Look Ma! No Tubes!

Yep. The other tube just got removed! 

1 chest tube out!

Things are drying up! Henry's right chest tube just came out. Woo! It's totally possible if things look good on the left tomorrow, it could come out too. If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands!

18 days post-op

We're not winning any land speed records here. We're probably right in the middle of the pack actually. The chest tubes are still in and we're still waiting for them to stop draining enough to take them out. I feel like it's getting closer and people are starting to mention the possibility of them coming out depending on how things go. Today was low output and we just need more like today to show that it is consistently low and not a fluke or accumulating. I don't really have a whole lot to say except that I'm ready to be done. Come on Henry, let's wrap it up and get out of here!

On the plus side, he seems in pretty good moods these days. He gets around well but gets tired out. There's a tricycle from physical therapy that he loves to ride. He's getting pretty good at cut the rope. We've exhausted the good movies from the Child Life room. Tuna sandwiches are his favorite of the low fat choices from the hospital.

We got outside in the beautiful weather today!

Almost back to regular, but more waiting

I'd say that Henry's behavior is almost back to normal. He definitely still has some discomfort which he's just on Tylenol for. He skipped a nap today. I think that's a great sign that he's getting enough rest and nourishment. He's still draining through his chest tubes but it is decreasing nicely. He's under 100mL today. He needs to have under about 30 from each tube for 3 days before they will take them out. So, we're getting closer but there's still more waiting.

On the plus side, he's happy most of the day, except mornings. He's been eating great even though he's on a pretty low fat diet (we make it tasty and fun). And he's been so happy to have his brother and sister here to play with. Nothing like breaking up the day of being stuck in the same room all day!

He got a tricycle from physical therapy and rides it around the hospital getting oohs from all the nurses.
He's been blowing bubbles in the play room, doing art, and playing games. He even got to sit in a crazy race car that was here today. Pics or it didn't happen!

Lap 2 of the Henry 500

Lydia and Liam love bubbles too

BUBBLES!

Painting with nurse Kelli

Candy Land was a hit

We discovered the bed goes way up high so had to take a picture on it

Go speed!

Painting a wooden car. 1 for Liam, 1 for himself. "Golden" his favorite color.

The cool kids are eating Pez

And then there's the afternoons

So as boring, cranky, and stressful as the mornings are, the afternoons are generally the opposite.
So happy and playful. We snack, talk, try to get walking and hopefully get to the play room.  Here's what happened yesterday at playtime.

Long days are long

Long days indeed! Seems like every day is a bit of a pattern. Wake up at 6 for an Xray (yes every morning). Radiation fears are for pansies! A nice wheelchair ride, and two pictures later we check his weight, take medicine and settle in to a mope-tastic funk. He's tired, cranky, and totally over being stuck in the hospital with chest tubes waiting for them to stop draining. It's a whiny land that tries everyone's patience. Then there's a nap. A gloriously quiet time. Sometimes I wish we could just sleep for another week and then we'll be done with this place. We would magically awake right at the moment when we're all done, hop in the car and drive home.

Whew. Shake it off! Eventually night will come and we'll all get a mildly restful sleep and do it all over again.

The whole family in one tiny room

Sunday evening the L's, as I call them, got to Seattle. Lydia and Liam drove over with Linda to Spokane and spent the night in a hotel (which they loved). Then Bob and Donna flew to Spokane and finished the drive with them to Seattle.  It was so good for the kids to see each other. Here's one great moment that happened when they visited.