Thursday, August 18, 2011

There's No Place Like Home

Yes friends. After 6 days in the hospital, my Ava Grace was discharged last night. The dr came in at 3:30, and said that Ava was doing well, she was eating and had great bowel sounds, and there was nothing that they could do there that we couldn't do at home. 

She said she needed to get the surgeon to come up to remove the tube in Ava's chest, and I asked her if it was going to happen before 4pm. An amazing lady named Christy was watching my girls, and I told her that I would pick them up at 5. Her husband works with my husband, and I hate the idea of watching my kids was going to interfere with family time when her husband gets home at 5:15. The dr said she'd find out and let us know. 

The surgeon comes in at 3:40 (yay for small favors, at least we weren't waiting around for 7 hours for him like the day before) and pulled out her tube. Ava of course was upset and screaming, I hate those parts. We were told that she needed to stay there an hour to watch for bleeding, so I texted Christy and she said it was fine for the girls to stay. I was extremely thankful, because if they couldn't, then I'd have to drive 40 minutes to go pick them up, and then 40 minutes back to pick up Jake and Ava, and then 40 minutes to go home.

So right at 4:40, after changing the gauze since she was still bleeding a bit, we signed the papers and we able to go home. Ava fell right asleep in the car. We got home, hubby made grilled chicken and green beans (SO sick of eating out), Ava went to bed at 7pm, and I went to bed at 8pm. 



I'll tell you this now that it's all over. There was a part of me that was convinced that somehow this was my fault. Not that I can cause her to have adhesions from her gastroschisis. But when she was trying to throw up, and they said her bowels were obstructed. I was convinced that I did something wrong, and that's why she was in pain. Like I didn't vacuum enough, or she ate too many dust bunnies or a Polly Pocket dress, or something. It wasn't until after surgery, and her surgeon said it was adhesions related to her gastroschisis, that I finally stopped blaming myself. So not only was I dealing with the stress of almost losing my daughter, I was internally beating myself up, thinking it was my fault. Seems silly now, maybe it's a mom thing. You always just want to keep your kids out of harm and pain, and you feel so helpless when you can't. 


Thank you for your prayers, the emails and comments there were far too numerous for me to reply back to all.

We had friends that kept us company in the surgery waiting room, had people come up to stop by for a short visit and bring candy, drinks, cupcakes, gas gift cards, presents for Ava. Girlfriends who watched my older kids so we could focus on Ava. All of those things made a horrible situation just a little bit easier.

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13 people love me:

carolyn said... [Reply to comment]

I'm SO glad she's home. Major hugs to you. (And I don't know how you can resist not gnawing on those incredible cheeks of hers!)

Mrs. S. said... [Reply to comment]

So glad to hear she is home & well. And you can kick your mom guilt to the curb. I am a new follower, but from what I read through this ordeal is you are a fantastic proactive mommy who knows her children very well. I look forward to many happy updates!

Rachel D @ Just Sew Y'all Know said... [Reply to comment]

Awesome news! Go Ava!

Unknown said... [Reply to comment]

welcome home, baby!!! xox, d.

EllensCreativePassage said... [Reply to comment]

I so understand mama guilt, but I had to laugh when you said maybe she ate too many dust bunnies or a polly pocket dress! Of course this wasn't your fault, but as mamas we all blame ourselves for everything our babies have to endure! Glad she is home and she is such a sweetie pie!

Sam | Away She Went said... [Reply to comment]

Yay! I'm so happy you guys are home and Ava is doing well!

Leeann said... [Reply to comment]

Welcome home Ava! Don't beat yourself up, 20 years later I still ask myself how my baby could be born with Gastroschisis and what caused it and to this day I still don't have an answer. All you can do is "listen" to her and give her what she needs now. I remember asking my OB how it happens and she said that when Ellie stood in the cute line twice and missed the belly line so she ended up with 2x the cuteness. Now I'm convinced this may be true when I look at Ava's photo :)

Stay strong and find comfort in knowing that once this is all over, she is going to be fine and one day soon this will all be a distant memory. Give her a hug from me and Ellie!

Rachel said... [Reply to comment]

BIG sigh of relief here! I'm so glad that you're all home. Now little Ava will have a great story to tell about her first birthday. ;)

You, Enhanced said... [Reply to comment]

Welcome home Ava! Glad to see she finally got to go home and is feeling better. I hope your holding up alright Jen. Your such a good mama, try never to doubt yourself..(as a mom my myself i know that hard to do, thus saying 'try' :)

hugs,
nik

Janice said... [Reply to comment]

Ahh! that mommy-guilt of wondering if there was something we did or didn't do is so painful! And even when we KNOW we aren't to blame, it sure is hard to shake those fears. I'm so glad the surgeon was able to tell you the cause so you can worry a little less (Well, theoretically worry a little less...)

And like everyone else I'm so glad that Ava is home and will keep praying that the recovery keeps going well.

And from another mama who knows how exhausting children's hospitals are, please remember to be kind to yourself and get some rest!

Love ya!

Bella @ Bella before and after said... [Reply to comment]

OHHH Jennifer I AM so happy that she did stinky poopie, that is totally awesome. Poor baby, tricking her with pedialite, so sad, he he. I bet she was SUPER happy to eat again.

I know you've been through hell this past week, I am so sorry for that, BUT finally everyone is going home, YAY, and it sounds like she is doing great, which is SOOO Good to hear. I am so happy for all of you!!

Give her a hug and kiss from me, and a HIGH five for being such a brave little girl.

Hugs to you too mama, you need to try and relax a bit now, if at all possible. :)

I'm thinking of you all.

p.s. If you get a chance I'm inviting you over to my blog, I'm kinda having a HUGE giveaway going on, and you MIGHT like it, (or LOVE it). I'd be so happy to have your support!
Hugs, Bella :)
**$5 for every LIKE giveaway** @ Bella Before and After
**$200 SHOP till you DROP giveaway** @ Bella Before and After.

Bella @ Bella before and after said... [Reply to comment]

Umm, sorry mama, I know you already entered my giveaway, sheesh, I just have an automatic signature for the next 2 weeks, and I forgot to erase the PLEASE check out my blog part, lol.

Anyway, love ya gir!!

Sandi @ The Primitive Skate said... [Reply to comment]

So glad to hear that Ava is home and doing well!