Where are My Numbers! :( :)
For the past week Caitlyn has been weened off all of her wires. No more IVs, no more Oxygen, etc. Yesterday Donna and I were weened off our numbers and we’re suffering withdrawals. Those who have spent time in an ICU with your child or parent remember watching heart rates, oxygen rates, CO2 rates, breathing rates, blood pressure, and more. You get addicted to watching and knowing what the numbers mean and when you have good numbers and when you have dangerous numbers. The nurses and doctors warn you not to concern yourself with the numbers but you don’t listen to them and are vigilant at ensuring that the medical team knows when numbers go awry. It’s all about the numbers. Yesterday we lost our numbers. The weekend pediatrician ordered that Caitlyn get off the monitors so now the wire that used to connect Caitlyn to provide us with our numbers just dangles tantalizing behind her bed. We miss the numbers. So much so, in fact, that when Donna took Caitlyn walking yesterday she hooked up the portable number provider as she was concerned with her heart rate when she was walking (number addiction). Alyson, one of the nurses, knew of the order and saw Donna’s relapse and called her on it (in a good way). AND she told the pediatrician, too, so when he came by for visits Donna was scolded a bit. I laughed when I heard the story as I can relate to the number dependency. I wonder if there is an official group established to help us with our number dependency 
Clinically Caitlyn is improving, number-wise the medical team are happy to get her off numbers, leads one to believe that home is not too far away. You can never look too far ahead, I’ve learned, but signs are there.
In life I think we get depending on lots of things. Numbers, food, TV, etc. One thing that we’ve found you can depend on is friends. We sure appreciate all our friends for your thoughts, and prayers, and generosity, and visits. I guess we can also depend on God as we feel that through yours and our prayers He has helped Caitlyn in her recovery.
Make it a great day!
jrh