Ana Is Doing Well

So, I know my daughter is well because she's getting bored now. I didn't end up writing an update yesterday because I spent the day entertaining her. We had no visitors for the morning and much of the afternoon, so we watched movies and had mommy/daughter time. I gave her a sponge bath and used the pedicure set she got as a gift from her cousins to scrub her feet. She thoroughly enjoyed that. Nothing she likes better than feeling like a princess, especially when mommy is the servant!

Since she was beginning to lose her mind with boredom, I asked a few friends to bring some things for her to do. Susan and Darlene showed up with enough things to keep her busy for weeks! Bless you guys! So now I actually have a little time to write an update.

Yesterday, the doctors cleared Ana to eat regular food. Even though she was crazy excited, she barely ate any of the food she ordered. I tried to tell her to take it slow since it has been over a week since she's had a meal, but she was adamant about ordering waffles, eggs and bacon. At first I was mortified by her choices (so nutritious!) but I figured I would pick that fight later and at least get her eating again. She only ended up eating a few bites of everything anyway. She wasn't much of an eater before all this, so I knew she wouldn't eat much after everything she's been through.

Later we tried some spaghetti and that still didn't do the trick. It doesn't help that hospital food is barely palatable. When Ana was on the clear liquid diet, one of the doctors suggested bringing chicken broth from the store, since the hospital broth tastes like boiled shoe. Now you know it's bad when even the doctors are recommending getting food elsewhere. Maybe I'll see about getting her some food from somewhere else today.

She won't have to worry about hospital food much longer anyway, though. The doctors said that the're gonna take out the drain in her side (which, by the way, has been basically empty since they inserted it). AND, she's gonna get to go home either tomorrow or Wed. Yay!!! I am so thankful that this part of the journey is nearly done. Sleeping on this pull out chair just is not working out well. They're made for short, skinny people. I got the short part covered, but lord knows I'm far from skinny. It'll be so nice to sleep in my own bed again! And I've been thinking longingly about a long soak in our deep bathtub with candles and all! But, more importantly, it'll be great to see Ana comfortable. It's difficult to watch her suffer and feel helpless to do anything about it.

So, now that we know we're leaving soon, it's time to start going through the vast array of items that we've accumulated. So many people have sent flowers, ballons and other gifts that we were getting crowded out of our hospital room. Now that we're in a room by ourselves, it's a bit better, though. My mother took some things home for us, but we still have quite a bit. It feels like we moved in. And, after all that it took to move into the house a few weeks ago, the last thing I want is to feel like I'm organizing another move!

However, I have a real reminder right here in our room, of how fortunate we are. There is a board up on the wall and written on it is, "Brian 659B, 6 North rocks!" according to the nurses, that poor kid was here for 8 months! They can't tell me, of course, what he was suffering from, but they did say he went home healthy. So, I remain grateful for so many things. Probably the biggest blessing is that I really had no clue how serious her condition was in the beginning. It wasn't until the real danger had passed that I discovered how close I came to losing my baby girl. Thank God I was ignorant. From day one, I was certain that this was just a little bump in the road and that she was going to be all right. Sometimes, ignorance really is bliss. So, I am immeasurable thankful for that ignorance and my daughter's health.

I am also grateful for eveyone who took part in her healing: the doctors, nurses, family and friends that showed her so much love and care. Even her teacher and school Principal came! How many people can say that? There is no way to repay everyone for that gift. You are all deeply rooted in my heart and prayers. We are so blessed!

To Ana! My beautiful, courageous, loving, strong-willed daughter!

I love you!

Hospital Room Change

Ana has been moved to another room in the hospital. The room # is 659B. The new phone number is 323-361-5266.

The tube in her nose came out last night and she was able to have water and a popsicle this morning. Probably the best popsicle she's ever had. Her energy gets better and stronger each day. Due to an issue with diarrhea, there's a possibility that she will be here a few days longer, so calls and visits would be appreciated. Please keep her in your prayers. We REALLY want to get her home in time for Thanksgiving.

