Hospital life for mom

Where am I staying, and what do I do during the days at the hospital? Bruce thought you all might enjoy a little glimpse of where I am at the moment...

Victoria and I are at Gillette Children's Speciality Healthcare in St. Paul  it is located about two blocks from the Minnesota Capitol Building:  Gillette's mission...which I found prominently displayed on a large plaque in the skyway is:
Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare provides specialized health care for people who have short-term or long-term disabilities that began during childhood. We help children, adults and their families improve their health, achieve greater well-being, and enjoy life.  Gillette has been in existence since 1897.


If you come park in west parking, level D, you will be able to walk right into the Gillette children's clinic area.
There is an info desk with helpful staff ready to answer questions, and stamp your parking ticket, which gives a reduced parking rate.

I sleep in the same room with Victoria.  The PICU down here was just redone last year and the rooms are private and fairly roomy.

The top picture is my bed, which is a couch by day.  It is reasonably comfortable, now that I have gotten used to it.  It is about 2 1/2 feet wide when it is pulled out.  It pulls out about 6 inches further than what it is as a regular couch.  The second photo of the rocking chair is located beside the couch, and is where I do my pumping, or can sit and relax.  I also use the rocker to hold Victoria.  If you look past Victoria's bed in the bottom photo, the rocker is behind the curtain to the left, and you can just see the left side of the couch.
The curtain you see, is about 5 feet from the wall, and pulls across the entire room to give a little privacy.

 

This little nurses station is located directly outside Victoria's room.  The window behind Jenny looks right into the room, and she can see Victoria and all her vitals from right where she is often busy charting.  The nurses here have really been exceptional.  I have been so thankful for each one!

These photos are of the Family room which is just for PICU.  (a special PICU card is required to get in).
There is a fridge we can use, microwave, a coffee/hot chocolate/cappuccino machine  as well as a computer, couches, some toys and games for children.  I had been bringing my meals here...for about the first two weeks I was here...but I have started bringing them to the skyway...as there is sky there.



 

I have also gotten well acquainted with the washer here, as they are using cloth for Victoria at the moment...any thing to try to deal with the rash she is fighting...probably somewhat reacting to antibiotics.

They are doing some construction work at Gillette.  This is the hallway leading to PICU...it just got two feet smaller overnight.

Exercise is essential...so I have found places to walk here at the hospital to walk.  If I go down the above hallways...and two more, I can a walk a mile in 10 times around.  If I walk the skyway, it takes about 10 times back and forth.  I try to get a minimum of a mile in everyday.  Most days, I get two.  Sometimes I walk outside, and sometimes in the other part of the hospital for a little variety.

Here is the skyway where I have been having most of my meals lately...and the view from the skyway...you can see the capitol in the background.  On sunny days, it is especially nice to be out here.  There are tables in one end of the skyway where I often take my meals.  There are also chairs where I can sit and read a bit.

One of the things I like to do best, Is to cuddle Victoria when I can.

Victoria just before they took her down to surgery this afternoon.  Surgery began a little before 4:00, and I just got a call saying that the first surgery...the longer one is done...and went well.  the shorter one about to begin.  Update:   Second surgery is done...Victoria will be intubated at least overnight, because they were not able to do the surgery with the little camera., as a guide,.so it required an incision...so the RT team is here waiting for her to come back up. Update:   Well she is back...sedated and on a tube, but she came through the surgery well, and we are thankful!  Please keep praying...the length of her illness has been hard on her.
We praise God for His goodness in giving this little treasure to us.