When you believe in things that you don't understand,Then you suffer.

Growing up I don't ever remember being a superstitious person. I guess my only superstitions have come from times of great stress.

I won't ever shave or cut my hair when Liam is in the hospital. If the itchiness gets really bad I will shave just where my shirt collar rubs my neck but no shaving of my face. You should have seen me the day we left the Nicu after 153 days. Grizzly Adams had nothing on me.

I only cut my hospital bracelets on discharge day. When you're seen in the E.R. they give you a bracelet and then you get another when you are admitted. Once admitted the ER bracelet can be removed but I never do. On long hospital stays bracelets can get kind of gross. Nicu bracelets used to have folded pieces of paper under clear plastic. The paper would start to stink after it got wet from hand washing. Nurses would constantly be asking to give me a new one but I always refused. Sure, bracelets can wear out and snap off, its inevitable on the long stays, but I only cut off hospital bands on discharge day.

I guess I only mention this now because last night I got to cut off a few bands and this morning I finally got to shave. Liam spent most of the last week in the Intensive Care Unit at Hasbro Children's Hospital. He's home now. It was a long, trying week and I am glad its over.

Mother's Day this year was supposed to be a very big deal because it was to be the first Mother's Day that Karin didn't spend in a hospital but unfortunately that didn't end up being the case. Liam's gift to his Mom though was getting well enough that she got a few hours at home with him in the evening of Mother's Day. The Kid always gets us the best gifts.

He needed to go into the hospital because of some GI problems. He's fine now and I'll spare you the boring details and medical talk.

I will tell you though that the universe works in very mysterious ways. Almost immediately after being admitted to The Unit (its what patients and employees call the ICU) we were approached by a few nurses and the unit's social worker and asked if we wouldn't mind talking with a few different families whose children either just got trachs or were about to get trachs. When Karin and I grappled with the difficult decision to put in Liam's trach it was conversations with another family who had been through it that got us through such a difficult time. Liam must have known that there were families in the hospital that needed our help. In only a few days we became very close with a few families. I am sure that we will see each other again as we already have plans to get together outside of the hospital. Being through what we have been through has given our families a common bond that few people in this world can relate to. You can never truly understand what its like unless you've lived it and so talking with anyone else in a similar situation is a blessing.

I do believe that we were sent to the hospital at this particular time to help these families but I'm not sure that the families know how much they helped us. Talking with them gave us a purpose while in the hospital. A mission. A distraction. If nothing else it made the time go by quicker and before we knew it, it was time to go home. Thank you Morgan's family and Becky's family. We will always remember how our families met. Don't ever forget that as much as it may seem like it sometimes, you are not alone.

It will take a few days for life to get back to normal. All three of us are exhausted and the house is a complete mess. Liam is sleeping now and Karin is upstairs doing the same. As soon as I publish this post I will stretch out on the couch next to Liam's crib and try to be the third. It shouldn't be a problem I'm not superstitious about sleep.

Hospital Stay #4 Day 4

Another day of progress at the Hasbro Hilton. (Even after spending 108 days here at Hasbro Childrens Hospital in the Intensive Care Unit I never heard it referred to as the Hasbro Hilton) Since nothing significant ever happens in a hospital unless its emergent, we finally met with some of the doctors we really wanted to see today. KArin met with our amazing pediatrician who was very happy to see how much better Liam is feeling. He has called us a few times a day since we got here on Friday but today was the first day he was able to see Liam. While he was here talking to Karin, and waiting for me to get my lazy ass up and at 'em, Liam's equally amazing surgeon came to see him and check out all of his x-rays. While hanging out and chit-chatting with Karin our surgeon started complimenting our pediatrician on a lecture he gave recently and then he went ahead and did it. Right there in front of Karin. He popped the question. "So uh, will you be my kid's doctor?"

We feel like matchmakers. Both of these wonderful men have meant so much to our family. Both have been there for us through some of our highest highs and lowest lows. And while we always knew that our pediatrician was a brilliant man and wonderful doctor, to have another brilliant, wonderful doctor trust him with his own children reinforces our belief that we could not have chosen a better pediatrician.

*****

Liam was able to start eating today! We started slow with only a teaspoon per hour of pedialyte but have doubled that since this morning and doubled that again about an hour ago he will be back to formula soon as long as he tolerates what we are pumping in tonight. Things are moving along swimmingly and since he barely slept in the last few days because of the pain he was in, he has slept all day and continues to be sound asleep.

Karin is at home tonight. I am here. What will I sleep in you ask? Don't worry, the uncomfortable chair in Liam's room unfolds to become a very uncomfortable bed!
With one of us here with him at all times and me going back to work today Karin and I have spent a total of 0 minutes together outside of this hospital room in the last 4 days. Someday I might actually get to spend time alone in a room with my wife again. Someday.


