Leaving the hospital

We were discharged from the hospital last night. It felt AMAZING to walk out of our room and out of there with our girl. 

These last 5 days have been the hardest days. I can't even tell you the relieve it is to be going home. Jovie was sick throwing up a lot yesterday and threw up most of our way home. I can only imagine how painful throwing up is to her. Luckily she hasn't thrown up anymore. 

This morning she starting to walk around the house some. She moved slowly and with caution but went up and down the hallway and it was so strange not to hear her breathing hard!! I am so used to being able to hear her wherever she is. She also put on her jacket like she's always done but I wonder what she thought when she realized she doesn't get cold anymore. Her nose has run everyday that we've known her and her fingers are always ice cold. The change we see already is just a miracle!

Mae has been so incredibly sweet to Jovie. I've caught her kissing her so many times today. 

Jovie will need some time to recover - she gets meds around the clock and we will need to be extra careful with her until she heals. They said it will take 8 weeks for her body to heal. Tomorrow will be 1 week, it's pretty incredible the way God designed our bodies. 

So we have a follow up appointment with her surgeon next week and her cardiologist the week after next to make sure things are all going well. It amazes me what doctors can do and how quickly Jovie is recovering. Imagine how much her life has changed in 6 days. Forever. 

Step Down Unit

Yesterday afternoon we were able to move to the step down unit... So we now have our own room!!! 

I finally got to hold her too. It was well overdo - I could feel my sweet darling melting into my arms. She's needed this... And so have I! 

Last night I was able to stay the night with her. She's still been sleeping almost all of the time and is still in a lot of pain, so they are giving her something around the clock. It's just been a couple of times we've heard her sweet voice. Last night we face-timed with Mae and Jovie Ming surprised us all when she made the kissing noise when she heard her big sister voice. I am so blessed by the bond these children already share. Mae prayed last night and thanked Jesus for Jovie's pink toes. 

This morning they came and took us to go get X-rays. So all the sweeties on this floor ride down in radio flyer wagons. I think Jovie enjoyed the little trip outside of her room. This trip will be a daily 4am wake up call while we stay here. 

ICU 4

Jovie had a good night last night and her levels were all good. She did throw up 3 times last night, which breaks my heart but otherwise she slept. She had an X-Ray that was good as well. 

This morning the doctors said it was alright to take out several of her lines, so she has lost a few of the wires today. The most important one being one that went into her heart. It's a big deal to remove it. We have already been given the okay by the doctor that she can move to the step down unit when they have a room available. Yay!! This is huge progress and she will have her own room that I will be able to stay with her through out the rest of her stay. Double yay!! 

She's not been herself yet and has said "momma" just a few times but we hope to see more of the Jovie Ming we know soon! 

Ian has been incredible! I mean there's just not a possible way for him to be an easier kid while we've been here. He met the hospital dogs yesterday and it was the cutest thing ever to see him so excited. He's told everyone (strangers) about the experience (: pointing to the spot in the waiting room where he saw the doggies. 

The dog he is petting is Uno and he is the cardiac doggie and comes to visit Jovie too. I can't wait to see him when Jovie is feeling a little better. Such a sweet pup! 

It's bizarre to be spending days at the hospital and it's got to be confusing to Ian too. He keeps saying "mommy daddy home" so I know he is starting to tire of this craziness. 

Yesterday afternoon my parents brought Mae down here to the hospital. Ian and Mae got to speak with an incredible person on staff here about what they would see when they see Jovie. They used a doll named Charlie and got to be the doctors. After that Kalli went with us to see Jovie and explained all of Mae's questions in just the sweetest way possible. The kids were only with Jovie for a minute but it made a big impression on Mae. Ian is saying "Jovie doctor" today. (: 

ICU 3

Today Jovie continued to do well but she was awake more and upset. They are slowly wheening her off several things to get her ready to be able to move her out of the ICU and into the step down unit. We are hopeful that could happen tomorrow. 

She was able to finally drink something and was so happy to get something real, but she threw up ): it was pitiful because as you can imagine it hurts. 

She was peaceful for most of the day but she had a few difficult times. She was getting mad tonight because she didn't like lying there with all the wires and things everywhere, and then she'd cry and kick and that would hurt her so she'd cry because it hurt and I was doing my best to comfort her but I can't pick her up, and that's what she wants, so that would make her mad too. Very hard to see her upset and not be able to do anything. I pray she sleeps well through the night tonight. 

ICU 2

Last night Jovie did very well. She's gone through an incredible thing and her body is still in shock. The breathing tube came out last night at about 12am and she is breathing on her own now. She is starting to wake up this morning and has been very upset. She wants me to pick her up and hold her but I can't and it kills me. 

They've already decided that she will be in the ICU for at least another 24hours. She's still on some support to control her blood pressure and something that is helping her heart pump. 

They warned me that today will be the hardest for her because she will be waking up but still has so many wires going everywhere she will have to stay still and we can not hold her and comfort her the way she wants. 

I will keep updating the blog when I can.  We can not thank you enough for your prayers for our girl.