There's Water at the Bottom of the Ocean

I guess the title pretty much sums it up.  Sometime last night Mikey somehow managed to pull out his epidural.   At 6 am he told me his leg really hurt and a couple of minutes later he was screaming in pain.  The nurse immediately jumped into action and got him a good dose of meds and after he calmed down a bit she noticed that his epidural had come out.  They were planning to start him on oral meds today anyway - but were hoping to have a more gradual weaning process.  The poor kid was essentially med free for a couple of hours.   

That was just the beginning of the day.  He had a procedure scheduled at 9 am that he had to be at.  It meant moving him from his bed to the wheelchair.  When they scheduled this they had planned on his epidural still being in place so this threw a big kink in the plan.  His left leg was really, really bothering him and any slight movement would send him screaming.   I felt so helpless and he would look at me with those teary eyes and say 'Mama, mama it HURTS" and there was nothing I could do but pray over him. It is such a helpless feeling.  I am so thankful for the staff at Shriner's.  They have been so great and so compassionate towards Mikey and our family. I really can't say enough good stuff about the top notch care that Mikey has received over the past week.  We had to take him to radiology and then get him up on a table. The procedure itself was painless - but the process of getting him up and down was excruciating for him.  We finished up and got him back to bed.  Another dose of oral meds were beginning to kick in and he seemed to be more comfortable.   His friend Jake & two of his karate instructors came by to visit.  Mikey was trying really hard to stay awake to visit with them - but eventually the meds won.  He took a pretty good nap, but his left leg was still bothering him.  By afternoon he was feeling a little better.  Any slight movements were still very painful - but as long as he was still he was ok.  All of his other tubes came out over the course of the day and by the time I left he was in pretty good spirits.  Mark is staying with him tonight.  I pray tonight is restful and tomorrow is easier for this brave little boy.   Sleep well my little one....