Sunday 9th November 2008 - I'm still a bit confused. Even more so today! Mummy and daddy came in and I was wide awake and playing nicely with my toys in my cot. Mummy picked me up and gave me a cuddle and then daddy changed me and gave me a cuddle too. I tried telling them that my nurse had crept in during the night and had stabbed me in my leg but I think they already knew so I thought I'd see if I was allowed any breakfast today and started getting a little irritable. Then mummy put me in my chair and daddy gave me some breakfast! I don't get what yesterday was all about but I was really happy to be able to eat when I was hungry today! I ate half a jar of creamed rice breakfast and then had some yoghurt just before my milk because I was still a bit hungry. Then I took over 50mls from my bottle... before I realised I'd overdone it and brought most if it back up again. Luckily for mummy and daddy it missed them both this time! My nurse then gave me 80mls of milk through the tube in my nose and I wasn't sick again.
My nurse told mummy and daddy that I'd managed to put some weight on (even though I'd been starved for most of the day yesterday!) and mummy and daddy said that was probably because sometimes less is more and I'd not been sick all day yesterday (hardly surprising when they'd starved me!). Mummy and daddy asked about me going home today and my nurse said they needed to test my blood to see what my INR levels were and would then make a decision. Mummy dressed me in some jeans and a t-shirt and we had a cuddle for a little while.
My doctor came in to see me again and tried her hardest to get me to smile. But, as I'm totally confused as to why they starved me yesterday, I made sure I didn't give in and just stared blankly at her while she tickled me and made my nose go beep. I looked at mummy and daddy when she did that as if to say "Is this lady for real or what?!" but I don't think they understood so I just carried on ignoring her. She told mummy and daddy that I was doing very well and that I could definitely go back to Norfolk soon, possibly tomorrow as today might not be practical.
After my doctor left another doctor that I've not met before came in. He was very quiet and took hold of my arm... and then, without warning, he stabbed me really hard and made me bleed lots and lots! I screamed and I cried, and I wriggled and I writhed, but he wouldn't stop! He took well over the normal amount of blood that most of my nurses used to steal from my stab wounds in my feet! Mummy and daddy came in just as the ordeal was ending luckily, and cuddled me when he'd gone. My arm was very sore and daddy held a soft bit of cotton wool on it until it stopped bleeding. It took quite a long time to stop though and then mummy put a plaster on it and it started feeling better. Mummy and daddy told me it was taken from my arm because my hickman line had gone and that was the only way the doctors could check my INR levels now... I think that means I might be stabbed a lot more in the future!
After all the effort of fighting off my attacker I was very tired so I had a little sleep. When I woke up granddad Mick and my big brother Dylan were here! I was so happy to see them but especially happy to see Dylan! I've really missed him lots and couldn't wait to have a cuddle with him. I think he's missed me too because he didn't stop smiling when he saw me. We had a lovely cuddle and then me, mummy, daddy, Dylan and granddad Mick all went downstairs so mummy and daddy could have some lunch. After they'd eaten we came back to my room and daddy gave me my lunch. I ate over half a jar and wasn't sick at all! Then I had 30mls of milk from my bottle and had some cuddles with mummy. Me and Dylan played for a bit and he made me laugh lots! Then mummy said she had to go so I had a big cuddle with her and hoped I would see her soon. Just before she left my nurse came in to say my INR levels were up to 1.8 so not much of a change from yesterday and certainly not enough for me to go home today.
When mummy left daddy went downstairs to say goodbye to her and Dylan. When he got back I was fast asleep. I slept for quite a bit because I was worn out from Dylan playing with me! When I woke up daddy gave me some chocolate pudding and I ate half a jar again (I've been trying to make up for yesterday!) and then, a little while later, I had 70mls of milk from my bottle... and wasn't sick!!! Daddy and my nurse were very impressed and I smiled lots and lots to let daddy know I was pleased too.
Me and daddy played on his bed and daddy kept making me laugh by blowing my hair. Then we had a snuggle cuddle for a little bit and I fell asleep again. I wasn't asleep for too long though and when I woke up daddy gave me my milk. I only had 30mls this time but it was still yummy and I wasn't sick again. Then daddy got me changed ready for bed and my nurse gave me the rest of my milk through my tube in my nose. Daddy then put me in my chair for a little while and I watched some tv. Then In the Night Garden came on so daddy took me out of my chair and we snuggled up on his chair by my cot and watched Upsy Daisy singing. Daddy makes me laugh when the Tittifers nod their heads and I kept looking at him whenever they came on to make sure he was doing it right. When it was finished I had my medicines and then daddy left me to go and have his dinner.
Just after he left me my nurse came in again and stabbed me in my other leg! I cried for a little bit but I am getting used to these random acts of stabbing and fell asleep quickly. When daddy got back I was asleep and my nurse told him that she'd given me another heparin injection in my leg and I'd cried for 30 seconds before I fell asleep again. Then she told daddy that she didn't want to get his hopes up... but she'd spoken to our local hospital and they'd said they had a spare room ready for me for tomorrow! Daddy asked what would stop me going tomorrow and my nurse said it would be my local hospital now as GOSH have fixed me and my treatment can now be taken over in Norfolk! This is excellent news and it really does look like we'll be nearer home tomorrow night!
Daddy phoned mummy to tell her the good news and then my nurse that looks after me in the night came in and confirmed what my day nurse had said! Daddy asked what would happen if my INR levels were low again tomorrow and she told him that it shouldn't be a problem and my local hospital will be able to take over.
I think daddy was very pleased and so was mummy too. It seems like a distant memory now, but it was 2 months ago today that I had my 3rd heart operation. I've had some ups and some downs, but I'm definitely feeling better now and I cannot wait to go home and be with mummy, daddy and Dylan in our home together. It looks like we don't have much longer to wait now!
