that.

They plan to remove the wound dressing tomorrow.  I feel so good about everything right now, but I don't think I'm ready for that.  The dressing is starting to pull back a little and I have caught a glimpse of her bald, bruised, swollen head. It's easier to handle when it's covered by cute pink gauze.  It's going to be hard when we start taking her out into the public.  We will try to keep hats on her, but with her Houdini-like talent, I'm guessing it will be next to impossible to keep anything on her head.  She needs to know that she is beautiful. And very, very brave. So I have to be brave.  After all, I am her "Ma Ma"!
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