Blessings and love,

Kristin

Ana's Progress 2

Ana continues to get better and better. This morning they disconnected the tube in her nose from the suction. If she continues to be ok (and so far she has), they'll take the tube out of her nose!! That's the biggest thing bothering her right now. Plus, once that comes out, she'll be able to drink and, soon after that, eat. The poor girl hasn't had a meal in over a week!

The fever and diarrhea that had been making her miserable are going away now. Thank God. She was ready to go off the next time a nurse approached her with ice packs. I have to say I am inspired by and proud of my daughter's incredible strength! She has been a very active part of her healing. She has no trouble telling everyone what she needs. One of my favorite moments was when her father was visiting and he decided to eat a Slim Jim (beef jerky). She looked at him and, in a very kind voice, said "Daddy, I know you're hungry, but if you keep eating that over here I'm gonna throw up". That's my Ana.

The nurses have been making a point to get her up and walking so that her organs start functioning better. The doctors were amazed when she grabbed onto her IV pole and went racing past them and went around the lobby area as if it was a Nascar track! I have been blessed with an incredible daughter. I am so proud of her!!!

My guess is that she'll be coming home on Sunday or Monday. Then she'll be able to rest and recouperate for several weeks before coming back for her appendectomy. After everything she's been through, that'll be simple.

Today, she told me she's not up to having too many visitors. So, if you want to come by, please text me and I'll check with her. She's happy to know that she is so loved. It just gets tiring when too many people come because she feels obligated to socialize even if she's sleepy. She's very honest, so if she's up to it, she'll let us know. Once we get home, people can still visit her there.

There are no words to express my gratitude for the support you all have given us. So many reasons to have a wonderful thanksgiving celebration!

Blessings and love!

Kristin

Ana's Progress

Ya-Baha-u'l-Abha! Ana is doing much better! The doctor came in this morning and she was much more alert and comunicative. He said that the treatment seems to be working and they're gonna take good care of her so she can get home. Her stomach has softened some and she was able to walk for a good while today. So, they won't have to cut her open today as they had feared.

I'm not sure when she will be released, but once she comes home, she'll still be on antibiotics for several weeks and then she will return to have her appendectomy, but it will be a minor surgery and they won't have to cut her open. This is what we were hoping for. God is good! All the time!

Please continue to pray. I know that it is your love and prayers that are making a huge difference for her. Bless you all!

Ana Update Nov 19th

Ana had a better day today. She was able to get some good rest last night and there were no surgical procedures done, so she had a more restful day. In the early part of the day, she was tired and having some stomach pains, but by the afternoon, she was teasing her father and making jokes. Even earlier, when she was having fevers and they kept putting ice on her, she said in an irritated voice, "I feel like frosty!" In the evening she had fun teasing Tim and messing with him. She said she likes tall people, but not their personalities. Of course, she was only joking because she was really happy to see him. She was also happy to have visits from her uncles Darius and John, Grammy, Kahlil, Dee, Nasya, auntie Lynda, auntie Nekesa, Leena (bless her for riding 3 hours in traffic to visit for 30 min), little cousin Jeffrey (even though he tried to jack her stuffed animals), Allison, Louis, Burrell, Jerry, Natasha, baby Jaden, and best of all... Moriah! She was in tears again feeling so loved. She was so happy that everyone came and that's some of the best medicine she can get.

After everyone left, she went for a short walk around the hospital and that went better than expected. I was quite happy to see that. Now, she is resting peacefully after a full day. Please continue to keep her in prayer. We need everyone to visualize her absesses draining into the white pouch attached to her left hip area. She had a surgical procedure done to insert the drain and, so far nothing has come out. We need that to drain. I know that the power of visualization is strong, so if everyone sees her absesses draining, I'm certain they will. Especially if that visualization is fortified by divine power through prayer.

Thank you all for your continued love, support and prayers. Ana and I both feel very blessed to have so many loved ones. We love you all so much. There are no words to thank you.

More updates to come tomorrow.

Blessings!

Kristin