:) made it through the night without waking up!!

however, i have been starting a lot of the past days in a lot of pain, but i guess that's to be expected since i haven't woken up during the night to take pain meds.

My mom and I have been watching a lot of movies (mostly Walker Texas Ranger =] ), but if you know of any good movies to suggest, they'd be greatly welcomed!

Thank you for all the flowers, balloons, and cards, they have been a real encouragement to me!

didn't quite make it through the night again.. i woke up at 4am with intense pain, took some pain meds and watched WTTW with my mom until 4:30am..

I know that I'm healing, but I've been in a lot of pain lately, and it can be very discouraging. Thank you for all the letters, packages, and encouraging words this past week. I am praying that each day it will get easier and (HOPEFULLY) less painful. I take about 3-4 walks a day, but usually we only go a short distance.

I SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT!

wooo-hooo!!!

......possibly because I didn't go until 12am, but it was the first night that I have slept all the way through since before my surgery. I think my mom was grateful for the undisturbed night, and I know that it was nice not to have my slumber disrupted with PAIN.

:)

...more about home...

Being home certainly is a lot nicer than being in the hospital, especially always having my family around.

Nights have been the worst for me: as soon as the pain meds wear off, I wake up, in LOTS of pain.  Often, I'm not due to take my next med for a while.  My mom and I take walks at like 3 in the morning..... a little sketchy, but it works..

home

S spent my last night in the hospital with me and I only woke up 1 time!!! 

After OT and PT gave the thumbs-up, I was discharged from the hospital yesterday afternoon.  I guess it was kind of a happy/sad thing for me.  I knew that living at home would be very different then how I was being treated in the hospital.  J, my daytime nurse was a sweetheart and took great care of me.  However, I'm pretty sure mother-power rules over any other.. well, you get  the point: my mom will take really, really good care of me.  Going home, the car ride was bumpy, to say the least.  Mom did her best to avoid all the pot holes in the road, but man, it felt like a war zone out there to me!  I came home to a very different environment then that at the hospital.  With a four year old who practically requires just as much attention as I do, it's well... different.  :)  Sleeping in my own bed was better then what I thought it would be.  Especially since it doesn't go up or down or do anything fancy..

I only woke up 2 times last night, and today all the bandages came off.  I still have the same amount of pain and am just as sore, but just knowing that they're no longer there is a relief, I guess.

Well, it's time to go on a walk!

every time i use the computer i feel like i'm going cross-eyed... an unusual side effect i guess....

i passed my physical therapy "test" today, which means that i don't have to go anymore. i only had 2 PT sessions, which consisted of me learning how to sit up in a chair, get out of and into a chair, lay down and stand up, all by myself.  i am no longer hooked up to any IVs, but rather, i am taking pain meds by way of pills.  So far, I have been on a clear liquids only diet.   Starting with my dinner tonight, I will be able t0 eat solid food yumm!!

it looks like i will be going home tomorrow, so that is also very exciting!!!!!

I have been walking a lot lately too, which is really great!

height guesses

because the point of the surgery was to help straighten my spine, I have grown a bit in one day =]

what my family and i were discussing was to have people guess how much i grew.. so go ahead and comment with your guess!!

small children

there is currently a small child outside in the hallway practically screaming. GREAT. 

today i have therapy at 1pm, where i will be walking around a little bit.

last night my mother brought in a few cards for me: one from all my classmates in the page program, one from my peers at Lake Zurich youth group, and another from some friends at school/Rolling Meadows youth group. Thank you so much!! I have also received some cards from other friends as well as the staff at StayFit.  Thank you for all of the prayers and support.

Right now, I am feeling very sore an extremely stiff.

walking

I just moved to a different room, I am no longer in Ped ICU.  Therapist came by soon after and helped me sit, stand, and take a few steps.  I was able to eat some beef broth after resorting to using a straw.. For the most part I am just extremely tired and sore.

Getting Out of Bed 10 a.m.

I woke up and two doctors were standing over my bed.  they told me I would be walking to my next room.  haha not funny-my reply "yeah right."

after much effort they sat me up on the edge of my bed.  I began to feel dizzy and lied back down.  after a pump of morphine not only did I sit up but I stood up!  I found that standing was much more comfortable than sitting.

Today I will begin a clear liquid diet and will be moved to the orthopedic unit.  they also removed my A-line.

too tired to write anymore

June 13, 9:15 a.m.