****


Okay, Liam report winding down. On to the results of the 'How many Law & Order episodes did we watch over the weekend?" Well, the answer surprised me. Law & Order has been a time wasting staple of ours through all of our different hospital stays and with at least one of us here with Liam 24 hours a day and it being shown on no less than five of the channels we have here I expected a much larger number. I did have a few guidelines that I suppose I should have outlined before the weekend. 1.) If we found an episode we had to stop flipping and watch the remainder of it. 2.) Since we are in the hospital and things like talking to doctors can get in the way, watching the whole episode was not necessary to count as an episode watched.

Final Tally: 14.

I am disappointed. I thought we'd be able to get a few more in there. But A&E was showing an Intervention marathon on sunday and that is one train wreck that neither of us can look away from. So it stayed at 14 episodes from Friday morning to Sunday night, which would make the winning guess Kathy's guess of 22. Unless we are using Price is Right rules in which case the winner is me with a guess of one dollar. Congratulations Kathy. Enjoy the bragging rights.

****

Oh, I have pictures! Nothing special just a few pictures I got with my phone today because the boy was looking so damn cute while taking a nap with his mom. We haven't been able to hold him the last few days because of how much pain his belly made him feel so it truly warmed my heart to walk into his room after work today to see this...And then I had to take this next one to show off all that hair! Love those curls.

Its late and I'm tired. I will lie down and pretend to sleep as the nurses and respiratory therapists make their way in and out of the room. Hopefully the housekeeping staff will get to this floor later than last time I tried sleeping here. Gotta love how they think they can vacuum around my chair without waking me up.

Day three.

Day three has been the most eventful yet for Hospital Stay # 4. I just changed his fifth dirty diaper! A huge step towards getting better. He has been battling some seizures because with him so backed up the last 4 days not much of his medication has been absorbed into his system. After 2 days of trying we finally convinced enough doctors that the best thing to do is change his doses to be put into his IV not his feeding tube. We have the access point while here at the hospital we might as well use it.

After a very, very, rough night last night the poops this morning was a welcomed sight. He fell asleep in the early afternoon and slept better than he has in at least 4 days. He looked calm and comfortable which has us all very excited.

Karin's turn to spend the night with Liam and I will hold down the fort at home. The cats have gotten very ornery lately without any human contact and so I'll try to pet them before I crash into bed. Very little sleep last night should keep me tired enough to fight off worry induced insomnia.

Hope everyone had a better weekend than we did.

Night all.

Hospital Stay # 4 Day 2

Day two. We continue to be stalled in 'wait & see' mode. While new x-rays and bloodwork show no changes the newest theory is that this could be a virus. We will continue to watch for any signs of progress i.e. a shitty diaper.

I am having a sleep-over with the little man here at the hospital while Karin goes home to try and get some sleep for the night. Good luck to her. It was my turn at home last night and I hated it. Its just a quiet empty building without Liam and the noise of his ventilator in it. I was anxious and uneasy all night long. I expect Karin to have the same problem. I already warned her.

Liam is finally asleep after having a rough evening and so I am going to try and get some shut eye.

Night all

P.S. The Law & Order episode tally is lower than I expected but still probably higher than you think.

2009 Under Pressure.

After an absence due to holiday business and overall exhaustion it is my triumphant return to blogging! Its a long one folks as I break down the year with how it panned out for me, as well as my favorite Movies, Books, and Music. It's been a strange but wonderful year. Settle in and enjoy my quick bloggy breakdown of the year that was.

The Pressure Support 2009 Year in Review!

Home and family life was a bit chaotic for us this year. Liam was born just before the new year and so we spent the first minutes of 2009 with Liam in the NICU.
Here is the breakdown of the rest of the year...
January 1st to May 28th: Hospital, hospital, hospital, trip to another hospital for a few days in Boston, Hospital, Hospital.

First Two Weeks of June: Two wonderful weeks of moving into our new house with Liam at home with us. Nightly battles with the pulse oximeter. The first weeks and days of being a family at home. No sleep. A flooded basement three times resulting in the digging of an eight foot deep trench to replace main sewer line into the house. (thanks for the help Uncle John, and Dad) More time spent with Liam. No sleep. Wonderful exhaustion.

