French Hens

Since the Third Day of Christmas is French Hens, are you curious how I tied French Hens, Christmas, and Kassie together? For all you who live in TX, I' hoping you can see with me the rooster display at Hobby Lobby with all the le coq french roosters - which naturally leads me to shopping. Kassarah usually points to the display and says something like, "I don't know why I think those roosters look so cool. They're so lame I almost want one." Kass LOVES shopping, but has a hard time choosing just one thing. She often will narrow her choices to 2 or 3, but leaves the store empty handed because she can't decide. As most people scurry around to shops looking for Christmas trinkets for that special someone, we are doing our modified version of Christmas shopping at Children's Hospital.

Right now, we made it out of ICU, and are upstairs. They have taken out out all her IV's, and want her walking and eating. Kass is spending her time "shopping" for the perfect pain management regimen. There are so many options, but so far, nothing she's wanted to take home. If I were cynical, I'd say she wants to try on everything in the pharmacy - just in case it looks better on her than on the rack. Instead, I will say that she is weighing her options carefully. We had a difficult night last night - and her summation was that the rest of the anesthesia had worn off, and she was finally feeling the pain. She (and Kevin) are now resting comfortably, while I try to think of what might be delicious enough to tempt her to eat.

She asked for Kimber incessantly yesterday, and was so happy when Auntie brought her for a visit. She made her climb in bed, and together they watched a movie. Last night, while we were waiting for the nurses and doctors to figure out what to do about her pain, we tried to pass the time by reading short stories as a distraction. At about 4am, I turned on Inkheart with the intention of lulling her to sleep, or at least diverting her attention from the pain. What I couldn't foresee was her determination to formulate a compare and contrast analysis of the movie versus the book. I had to turn it off. I can see why the doctors are pleased with her surgery. Even with pain at a 9, she can't turn off her mind. I am trying very hard to be creative to help her keep her mind occupied so that her attention won't be on the physical discomfort.

As soon as she can eat and manage the pain (and nausea) we'll be home. She's exhausted from last night's ordeal, and is resting nicely. I'm hoping she'll awaken as a new woman - ready to face whatever today holds, and able to find some medication that she likes.