Wednesday, August 30, 2023
the 30th
Saturday, August 19, 2023
I don't care if we on the run.
We escaped! Once those docs said "discharge today," you know I was putting the pressure on to get us the heck out of there. Don't worry, I wasn't too much of a brat. Birdie is doing well and is happy to be back home. She's going to have to take it easy for a while, but she is feeling better and stronger every day. It feels so wonderful to have the four of us all back together.
We went to Common Bond for celebratory kouign amanns last night. Literally Google, "What is the fattest pastry in the world?" if you're curious. Also, I feel it is my public duty to let everyone know that Common Bond has a 50% discount on their pastries after 8pm. You're welcome.
I'm going to be starting my thank you tour soon. This girl has been showered in congregation-sized prayers, Door Dash $, Starbucks cards, movie theater gift certificates, stuffed animals, blankets, her favorite snacks, Lego flowers, balloons, a pretty funny bobblehead doll, surprise Crumbl Cookies at the hospital, books to read in recovery, many cards and jokes in the mail, gifts from our friends and co-workers that don't even know her, and--oh, yeah--quite a few life-saving measures from dang near half of the medical community in Texas. What kind of thank you gift is appropriate for your daughter's brain surgery team? I'm sure there's a Pinterest board out there already.
Thank you from all of us. xo
Wednesday, August 16, 2023
Must be trippin'.
Tuesday, August 15, 2023
Sometimes, you look the same.
Monday, July 3, 2023
But I told you, even then you looked so pretty.
I wanted a parade and a walk-out song and for the whole rehab center to organize a clap-out. She said, "Nah." She didn't even want a video, but she allowed me to take a quick one from behind and post it here.
She did it. 30 May to 30 June.
These steps may not seem like a huge accomplishment. BUT forget learning how to walk again, this hardest-working gal in Texas had to learn how to swallow again. She had to learn how to move her eyes to look to the left. She had to learn how to wiggle her toes and open her fingers. She once spent an entire afternoon thinking about how to pick up a cup to take a sip with her strong side.
We've always called Birdie "our answered prayer" and Winston "our miracle baby." We now have our miracle teenager.
The next months will be more recovery and outpatient therapy with lots of visits and laughs with her besties in between. This will probably be my last post for a while. I've been running on adrenaline for the last month, and I'm emotionally spent but so very grateful. Thank you, all. xoxo
Thursday, June 29, 2023
thank you, thank you, thank you
Tuesday, June 27, 2023
Saturday, June 24, 2023
Can even take my daughter for a walk.
This little miracle gal is going to walk herself right out of here this week.
Everyone relax. Although she's only a breath away from physically being able to, she can't just walk out and hop on the METRORail. She doesn't have any cash on her.
This week, though! You might be able to hear the cheering all the way from the med center.
Wednesday, June 21, 2023
I guess I got my swagger back.
Tuesday, June 20, 2023
We're bustin' out of this L-Seven square.
Great news! Birdie is progressing through therapy so quickly that we'll most likely only be here for two weeks, and today is day 5! I don't want to jinx it because it's all based on how well everything goes, but we should be bustin' outta here soon.
She has been walking laps, practicing stairs, painting, practicing with makeup, and tying her shoes. These are all assisted and with support for safety, but she's doing it!
Also, her pain has severely dropped. She has to wear a very heavy helmet to protect her noggin, so she is sore and stiff from that by the end of the day. Otherwise, she rarely asks for pain meds--sometimes I have to remind her to ask when she needs it.
She really is GI Birdie. I said something the other day about that movie and how the character shaved her head and was such a tough woman in an extreme military environment, etc. She goes, "Keep Will Smith's wife's name out of your mouth!" This girl. Never stops cracking us up.
I always seem to post when she's asleep or when I'm away from her, and I never think to ask for her permission ahead of time. I will try to remember today, so I can include a picture. Thank you, thank you for your continued prayers and check-ins. We'll be home before you know it. Once she has her cranioplasty (to replace her skull segment), we are going to throw the biggest party our neighborhood has ever seen. You're all invited!
Sunday, June 18, 2023
Paper Planes
I have an idea for cheering this gal up. If you're feeling up for it, please consider sending Birdie your favorite joke by snail mail. I'm envisioning that scene from "Miracle on 34th Street" or for the younger, more modern crowd, the letters for Huel on "Better Call Saul." xo
Let me work it.
We have officially moved into the rehab center! She is medically stable, so it's time to get to work. Starting tomorrow morning, she will have around 4 hours of physical and occupational therapy daily.
They have a little courtyard, and I was able to take her outside on Friday for the first time since May 30th! We have a lovely window and room, and we are still allowed to stay with her overnight. She may get a roommate this week, which I think will be great! I can imagine she's ready for a new face and someone different to talk to.
The staff and David and I have perspective because we can see how well she is doing, but she is feeling a little down. She is still very determined and has already shown how much she wants to get her left side back. However, I know that positive vibes and laughter always heal my babies, so think funny thoughts!
Tomorrow, the real work begins. David is going back full time, Winston is in 6am football camp, and Birdie and I will start rehab in earnest.
As Winston would say, "Let's go!"
Thursday, June 15, 2023
But only on the left side, yeah, that's the Bird side.
