24 Hour Party People

24 Hour Party People. That's what Sylvie and I are.

Surprise visit from Kitzchy last night since Michael is home sick. She brought travel Scrabble and we got down to business on the floor by the door while Sylvie slept. The first word I laid out was conveniently LIVER. Kitzchy killed me in the end and I should never have let her use the word RICE twice! What I should have done is probably gone to sleep a little earlier.

Sylvie's is finally sleeping after an all-nighter and busy morning. Sylvie's lower port began bleeding last night after a power struggle over taking her last does of 'carmelized' magnesium. Alba, the resident, finally said to skip the magnesium but as we went to go back to bed, Nicole the nurse noticed blood on the front of Sylvie's green hosptital nightie. Instantly the room became as sterile as it possibly could, we all donned masks (including a VERY pissed off Sylvie) and we all went to work. As a rule, I try to not appear scared or upset in front of Sylvie. It took every ounce of strength for me to not throw up and I kept having to look away. As a consolation prize, Nicole gave Sylvie a brand new Disney "Belle" doll of which they must have closets full of them and I let her watch The Little Mermaid/ Ariel's Daughter. Then, after they cleaned the ports and applied new bandages, Alba ordered up some platelets. And with platelets comes Tynelol and Benedryl half an hour to an hour in front. And the usual vital sign checks, antibiotics and so forth. Fortunately Sylvie was not getting food through her nose (it's called an NG tube so I'm going to start using the official word) which saved me an ADDITIONAL 18 "alarms" from going off between 7pm and 7 am. I was very distracted and couldn't fall back asleep.

Sylvie woke up around 6 am demanding the usual-- Dora or a princess movie. Karen who is the day nurse today suggested Sylvie wear a t-shirt to protect the port so Sylvie is wearing her brand new green St.Patrick's Day from her friend's bday party that she missed 2 weeks ago beneath her green hospital nightie. As further protection, Sylvie is also donning a princess dress (surprise, surprise) in the hopes that it will be more difficult for doctors and nurses to poke and prod her abdomen.

The ultrasound was scheduled for 8 am which quickly became 9 am and then 10am. By that point Sylvie was asking for food (yeay) but couldn't have any (boo). Sylvie and I both lay on the stretcher together as we got wheeled down to radiology. We tried to read a princess story and look at photos of Sylvie with Kate at her house and Sammy (and the Easter Bear from last year) while Padma the technician lubed up Sylvie's belly. My dad was with us too and Sylvie seemed to like knowing he was there too. Not to be graphic but I think my ass fell asleep while on the stretcher. I have to tell Sibel that because she just learned in English class what it means to have a limb "fall asleep." I do not know the Turkish translation.

We got back to the hospital room unscathed and I was happy to see they spruced up the room and changed the sheets. Sylvie's officially shedding all over the place. I keep staring at her so I can remember what she looks like with her full head of hair. Sylvie was born with more hair than many three year olds so we have never ever seen her without hair. Ironic, huh?

I missed Sara B. who dropped by with her world-famous Hamentashen cookies in advance of Purim which is March 10th (also my friend Ann's birthday). There must be half a stick of butter in each. They're awesome. Hopefully we will NOT be here through March 10.

Dr. Diamond, Marianne Mariniello (Advance Practice Nurse, Nurse Pracitioner) and Lynda the head nutritionist came by and Sylvie faked sleeping. Her bilirubin level dropped from yesterday which is great news, albumin dropped a little which isn't great but can be helped; otherwise they said Sylvie looked much better today than yesterday. When they get the radiology report, they'll return again.

Sylvie ate 2 cheesy duck crackers and a spoonful of cottage cheese. Breakfast of champions. She's now fast asleep.

Michael can't come to the hospital because he's pretty sick. I'm getting used to the no sleep; Somehow have managed to this without drinking any caffeine.
When his mom Ann sleeps over on Saturday evening, I might literally crawl under the covers at 8 pm despite having a lot of "24" and "Criminal Minds" to catch up on. I read that Michael Vick might get out of prison any day now because there's no room for him at a halfway house. There are so many jokes I could say but the new peaceful self instead will make an online donation to the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary (www.bestfriends.org) in Kanab, Utah (population 4,200 and home of my friend Kelly) where his dogs will spend their rest of their lives being pampered and taken care of.

OK time to order some "Room Service" for Sylvie in the hopes that she'll be hungry when she wakes up.