Mid-June to October 1st: Hospital, Hospital, Hospital, Major Surgery, Hospital, Hospital, Hospital, Another Major Surgery, Hospital, Hospital, Hospital, Respiratory Training, Ventilator Training, Infant and Trach CPR Training, Hospital, Home!!'
October 1st to December 31st: Home! The most stressful (that's saying something) and satisfying months of my life. Life at home with Liam becomes more and more routine and fulfilling. Life has new meaning and one look in Liam's eyes can wash away anything that bothers me. Its all here in the blog which was started a few days before Liam's discharge.
There you have it, 2009 for me. If it seems to be written as a big blur that's because it was. Difficult to explain but while I can remember specific details of nearly every event it all seems to have gone by too quickly to process. A strange mix of fear, stress, and sadness, with unbelievable pride, happiness, and fulfillment. Parenthood is a confusing state of affairs.


****

I didn't see too many movies in 2009 so a round-up of my favorites would be hard to compile. Coraline seems to be the only one jumping up and down and waving its hand in the air in my mind. Well that and Wall-E which I watched with Liam the other day. I didn't see Star Trek, The Wrestler, The Hangover, Inglorious Basterds, Where the Wild Things Are, District 9, or any of the other movies I wanted to this year. I'm looking forward to catching up in 2010.


****


Books were dominated by Neil Gaiman this year as I started with American Gods in the hospital and went on to read Coraline, The Graveyard Book (both with Liam), the first five volumes of The Sandman, and Signal to Noise. I read a bunch of other books this year, but they were mostly re-reads or didn't have much impact (I'm looking at you Perforated Heart by Eric Bagosian). But I'm glad I waited to write this little 'best of' piece because yesterday I found the best. Yesterday I read the best book I have read all year. Then today I read it again. Persepolis seemed to jump off the library shelf at me. I had heard of the book many many times but never made the time for it. It is easily the most powerful and thought provoking book I've read in a few years and I just now found out that it was made into a movie in 2007. I'll have to check that out, but anyone reading this should run to their library to pick up this little gem published in 2003. I just wrote my mini-review of it for Goodreads.com. Here goes....

I never got that into graphic novels. I read the ones that everyone is supposed to read Watchmen, Dark Night and the like, started The Sandman this year and am very happy I did, but I never dug deeper into the genre. Its not that I wasn't impressed or didn't appreciate the talent in storytelling, dialogue, overall writing as well as artwork; I was very impressed actually but my to be read pile always superseded jumping into something new. Persepolis has changed all that. This book is incredible. At times hilarious and heartbreaking. I was almost in tears more than once. A young girl growing up during the Islamic Revolution of Iran and coming to grips with the differences between the solid and close-nit environment at home and the violent turmoil outside. Brilliantly and beautifully drawn in simple shapes of only black and white. A quick read, I flew through it in close to an hour immediately upon returning from the library with it, I waited and thought it over before reading it again the next day (today). I recommend this to everyone. Brilliant storytelling and a heartbreaking true story.

Just go read it.



****

I didn't listen to a variety of music this year and I certainly didn't listen to much new music. The only new albums that I dug into were Ben Fold's new album Way to Normal which I loved of course. He could sing the phone book and I'd buy it. And Regina Spektor's new album Far which I LOVED!! After spending close to 3 months listening to it over and over again I could still put it on today and just listen on repeat. It will always remind me of time spent in the PICU of Hasbro Children's Hospital but since it all ended well that's ok with me. Aside from those two new albums I think I listened to more Talking Heads than any other band and Tom Waits more than any other solo/songwriter.



*****


The Red Sox disappointed down the stretch. Injuries and a lack of offense had them stumbling through the second half and they were lucky to even make the playoffs. We were beat handily by the Angels and I had to sit by and watch the Yankees win the championship. Oddly enough I didn't yell that much at the TV this time. Liam has showed me that there are more important thing in life than baseball. Funny, it only took 32 years to learn that lesson. The Patriots stumbled through this current season but seem to be playing their best football of the season as the playoffs begin in two weeks. We'll see what happens there.


****

There you have it. My summary of my 2009. Family life is wonderful, work life not so much. I started the year writing (nearly) every day in my Carepage to get out updates to the family and I ended the year writing (nearly) every day for this blog to get out updates to the three or four of you out there reading this. Let's see if we can't keep the writing part going through next year.

Happy New Year All.

Oh, and P.S. that meaningful post for Liam's first Christmas and First Birthday that I mentioned in the last couple of posts . . . just because its not posted doesn't mean its not written. Just means I decided its none of your business. No offense.

One year ago.

December 18th 2008. One year ago today. A bit nerve wracking but a pretty routine Thursday. It was free meal day at work. Once a year the hospital where I work feeds all of its employees a free turkey dinner with all the fixins' as a thank you and holiday celebration. Eggnog poured while you wait in line, along with cheese platters and passed h'ors duevers. Pie and cake served by the top brass of the hospital and an overall goodtime and holiday cheer. A day that for most employees has that 'last day of school' kind of feel. Most employees, but not mine. I run the cafeteria. This is our super bowl. The day that we are told in January that we are not allowed to take a vacation around. The planning starts weeks and weeks earlier. I thought at the time that it was real stress. I used to think that food was something worth worrying about.

