Thursday...

Yesterday was full of challenges. She had to go through the insertion of the PICC line in the morning. No matter how good the hospital and the child life team, it still hurts and is foreign. It also maeans many voices, including those of her trusted parents, all telling her that everything is fine. But she is not feeling fine! So the rest of the day she does not trust these oft repeated assurances. By far the hardest part for Cori was her precious dad, whom she calls, "Dada", having to go back to NC. By early evening she knew he really was not coming back, and her room had new nurses promising her that nothing would hurt. We have often remarked that she has the MOST expressive face we have ever seen....and I watched that faces crumble and crash as she told me that she wanted her Dada. Calling him on the phone just produced more sorrowful tears squeezed from her perfect almond eyes and more tremors of her baby doll lips. We were able to complete a Skype call later in the evening. It was her dad she called out to first, despite having to look past her silly smiling sisters. At one point she expanded the screen so that only his face showed. Over and over she ran her little hand, complete with pulse ox monitor, around the edges of the IPad as if she could really touch him. She rested well except for the cycles of beeps and alarms. Morning found her on her tummy in blissful peace. The pain team has removed the I'V pump since she has seldom needed I t. Now the nurse will administer when she asks. She played with the iPad for a long time, took another tummy nap, and is now watching Dora and asking the child life team for puzzles and paints. My dear friend Renae has been with me since yesterday. Cori showed her all the iPad apps she loves and has mastered. She will have to get up and walk a bit this afternoon and have more attention to her stitches and foley catheter. As her mom I am most anxious to get a consult with urology as soon as possible. Please pray we can put these questions about her future surgeries to rest in our worried minds. I have not been able to upload photos from my iPad. I apologize. I will try to figure that out soon.