Alex's hospital stay - Day 2

So I figured I would take the chance to update the blog.  I know people had told us they wanted us to continue to make entries but we never figured it would be about another hospital stay.  We are all holding together pretty well.  This experience is night and day from the last one; however, it is hard to see another of our children here and in pain.  We are so thankful for miracles we have had and that Alex’s condition was caught early and wasn’t as bad as it could have been.  He is a tough kid and has been through a lot.  He will now have a nice three inch scar on his abdomen to show for it.  Right now he’s not too thrilled about the scar but I am sure later he will enjoy showing it off.

We are here until Friday and are so thankful to all those who have come to our aid once again.  Football is a dangerous sport but Alex loved it so much and was so excited to play.  I am sad that he won’t be able to play this year now.  His coach has been great and still wants him on the team to help in other areas.  Some of his teammates came up today for a visit and I know that meant a lot to him.  As a mom it touched my heart to see these big, strong young men take time and come to show love and concern for my son.  Thank you so much.   And thank you to those others who have come to visit.

The doctors and nurses here are out of their element caring for a young man with this ailment.  We have been told that this type of injury is found more typically in older people.  We have been told he is recovering very well and tolerates pain quite well.  Guess all the years of rough housing with his dad and Ryan has built up his pain tolerance. 

The condition that Alex was treated for was a perforated bowel.  He also had a piece of his small intestine removed that could later have caused a condition known as diverticulitis. 

Alex has been super tired.  Usually a mom wouldn’t care that her teenager isn’t talking or teasing and is quiet.  I do admit it has been hard to see him this way.  Yesterday he had many visitors and we appreciate it.  I know it touched his heart seeing everyone’s concern for him.  Yesterday, under the doctor’s order, he was supposed to have 180 minutes out of bed either sitting, standing or walking.  This sounded impossible, but he did it.  He spent a while sitting in his chair and was able to walk around in the evening for about 15 minutes.  He actually looked much better once he was out of bed.  Today he has to be out of bed for 240 minutes.  It’s 5:00 pm now and he has made his quota.  We will get him walking again later. 

His coloring is much better today.  I even combed his hair and now the nurse won’t make fun of him.  He smiled for the first time when someone mentioned bringing a PlayStation in for him.  As we speak he is playing some race car game with Mike.  It is music to my ears hearing him complain as he loses.  Come on Mike… cut him some slack!!  He doesn’t have an appetite and I feel like a bad mom trying to make him eat ice cream.  Yes, it’s crazy I know.  He needs to eat and drink and he really isn’t hungry.  I know he is nervous because he doesn’t want to throw up because it hurts so much.  I even tried to do the airplane thing with the spoon to get him to open his mouth and that didn’t work. 

The little ones came to see him yesterday and they were all excited to see where he got cut open.  We only could show them the bandage for now.  Sorry boys, maybe in a few days.

Thank you for all the love and support everyone continues to give us.  We really appreciate all the prayers and concern.  We are well taken care of and are so blessed.  I guess we still have so much to learn and are so thankful to our Heavenly Father who does love us and help us.  We realize trials are important and we will learn from this one as well.  I would encourage everyone to consider what is truly important and live life to the fullest.  Love a little more.  Forgive a little more.  Have more faith.  Serve more.  I am trying to do this myself.   Don’t let a day go by without telling someone you love them.  Thanks again to everyone.  Lotts of love,   Catherine and Mike