No more strings!

All that is left is an IV port! No more push button pain relief or machines that beep all night! We had a great day overall! Lacey is able to get in and out of bed by herself, she can go to standing by herself and even asks to go on walks! We made laps around the floor today and even did stairs! She has been awake most of the day and is feeling really worn out. She needed one relief dose of morphine through her IV, but everything else has been oral...that is the the goal, all oral meds that she can take at home. Today was our first day of visitors...Lacey's good friend Hannah and her mom Katie came all the way from Modesto to say "Hi", and they brought us sparkling apple juice to bring in the new year! My mom and sister-in-law brought my kids and my niece for a good visit ( they brought us dinner, so good) and Brad came, bringing Lacey her favorite, a cinabon cinnamon roll, she ate the whole thing! Around 6:00 they took Lacey down for a standing Xray...it was way too much for her, she was in so much pain. They were able to make her comfortable and she is resting now. Thank you for your love and continued, prayers and support! Big hugs to all!

It's looking up!

Rough night...had to get meds to the right amount and that took a long time, but we made it through. Lacey is working really had to try to relax through the pain, it's hard for her not to cry out and scream. When she woke this morning she was a whole new girl...happy, comfortable and wanting to do all that she can. She was able to get up in a chair and make one lap around the Pedi floor...that made her really tired. She climbed back into bed, had a bit to eat and drink and was at it again! This time a walk around the whole floor and a flight of stairs, she made it look so easy! She is resting now! We are looking forward to visitors today! Lacey's friend Hannah is coming and Gram and the rest of my kids! Happy day! Please pray for a good night! Much love!

Over all, a good day!

We made it through another day! Lacey is amazing! Physical Therapy went really well, she has gotten up and moved around two more time since this morning! Her sense of humor is coming back, or her potty mouth is fading and the comedian in her is coming out! She found it hilarious to talk with a Texan accent and do a little wiggle dance while she was sitting in her chair! The meds seem to be the right amount, she has been comfortable for most of the day! Tomorrow will be a new challenge...they will take away her pain relief pump and try to just keep her on oral meds...I hope it works, it breaks my heart to see her in pain. Brad brought us pizza for dinner, she ate some, and I ate too much! We are hopeful that tonight will be restful. Thank you for your prayers, support, texts, and love...We are blessed.

She's making progress!!!

Lacey slept most of the morning, had uncomfortable moments, but I think the nurses and doctors have found the right combonation of meds to keep her comfortable! Physical threapy came in around 10:30, Lacey got herself up to sitting on the side of the bed for about five minutes, then up to standing for about five minutes. She says "it felt bad in a good way, like she was stretching with sore muscles." She got really dizzy and nauseous, she threw up once. Then they moved her to a chair, she was really uncomfortable, she felt a lot of pressure and her back spasmed a few times, but she made it for the full hour! The nausea subsided and she was able to walk pretty comfortable to the doorway (about 40 feet), then she felt really sick again so we headed back to bed. That bed never felt so good to her! They made her comfortable and removed the catheter!!! Which means she is laying in bed with PJ bottoms on so her hinney doesn't hang out!!! She relaxed for about twenty minutes and they brought in her lunch, amazingly she was starving, she ate about a half cup of steamed rice, a whole bag of sliced apples, a few bites of the quesidilla (then decided it was gross), a box of fruit punch, a container of jello and a bright red Popsicle! We brushed her hair and her teeth and she was wiped out, she is asleep now. I know your thoughts and prayers are working, today is a good day and we have been blessed.

And if you are wondering, I have not been able to cure the potty mouth yet :-(

A new day

Good morning! We had a better night, we had a few pain issues, but the nurses and doctors were great and tried to make her more comfortable. They have changed a few meds around and are hoping this will be a good combination! They took out Lacey's arterial line yesterday and took out the left hand IV this morning...She is now only hooked up on her right hand! She still has a pain pump, she calls it her "best friend"! She is moving herself from side to side all by herself! Physical therapy should be here within an hour, It's a big day...sit, stand, go potty, repeat. If that goes well they will take her catheter out today and she can put on her own PJ's, which she is really looking forward to! Thank you for your love and support! Here's to a better day!!!

Glad today is coming to an end...

The morning started out just fine...Lacey did awesome at Physical Therapy, she got a push button unit to let her controll her pain, she ate, it was a good morning! A room became open just before noon!!!!! The ICU unit nurses wanted the Pedi nurses to administer the next round of meds and that took way too long. We had a massavive melt down, from Lacey and I. The bed ride to the Pedi unit from the ICU was bumpy and horrible and set her off. The next two hours were so bad, we could not control her pain, she was frantic. Long story short, they have better control of her meds now and she is able to rest here and there. We are wishing for a better tomorrow! She is asleep now and I got a shower and good dinner, thanks to brad! Much love to you all!

They say this should be the hardest day...

We had a relatively good night! Lacey was comfortable, a few spikes in pain, but the nurse was on top of it! We have had fantastic nurses, so sweet and caring. We slept some, but not enough. Tired is our word of the day! The medicine Lacey is taking makes her slightly agitated as it take affect, she has come up with some not so nice descriptive words for the people around her...it's kind of funny, but you know how I am on having a potty mouth...got to nip that in the bud! Lacey is so amazing, she just finished her first round of physical therapy, the wanted her to just sit on the edge of the bed, but she made it all the way to standing...Brave might have to become the new word of the day! We are hoping to be moved out of ICU today and into a quiet room! She has held down food and is requesting a sprite, so off I go! Thank you so much for your continued support!