Well... Nicole is a bit snowed from the pain medicine so you're hearing from me:)  Nicole experienced some bad pain for a few hours last night about midnight.  We are waiting for the doctor to come to see if she can eat something.

Please continue to send your well wishes either by commenting or on facebook.  She has me read them to her.

She is supposed to get up soon.

Goodnight June 12, 2009 9:30 p. m.

I (mom) just got home and dad is spending the night with Nicole.  I spoke to Mike minutes ago and he said they "log rolled" her and it went very well.  Her blood o2 is low due to her shallow breathing.  That is something common and she needs to work on breathing deeply.  She is tired now and so is dad:)

Dr. D and his nurse D came about 5 p.m.  Nicole gave him a huge smile and he told her how proud he was of her.  He still calls her Missy.  That was our nickname for her when she was younger.

Thank you to all who prayed and to all who continue to pray.  We are so humbled by those who love us and care for us by praying.

Hopefully, tomorrow Nicole will be writing to you!

June 12, 2009 3:25 p.m.

Nicole's sister Shelly, her dad Mike, and I (mom) are sitting in Nicole's ICU room watching her "sleep."  She has 2 great nurses and the "fellow" has been great also.

For the first hour in ICU Nicole was in a lot of pain and they were trying to figure out how much pain meds to give her.

It was explained to me that there are 2 types of pain that she will experience.  One is muscle spasms in her back.  Now that her spine has been straightened, some muscles are loose that used to be tight and some are tight that used to be loose.  For that they give valium by injection.

The other pain is from the incision which is  a sharp needle-like pain.  For that they give morphine using a PCA pump.  Nicole cannot yet describe what her pain feels like so they are giving her both.

I think she looks great, beautiful as ever.  

June 12, 12:50pm

Nicole, as usual, passed her test!  Wake up test passed-surgery finished with no problems.  They are in the process of closing her now!

Glory be to God!

June 12, 11 a.m.

We just received a phone call from the OR.  God is so good!  She is 1/2 through the operation.  They are ahead of schedule and so far she has required no blood!  Surgery will last a few more hours.  The next call will be after the wake up test.  They actually wake her up enough for her to wiggle her feet and squeeze their hand before they close.  Crazy but true.

Please continue to pray.

Friday June 12, 2009 9am

Thanks to all that have committed to pray for our family.   We can really feel the peace that only God can give.

We arrived at the hospital at 5:30 a.m.  We were ushered to a small room where Nicole changed into a lovely green gown and they took vitals and drew blood.  We met the "fellow" that will be assisting Dr. D in the OR.

We then went to the pre-op area where they began an IV and gave Nicole something to relax her.  From there she went to the OR.  Mike and I left for a cup of coffee and when we came back the pager went off.  Our hearts jumped...but all was well.  They paged us to invite us up to the presidential suite where its quiet and calm.

I have to say that Nicole was extremely calm and at peace with her decision to have this surgery.  I admire her courage and strength which she get from her trust and faith in Jesus Christ alone.

God's Word tells us in Proverbs 3 verses 5-6 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.

I guess tomorrow is "the big day." Surprisingly, I haven't gotten nervous or anything yet. Personally, I think my parents are more anxious than I am.. which could just be nature.  I'm not really sure what else to write at the moment, since I've already explained what the process will be tomorrow..

A few people from the hospital called today to ask if I've ever had a stroke or heart problems or if I smoked recreational drugs..

Also, because the surgery will be straightening my spine, that means that I will be growing a little bit.  In our basement, we have a growth chart, so about an hour ago, my dad marked my height on the "WALL."  It will be interesting to see how much I will grow in one day!

My mom will be posting updates tomorrow while I'm in surgery, so I think I should be back on around Sunday.

:)

Thank you for your prayers and support.

skydiving

had a setback today.. i learned that the state of IL requires you to be 18 to go skydiving. :(

i was discussing with my mom how after friday my life would never be same.  there would be a lot of things that i would never be able to do.  the example i used with my mother was skydiving.  soooo, surprisingly, she was all for it.  she said i could go tomorrow.. alas, i am not 18. oh well.  maybe i should have waited to have surgery until after i was 18.

pre-operative visit

Yesterday I had my pre-op appointment.  It went well, I had to have some blood drawn and an x-ray taken.  I will be going into surgery on Friday at 7:15am, and have to be at the hospital at 5:30am. yikes..