Christmas day escape

We started this Christmas morning in ICU. The ICU pediatrician gave Kevin special permission to come into ICU as long as he wore a mask, and he was working on getting us released to the Pediatric Floor. We emptied the stockings and opened some presents while we waited and the boys enjoyed their toys. The important thing was we were all together.

After a firm admonition from the Ortho Fellow for complete bed rest for Alan, we were finally released from the ICU. We got the word shortly before noon, but it took several hours to wrap up the charting, get his room on the Pedi Floor ready, and get Alan prepped. They removed the central line and accessed his port instead. The multitude of controllers and pumps have been whittled down to one controller with two modules - one for the IV fluids and the other for the PCA Fentanyl. His foley catheter was also removed.

After a nice nap and a lot of farewells (Alan was quite charming to all the ICU staff) we moved upstairs to the Pediatric Floor of the Children's Cancer Hospital - a hospital within MD Anderson. While we won't have the same intensive nursing and pediatrician attention (though they were comforting, Alan doesn't really need it any more), things will be quieter and a lot easier on all of us. The nice thing was that Auntie Joys and her family were able to join us this evening. Auntie, Uncle and cousins were glad to be able to see Alan and spend time with us. It was a wonderful way to wrap up Christmas!


Alan loves the alphabet!


He needed a mask, but Kevin got to see Alan for the first time in three weeks


Alan naps while waiting to move to the 9th floor


Playing with one of his Christmas presents in his new room


Kevin and his new airplanes