Brody is out of PICU

Brody is out of PICU.   He was moved to the heme/onc floor this afternoon.  
He is off his sedation meds and acting like Brody again.   It's nice to see that smile and hear that laugh again.  

He is still needing a little oxygen blowing by his face while he has been sleeping.   He has been keeping up with his breathing exercises this afternoon and getting better with them each hour.  

He still is not allowed to eat or drink but overall is not complaining too much about it.   The fluids and TPN have lessened those drives,  I think.   He seems reasonably comfortable regarding hunger and thirst.

Brody is still facing a lot of belly pain as he heals from the surgery.   The pain team is working to keep adjusting Brody's meds to control his pain though.  

Brody got up and sat in a chair today and watched SpongeBob for awhile.    He was a real trooper getting out of bed and walking to the chair.   That first time getting out of bed after surgery is painful.   He knew he had to do it though and just did it.   He is one tough boy.  

Since Brody is not able to eat or drink,   he also has not been able to take his hemp oil.   When Brody started the hemp oil,  we noticed a big improvement in his neuropathy pain.   It used to hurt him to touch his head very lightly or to rub or touch his back.   It had gotten to the point you couldn't hug him without hurting him.   Yesterday,  I noticed his head is getting  very sensitive again.   Hopefully it doesn't get much worse before we are able to start him back on the hemp oil.  

Brody is adjusting to the idea of having a colostomy.   He is handling it pretty well.   He certainly doesn't like seeing it (or smelling it when it's emptied) but he remembers how much pain he was in with the obstruction and knows this had to be done.   Tomorrow we will be learning how to care for the colostomy.