Surgery is done!

before

after

My sleeping beauty!

I never thought it would be so hard to watch my baby suffer. Coming out of surgery is one of the most terrify, sad thing I have ever had to watch. She was is so much pain and not able to communicate it. They were able to give her meds and something to relax and when she woke up, she was my girl again. I was crying, and she very sweetly lifted her hands, pointed to her eye, then formed her hands into a heart and then grabbed my hand......Pure joy! She was able to get on her phone and text for a few minutes, but tired quickly. She is resting comfortably, she was even able to roll on her side! I think we are in for a long night, but she is alive and that is all that matters. I am blessed! Thank you for your thoughts, prayers and support! I will try to post tomorrow!

It Started

The journey began this morning...The kids and I stayed the night at my mom's. Lacey and I woke up at 4:30 this morning and got ourselves ready. Lacey had to wash her back with "smelly hospital soap" which turned out to be hillarious, I'll let her tell you about that! We had to be here at 6:00 this morning and in normal Sandi fashion we were a half hour early! Lacey is amazing...we joked and laughed all morning, it was nice to just sit with her! They gave her a quick exam and some happy juice...She kept telling me that "the Indians were moving inside the teepee over there" and then kept asking me what stuff was made of. I hope she doesn't like the happy juice too much! The nurse has called with the first update, she went to sleep comfortably and the surgery was about to start. I should get updates every three hours and surgery should be done between two and four!The picture above is her before shot, I will post an after when she has healed! Thank you all for your love and support. I have been soo blessed with good friends and family.

One week and counting

     By this time next week the surgery will be done! We call next Tuesday to find out the time to be there on Wednesday, but as of last week she was the only one scheduled that day, so it should be very early in the morning! We feel so blessed to be able to enjoy the Christmas Holiday...We have so many things to be thankful for. Most of all we are thankful for family and friends that have shown their love, support and prayers with Lacey and our family. We know she is being watched after and has an amazing team of doctors working with her!
     Lacey has done all of her pre~op's with the exception of the lab work, which will be done this Thursday. We have the other kids all situated with a place to stay... My Mom's and Uncle Brett's and Auntie Katy's! Bags are mostly packed. We are as ready as we can be for this all to happen. We are eagerly waiting for this all to be over. For Lacey, the unknown is the worst.
     My goal is to update day by day through Lacey's surgery and recovery, so more to come!

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas! Thank you for your continued love, support and prayers!

An update so soon...

We talked to Dr. Lincoln today and due to a scheduling error ( the other doctor that operates with doctor Lincoln is on vacation) we have been moved again to December 28th! One prayer answered, Christmas will be good!

The Back Story...

Lacey is my strong,  healthy, beautiful girl! We discovered that she has scoliosis at her 12 year well check on June 24, 2011... And the world wind began. Within two weeks she was fitted with a back brace that she was to wear for 23 and a half hours of everyday, only taking it off to shower.

 She wore the brace for two days and was very uncomfortable, on day three we had our first appointment with Dr. Todd Lincoln (Pediatric orthopedic surgeon) at Kaiser Oakland. He is so kind and understanding and we like him a lot. He explained to us that with the location (lower back) and the degree of the curve (47%) that the brace would not be able to stop the progression of her curve. If not corrected she would become diagonally hunched forward for the rest of her life, and that would/could cause some of her organs to be compromised. After talking over our options as a family we decided that having the surgery was in Lacey's best interest. I called to schedule a surgery date only to be told that we are number 4 on the waiting list for 2012...ugg. They were to call in mid October to schedule a date, so when I received a call ten days later saying that an opening was on September 19th and Lacey had the highest priority I snatched it right up! The date of September 19th was working out to be the perfect date...we were going to be switching insurance a the end of the year, so an earlier date was better. Lacey would only be missing school in one trimester instead of two. My mom was able to take the whole week off and help me with my other three kids...it was just all falling into place. Lacey and I had a LONG day at Kaiser Oakland on August 30th, pre-op appointment, then a nurses appointment to give her the run down of what she has to do before check-in, a physical to give her clearance for surgery, admitting paperwork and writing out the co-pay check, lab work and a ton of X-rays.

 We had nights of crying and uncertainty, we prayed a ton and felt good about the decision to go forward with the surgery. Food has been made, suitcases have started to be packed, sheets have been changed, the house was in the middle of being clean....we were ready. The worry has been eating me alive and the  recovery was about to begin.

September 12, 2011, Seven days before surgery,  " Hi Mrs. Wheeler, this is Kaiser Oakland...Your surgery has been canceled due to a nurses strike." Let the crying begin. I called every person that would listen to me at Kaiser but it didn't seem to make much difference. We have now been scheduled for surgery on December 19th. Lacey will have to spend 5-8 days in the hospital and I am praying with all of my might that she can be home before Christmas. I am not sure how the insurance thing will play out or what I am going to do with my other kids. Lacey will miss less of school since she will be out over Christmas break, so that is a positive. I'm kind of lost right now, trying to get things back under control and plans made (you all know how I am about being on top of things!) But, this is what I do know...December 19th is the new date for a reason, I'm not sure of the reason yet, but I know my family is being looked after and this is all happening for the better. I will keep you all posted as we find out more! Thank you all for your love and support!

And now we wait....