There and Back Again, a Janica's Tale

Although we were there two days longer than we thought, today we were able to bring Janica home safe and sound. Yippee!! It was just in time too because Janica was getting lazy and a little complacent, not wanting to get out of bed.


Here is exhibit A, after Jason forced Janica out of bed to take a walk. Ah, what can I say? She is her mother's daughter!


Here is a picture from when Tegan and Kierra went to visit on Wednesday

Originally we had hoped to take Janica home on Wednesday and while she didn't seem to be in too much pain from the incision from surgery, she was having problems emptying her bowels and bladder. We agreed with the doctor that we didn't want Janica home until she was continent. Her drinks were laced with laxatives on Wednesday and Thursday, and finally on Thursday evening after I left to go home, success! Her bowels finally emptied and relieved most of the pain she was in.

Her bladder is another story. There is no laxative for bladders. We tried all the tricks in the books. We had her sit on the toilet listening to running water, I put her hand in warm water, but nothing worked! We were told by the neurosurgeon that her bladder not contracting is actually very normal with the type of surgery that Janica had. If you think about it, her bladder hasn't been working very well for a few years now, and the surgery set it back a little further. Since there is no physical therapy for bladders, now we wait for her newly untethered nerves to communicate with her bladder. In the meantime, we use a straight catheter to empty her bladder. If you're really curious about how that works, ask me privately and I'm happy to tell you.

So today, when I went to the hospital, I brought Tegan and Kierra with me so we could bring Janica home! We were all very excited! Of course hospitals move at their own timetables, so we had time to wait once we got there. While we were waiting, we decided to go for a walk together and look around a little bit. Primary Children's has been a difficult place for Jason to visit in the past because of the time his brother Nathan spent there being treated for his leukemia. Nathan passed away 13 years ago at age 17. Jason was responsible for getting Nathan to Primary Children's for treatment and spent time waiting for the treatment to finish. So with the time we had to walk around, Jason showed us a few places he remembered from his time there before.


Here is a picture of Janica posing next to a statue. There is a picture of Nathan next to the same statue.

We then took the kids to the playroom. Tegan and Kierra had a lot of fun playing with all the toys. Janica enjoyed herself too, but she got tired easily - especially after a week of inactivity and her body working so hard recovering from surgery.


After a week of complaining about being lonely, she chooses to play by herself!


Here is Kierra rocking out. What a rockstar!


Both Tegan and Jason loved playing fooseball.


Janica loves playing most any game with her dad!


Finally the three of them find a toy they all enjoy playing together!

Once we were all done with our playing, it was time to go back to the room for our care instructions to take care of Janica at home. Her mobility is only limited by her comfort level and she will be able to go back to school in a week.

So here we are, safe and sound at home. Wonderful Relief Society sisters have brought us dinner, so I can spend more time working on my blog, obviously! ;) Janica is in my room, on my bed resting. I think tomorrow she'll be back on her feet.

Thanks again for all of your prayers and well wishes on our behalf. We have felt very loved through this whole experience, and it would have been much harder without all of you!