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Some noteworthy reading, things to contemplate etc......

Reprinted from carepages:
 

Choices.

That's what joy and contentment is all about. We cannot change the circumstances around us, but we can choose how we respond to them. We choose whether we will be miserable because of them, or joyful in spite of them. The choice is always ours to make. Here are four choices we can make that are the keys to living with contentment.

1. Choose your Focus - Charles Swindoll once said, "Your outlook on life is not determined by your circumstances, but by your focus. Rather than looking at the circumstances, choose instead to look beyond those circumstances to God.” He went on the write, “I had to daily choose whether I would focus on the circumstance of living with chronic pain, or focus on God who has promised that His grace is all-sufficient.” By choosing to keep your eyes on the Lord, you will get to know Him better and it will become easier to trust Him in every situation.

2. Choose Joy - Again, we have a daily choice to make of whether or not to "consider it all joy” are not to. And although we cannot make that choice once for a lifetime, we can choose to rejoice in the Lord and His faithfulness one moment, one hour, or one day at a time. And when things turn for the worst, we can stop and ask God like David did, “to restore to me the joy of my salvation”. (Psalm 51:12).

3. Choose to Laugh - It has been said that he who laughs, lasts. Don't take yourself too seriously, and whenever possible, laugh at yourself! There is a reason why Proverbs says, “a cheerful heart is truly a good medicine”. (Proverbs 17:22).

4. Choose to Cultivate a Thankful Heart - Never doubt the goodness of God toward you. Begin to daily look for those things that you can be thankful for. Start with looking for one thing every day, and then increase the number of things. When we stop and look for the goodness of God, it is never far away. Even in difficult circumstances, look first for something God has already done and for which you can be thankful, than you will be more able to deal with the problem at hand. As we keep our eyes on God and his goodness toward us, the victory is never far away. Remember, God is never surprised about anything that happens in our lives.

Hospital Readiness tips:
 

Bring prepaid calling cards so that you can use the bedside phone. Usually cellphones are not allowed to be used in the patient rooms.

 

Don’t worry about  clothes to wear while in bed,  use the hospital gowns. Meds and “other fluids” go all over the place. The bed will be changed a few times so don’t stress over bringing your own outfits. Sometimes he’ll be changed and his personal clothes could wind up in the hospital laundry and you’ll never see them again. Same goes for diapers & wipes use what the hosp provides.

 

Bring videos from home that you like or your child life dept probably has a good supply if he wants something new, or skip bringing your own videos-too much to pack.

 

Check all the bed sheets for any lovey friends or stuffed animals or books/toys that you’ve brought. Sometimes when the bed is changed your favorite stuff is lost for good.   :(

 

As far as the beds go, those cage cribs are strong enough for two. Feel free to jump up & in and snuggle (around all the tubes and leads ha! ha!)  You could ask for a twin bed with rails as an option. It might feel weird to be in the bed but really a lot of mom’s do it. I knew a family whose son could only be rocked to sleep by moving the bed-no kidding the family took the cage crib around the floor every night with mom & son inside until the son slept (this poor boy had to stay flat for 3weeks after a very complicated undescended testicle & ureter reinplant surgery, the surgeon is highly respected and old school-reason for the length of stay & immobilzation).

 

Ask what the timeframe is for drain removal, what to expect  1 day post op, 2 days post op etc. Any other tests like post op ultrasounds, VCUGS etc.

 

Ask about an epidural for pain relief. The plan for pain relief after the epidural is out, Tylenol with codeine etc.

 

When meds are being given ask the nurse what med it is & dose & keep note of it, along with the time.

 

If you deal with poor vein access, ask about having a central line placed surgically that same day. If frequent blood draws are required post op, this is the best way to have blood drawn for accurate results (avoids hemolization of sample). Another option can be a PICC line.

 

Ask about being in the MICU/PICU afterwards or going straight to the floor.

 

Ask about time table for starting clear liquid diet or eating or TPN nutrition for extended amounts of time (long time like over 1 week without food).

 

Our hosp has a patient nutrition center (small room w/refrigerator) where you can get juice, baby food, baby formula, pudding, milk etc for the kids. Ask if your hosp has something like this, usually after meal delivery times are over you need something, late night etc and this center is helpful, maybe your hosp has something like this? Self serve so you don’t have to deal with beeping the nurse. 

 

Mommy stuff: bring sweats, comfy tees etc. It gets cold at night & sweats are perfect, sometimes you can ask for scrub pants to wear if you forget but they are cold. Bring chocolate for those late night de-stress episodes. Slippers to keep your feet off the sometimes yucky floor or ask for big kid grippy socks from the nurse. Toiletries just in case the hosp doesn’t have what you like.  Ask for extra pillows and blankets so you can be comfy in bed with your child.

 

Another corny idea I picked up-for lack of good notepaper use the paper towels. Or remember to bring note paper to jot down questions or tests results etc when the drs come by on rounds. Bring pens, crayons etc child life dept will have.

 

 

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