HOME!!!!!

FINALLY HOME!!!

We got news today that Jimmy would be coming home early on this morning. Then we were told that Dr would be in to fill out discharge papers and she normally comes around noon... still awesome... we will be home around 1pm!! WRONG- the bomb was dropped that it would be 4pm because we had to wait on Horizon.... bummer. I ran to LCC to get his injection of Lovenox, came back to hospital and the Dr STILL hadn't been there to see him and this was after 2pm. In the meantime got a phone call that Horizon was going to be more like 5pm... ugh, yet another bummer!!

We decided we would go down to the cafe to eat the "hospital food" one last time... Not what Jimmy was looking forward to! :(

Dr came in around 3:30pm. Got the discharge papers filled out and ready to go. Got a call that Horizon would be early.... YAY!! They got there at 3:45... we are singing and dancing at this point thinking wooo hooo... we are going hooome, we are going hooome!!!! The dude dropped off 3 bags and 1 large box of supplies and left. SOoooo, we called the nurse in and said "ok- let's get going!! Get us out of here"!! She said that we had to wait on the visiting nurse from Horizon to come and start the pump of pain meds to go home with. UGH!! Wind out of sail once again! MAN... OK, so we wait another hour plus... ugh! So here comes VNA - a different nursing organization- at 5pm. We were talking to her about our frustrations and she said she was sorry and she could have been there earlier! DOH!! Ok, move on... she gets the subcutaneous needle ready for the pain pump- it has to go into his belly... she pushes the first one in- won't allow flush to move through... grrr. She pulls it out and finds that needle had bent and tried spot number two. I am watching Jimmy's face... this is the FIRST TIME I have seen pain on his face with needles- (Momma is getting a little pissed)... she pushes on the SECOND needle and tries to run flush- GUESS WHAT?! Yep, you guessed it... that one bent too!!! (Momma is really NOT HAPPY NOW). I said can we please wait til we get home quickly and get the numbing gel on him before we try it again.... SOOooo again- THIRD SPOT pushed needle in- watched pain on Jimmy's face (heart breaking).... took a little force, but finally the flush went in- THANK GOD!!!! Ok, time to get this dang pain medicine pumping, because at this point he was unhooked from the hospital line of pain meds. Put the battery in... go through set up. NOTHING- WHAAAAAT?!?! Horizon forgot to send the key needed in order to unlock the pump because after all--- it IS a controlled substance!! We are all but fuming at this point... not hooked up, and we have to wait on someone to show up with the key in order for Jimmy to have any pain meds?!?!!!!! he asked the nurse almost immediately if he could get a dose before we left through his port- she called the Dr and made it happen within MOMENTS!! *Phew*

Packed up and started out of hospital- Jimmy walking and wheelchair filled with supplies!! haha the one nurse HOOKED US UP!! In the one hall Jimmy felt that his gauze that was over his newly removed IV site - he got it out of his sleeve to see that it was completely blood soaked (Heparin doing it's job alright)- the nurse that was walking out with us (same one that hooked us up with supplies) RAN DOWN THE HALL for more gauze and tape... got back a little winded and said - open up that alcohol swab and clean that off. So I did as ordered- haha- and got his arm cleaned up- she proceeded to place the covering on it and she saw that he had it all over his fingers... she ordered him at that point to clean of his hand!! :) MAN WE LOVE HER!! :) OK- NOW can we go HOME?!?!?!?! Got everything packed into car- she gave us our very warm and loving hugs and we were FREE!!!!! We got home and less than 15 minutes the VNA nurse was at the door- YAY. She came in and started the paperwork.... and not long after that the key came for the pump.... YAY!! Got the pain pump started... Jimmy pushed the button for his "extra dose" to be sure that it worked before we would let her leave. WORKED!!! Now on to getting the vitamins injected into his TPN... I open a syringe and 2 viles of vitamins... inject air into vile, and then draw all liquid from that vile- go to next vile and do the same thing. Then inject it into the TPN and do this all under the watchful eye of the nurse who watches my every move and gives me advice. DONE- on to next step- giving Jimmy his Lovenox injection... OH MAN- where to find fat pocket on this boy???- NOWHERE!! He chooses back of arm. I get syringe ready because we have to waste some out of each syringe because it doesn't come in 60- only 80. Now, take the alcohol wipe and wipe the spot he chose- pinch the arm and push in needle... administer Lovenox and pull needle out- look at site to be sure he is not bleeding. Done now until he's ready for bed and then we hook up the TPN. He's now sitting here with one of his very good friends, Ryan. It's GREAT to have him home!!!!!!!!!! Oh, BTW- he's sitting in there eating mac & cheese right now!!! YAY... OMG YAY!!!!!! (I sigh in happiness!!)

Thank you everyone for your continuing thoughts and prayers!!

And NEXT TIME will do injection BETTER- sorry Jimmy.... :(