The Nose Tube is Finally Gone!!!

Good news! Stephi finally won the nose tube battle. She somehow convinced the UW staff to pull that tube out!! She did threaten to walk down to that doctors clinic to find him if it wasn't gone by today, and I'm not sure I would put it past her. She has got quite a bit of spunk these days.

Better news?? Yep! We got her some clothes for her bottom half! No more full moon in the Neuro ICU! She would have had them sooner but last time I saw her she wasn't moving that well, and her sense of humor over the whole thing cracks me up. When I told her she should be a little more modest in front of strangers - she looked at me and told me "I have a brain injury" I suppose that justifies it?? Look out St Clare's - we are going to have our hands full come delivery time!! LOL

She is in great spirits. She gets the biggest kick out of herself. If we pick on her she tells us to "take it easy on the poor disabled girl!" She's quick and somewhat uncoordinated, but it sounds like she is almost ready for an inpatient rehabilitation stay which will most likely be at the UW as well. She actually sounds like she is looking forward to it. I am amazed by her spirit as well as her sense of humor these days.

She looks so cute - she doesn't think so, but she seems to always have this little bit of a confused look on her face as she sits with you and has a totally appropriate conversation. I think it might be just the fact that she has a slight facial droop on that left side. She has a left sided field cut because I see her scanning a lot for things in front of her. It takes her a few seconds to find things that are more situated on her left, but she will eventually get it.

She's eating well - ha - better than most us I heard. Jen brought her crab legs for dinner last night after I left. So that was her midnight snack. She will be spoiled for a while. That's OK I guess.

She talks to Christopher and Olivia on the phone. It is emotional for everyone. It's hard for her because she wants to see them so bad, but she is afraid that they will not understand. It sounds like they will be down soon to visit. I miss them so much and Halloween won't be the same for us without them if they aren't able to come home yet.

All is well today. Back to work for me tomorrow for another 3 days or 12 hour shifts. I continue to pray that my phone stays quiet and patiently wait until I can get back to Madison. Stephi has her cell phone and it has a full charge - we might all be getting some random calls here and there when she gets bored :) At least if I see her name on my caller ID - I know she's OK.

Keep Fighting Stephi!