A long two weeks

     Here's Shelby at one of her outpatient visits.  We finally got a chance to clean her up after being in the hospital for a week.  Clean hair and matching shirt, socks and hair bow has to make any girl feel better!

     I'd be lying if I said the last 2 weeks had been easy.  As a matter of fact, they have been very trying.

     I was fine at the hospital, but now I know I was just running on shear adrenaline.  When I got home, I was exhausted; physically and emotionally.

    We came home from the hospital on Thursday 2/5.  On Friday, 2/6, our insurance graciously paid for a home health care nurse to come for ONE day.  That was big of them, huh?  And, when the nurse came, she didn't do anything.  Instead, we decided, since I would have to be the one changing Shelby's dressings, I should just do it that day as well.  So, she watched and instructed.

     Since then, I have changed her dressings daily.  While it many not seem stressful, it is.  It is a constant reminder that, while an accident, those horrible, open flesh wounds were caused by me.  Furthermore, I have to wipe them with a cleanser.  That is not pleasant any way you look at it, but it was made worse last week when I was sent a different cleanser that practically set the wounds on fire.  I had to peel poor Shelby off the ceiling.  The process is further complicated by the wounds being open to the air.  If the air hits them for long, they begin to really hurt.  So, by the time the bandaging is complete, I am worn out.

     And, not that Shelby is acting like a baby... in any way... but I feel like I am caring for two infants that need constant care and attention.  I need to make her eat, help her in the bathroom help her in and out of bed and in and out of the car, dress her, etc, etc, etc...  I have an all new appreciation for people who have handicapped children and an all new appreciation for my healthy children.

     Last week at an outpatient visit to the hospital, I was given instructions to take the bandaging off her chest.  It was able to be peeled off in layers once it began healing.  While we were there,they took off all the layers but the last.  They told me that I would be able to get the last layer off the next day.  So, last Tuesday 2/10, when I took it off, it was all brown and crusty.  I then spent about 45 minutes getting all that dead skin off.  My stomach was nausesous by the time it was over.  But, her chest is all healed and part of her stomach is all healed and it looks wonderful!

     She had another appointment on Friday 2/13.  Once the bandaging was off, the doctors spent a good five minutes looking at the burns between her legs.  They are not healing as well as the other burns.  When the doctors said, "We are about 10 days away from talking about skin grafts", Shelby could no longer control her emotions.  She is obviously tired of the pain and everything that comes with it.

     Since Friday, she has been, per their requests, soaking in the tub everyday.  I am not sure how this is supposed to help.  I know it's taking some of the dead skin off, but other than that.... We are just following orders.  Our next appointment is tomorrow 2/17.   Please pray that skin grafting is not necessary.  She has been through enough.

     And, in a strange twist of events, we have been able to apply 2 Corinthians 1:4 today.

     who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
    

     This morning, the girls were supposed to have piano lessons.  But, about 30 minutes before we were to leave, the lesson was rescheduled because of illness at the teacher's house.  Had the lesson went on as scheduled, we would not have been home when my neighbor frantically ran over to my house with a screaming 14 month old baby girl, Nina.

     It seems she worked her way over to the fireplace, which is level with the floor, and pressed her hands and forearms against the glass doors.  Her little, chubby hands and arms were a huge white blister.  The dad, just like me exactly two weeks ago, had no idea what to do.  I advised him to take her to the Children's hospital while I took three of their other children.  Then, I spent the next hour pacing the floor waiting for the mom to get home.  I had to break the news to her... she hadn't taken her cell phone with her when she ran to the grocery.

     Hopefully, our experience has comforted them as their little one has now been admitted to the hospital to be taken care of by the same doctor who took care (or is taking care of) Shelby. I am sure he is wondering what the heck is going on on our street!

     Please pray for little Nina and her family.

     Meanwhile, I am going to call the rest of the neighbors and tell them to stay away from ANYTHING and EVERYTHING that is hot!!