Today was another day of slow and steady progress in room 320. Finn was downgraded from a Ram Cannula to a high flow nasal cannula. He just has a tube in his nose blowing oxygen in to his little body. He's getting better. Slowly but surely. We still have many days ahead of us in the ICU. After our time in the ICU we will stay in a regular hospital room where he can still be monitored. Finn is starting to look like himself again. He's handsome little face is more visible. He's able to turn and move a lot more. He's not swollen and puffy anymore. We are getting closer, but he still has many days of recovery ahead. After his respiratory health is fully improved then minor adjustments will be made to the sedation medication until he can safely be awake.
Here are today's positives:
1. Vegetable venison soup. Homemade. Hand delivered to the PICU by a pal who I can say anything to . . . and that I did. It was great to just sit with a friend and talk about something other than the happenings of room 320. Sure, we talked a lot about that, but we had time for some other conversations as well. Kyle enjoyed the soup with venison. I enjoyed mine without! YUMMY!
2. A moment of normal. I came home to spend the afternoon with Everett. We knew he'd been having some "big feelings" but he probably wouldn't let them out with anyone but me. So, I left the hospital and spent the afternoon and evening with Everett. We had an AWESOME time enjoying the treats from his care package (see #1), playing at the park, eating dinner, and going through bedtime routine. We were playing at a park when Everett exclaimed, "look mom, the neighbors!" Our next door neighbors surprised us at the park so the boys could play together. It was so great. It was truly a moment of normal. I took a deep breath, grabbed my neighbors hand, and made an anchor to that moment.
3. Xa-Lights.
The other day the child life specialist (social worker) brought us a gift for Everett. These lights are made by a family who had a very long PICU experience. Everett has a light in his room, and Finn has a light in his. I explained that the lights were bonded together just like Everett and Finn are bonded together. I told Everett that if he was missing Finn or worried about anything he could just tell his light. Everett was really excited and liked the idea. And . . . the light serves as a night light which helps with some of those "big feelings" (see #2) I mentioned earlier.
As soon as we turned the light on Everett left a few messages for Finn. And then he left a few messages for our dogs (they've been with a dog sitter since this whole thing started. He really misses them).
#LoveWins
#FinnStrong
And, now, sleep.
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