Y'all. This gal's left side is waking up. David sent me a video of her making a fist and releasing it!
We have the most wonderful team of therapists who are experts at lovingly pushing her to work really hard. Birdie and I played Connect 4 yesterday on one of those large yard-game sets. She needed support but only a little help. She is determined.
Did you know Birdie knits? She made her first two crocheted bikini tops right before her stroke, so one of her big goals is to get home so she can make the one I put an order in for because of course I did.
We also have an art therapist who is fantastic. She brought knitting materials, and Birdie taught her how to crochet!
Once Birdie approves, I will try to come back and add pictures. I am curious to see how and when Birdie will want to share her story with the world. I think it could help others. I have recently gotten back on Instagram to search for #pediatricstrokesurvivors and have read a few stories; they've helped me.
Finally, we should be medically approved to move to rehab today! Once we receive the insurance approval, we can move over. That will be Stage 3 of 3 in the steps to getting her home. We are not going to rush it, but she is very anxious to get home and in her bed. We are going to mentally plan for a month, but I'm betting it will be shorter than that.
I thought I was a pretty tough chick until I watched this girl go through this experience. Not even close. This kid is a Marine. One of our friends said, "Birdie is going to come back stronger than ever." YES.
Tuesday, June 13, 2023
Smile. You recordin'?
I know y'all know that Birdie is a sweetheart and is so kind and generous. However, you may not know how much of a hard worker she is. She pays for her cell phone and her fun extra things like going to the movies with friends and shopping. We give her opportunities to make money, of course. For example, she overhauled my closet in the past--amaze. However, she also babysits, makes and sells blankets, makes and sells jewelry, and she's gone to homes to do laundry and organize their closets. My point is that she has the same attitude toward recovery.
Y'all, SHE STOOD UP TWO DAYS AGO.
This girl is determined. Her positive, hilarious, and happy attitude are returning. We were all laughing so hard the other day about cleaning the carpet from where she threw up after her stroke (yes, I can put a positive spin on ANYTHING) that her left side of her smile came back!! I don't want to ever forget the time when I told the story about the cruise Heimlich maneuver story that made her laugh so hard, it brought her smile back to me.
Thank you, thank you for the continued prayers and check-ins. We are so very lucky.
Monday, June 12, 2023
Fish don't fry in the kitchen. Beans don't burn on the grill.
Birdie and David are in the middle of the move to stage 2, a whole new floor! We've officially been discharged from the PICU.
Birdie gave me permission to post her moving day picture--they essentially loaded all of her junk onto her bed. Seems efficient to me!
Sunday, June 11, 2023
You can't be too salty.
Darn! We can't keep this girl's sodium high enough to let us leave the PICU just yet. Everyone, this is your permission to have fast food today, and send your salty thoughts this way! Raise an extra salty fry up for B.
On another note, I have to brag on my husband. This guy. He's amazing in ALL THE WAYS. Not all superheroes wear capes ("For real, for real," as Birdie would say) is so true. Some push your baby's PICU bed, comfort her like no one else can, and charm all the nurses for all of the extra help. I know you've been wondering where Birdie gets that dazzling charm from!
Saturday, June 10, 2023
so close to leaving the PICU
We are unplugging little by little!
If all goes well, we should step down to the intermediate
care level tomorrow or Monday and stay there until she is stable enough to move to the inpatient rehab
center.
I'm sure it will be a long time before I post any current pictures, so here's one of my recent favorites from a Mommy-Daughter flower-making class. xo
Thursday, June 8, 2023
highs and lows
The highs and lows are so extreme. She had such a wonderful day yesterday. For the first time, she was able to sit in bed and draw on the iPad and have a few minutes of quiet time to herself while David and I spoke in the hall. I am so, so grateful. We still have her and she is still herself. I can't believe how lucky we are.
Then, the night came. The nights are so hard. Depression is setting in and getting worse. When I am with her overnight, she wants my comfort and to talk about how sad she is. There's more, but I want to respect her privacy. She and David do so much better together at night because he can distract her, and I can't. He has been so amazing, which I know is not a surprise to anyone.
The great news is that I think we should be able to move from the ICU to another floor within 3-ish days. I am keeping our fingers crossed that moving rooms and losing at least some of her plugs--"I feel like an outlet."--will lift her spirits.
I don't know how long we'll be there. Maybe a week or two? It's so hard to predict.
Wednesday, June 7, 2023
Birdie update
On May 30th, 2023, Birdie had a ruptured brain aneurysm, which led to a hemorrhagic stroke. As of right now, she is in the pediatric ICU.
We couldn't have gotten her to the hospital and into surgery any faster than we did. Between the paramedics, ambulance driver, life flight team, surgeons, doctors, nurses, your prayers, God, and the whole dadgum entire universe, she is with us and is still herself.
We are still in the hardest part as she is in a lot of pain and sadness about what has happened, but she shows improvements every day.
Thank you for the offers for help. Please know that David, Winston, and I are grateful and will definitely be asking for help when we need it. Thank you to those who have helped keep Winston's life on track; he is happy and doing well.
My phone does not work in her room, so I can't send updates often. I will start doing it here from now on when I can. If you don't see an update, please feel free to read the rest of our family blog from the past wonderful 13 years...and don't forget to tell me how funny I am.
Keep praying. Love y'all! xo