I don't have to work until 11:30am, which was very helpful to us throughout the pregnancy because we would have at least 3 doctors appointments a week. Scheduling them in the morning afforded me the luxury of being there to support Karin and see every ultrasound in person without using any sick time or go unpaid. On this morning I thought I might be cutting it close but the fact that Liam wasn't growing at a rate they were happy with, there was no way I would be missing this one. Work would have to wait. The cafeteria would get on fine without me for a few minutes. Or for what I thought would be a few minutes. Level II ultrasounds aren't always necessary. For most pregnancies they aren't even used but with our history this was our fifth during Liam's pregnancy alone. After the first two though they were used just to get the most accurate measure of his length. Liam grew in spurts like most kids but lately his spurts had gotten smaller and smaller.

The Prenatal Diagnostic Center or PDC at Women & Infants Hospital has always been a stressful place for Karin and I. Good news was rarely heard while next to the big old GE ultrasound unit the size of a SmartCar. We had been through this drill before in our 5 year journey to bring home a baby. The room remained dark while Dr. Carr performed the procedure and Karin and I squeezed each other's hands while we waited for his results. As sweetly as he could, he put his hand on ours and gave us the news.

"He's growing alright." He said in his compassionate and positive way. "and all the parts I need to see are there but he's not growing nearly as much as he should be. Now there are things that we do in this situation to make sure that things go smoothly. Bed rest. We'll put you on bed rest so that we can make sure that all of your body's energy can be dedicated to providing for that beautiful little guy. And this way we can better monitor his growth and if we need to - we may need to take him out a little early to care for him in the hospital. He will show us what he needs and we'll be able to give him that but it means that your bed rest will need to be in the hospital." The words we painful. Like a hard freezing rain stinging my cheeks as they hit me. I think we both saw it coming but our hope kept us from really entertaining the thought. Dr. Carr held Karin's other hand in his and asked if she had any questions.

"So I can go home and get some clothes and things together and go to the hospital tomorrow?" She asked as she fought back tears.

"I'm sorry, you'll be admitted now." Dr. Carr said with a frown and patted her hand lightly. "We'll call ahead so we can get a room set up for you. We'll make sure you don't have to wait in the emergency room at all." You'll have fetal monitor tests three times a day and we'll get ultrasounds every few days to check on his growth. I'm sorry Mrs. Olson but this is the best option to make sure we do what's best for the baby."

We knew that. He left us alone in the dark room and we collected our thoughts. We cried and we held each other and we told each other that everything was going to be Ok. We had been here before. A few years previous we had been admitted to Women & Infants to have our first son Ben. He had passed away after 26 weeks gestation. This whole situation felt all too familiar. Familiar but different. Instinct? ESP? Call it a gut feeling but I refused to believe that we would have a repeat of that. I knew this time would be different and Karin and I held each other and agreed that God would not do this to us again. What kind of a God would he be if he did?

Being admitted to the hospital seems like a blur to me now. I already knew every employee of the hospital; I had been feeding them lunch everyday for about 4 years. Cashing their checks at the credit union in the basement for a few years prior to that so I knew all of these people well. A blessing and a curse. Stephanie in admitting made sure that we got a nice big corner room with a decent view and a private bathroom. She was helpful and professional, and we were quickly whisked upstairs to unpack and settle in. Nurses bustled in and out of the room to take vitals and fill out paperwork. A whirlwind of activity surrounded us as Karin and I moved in slow motion reeling from the events of the past two hours and trying to comprehend how we would survive the possibility of Karin staying in the hospital for three and a half more months until Liam's due date. I made a list of things we would need from home. I remember my hands shaking as I wrote it and we both broke down as we called our parents to break the news.

My parents came to the hospital to sit while I raced home for supplies. Karin's parents made arrangements to get up to RI from NJ as quickly as they possible could. My year long education in family, love and support was about to begin. Lessons in being loved and supported while at the same time loving and supporting.

I was able to bring everything that I could for the night and Karin and I played cards and watched Law & Order re-runs on cable to try and settle our nerves. My co-workers called and sent up any food items that Karin and I could have desired. If we so much as thought about getting hungry the diet office would send up someone with a snack. Karin got settled into bed and as the evening drew on we had our first non-stress test on the fetal monitor and endured 20 minutes of stress and pain. In essence the test involves listening to his heart beat for 20 minutes as small impulses in the test monitor its activity under stimulus. Liam liked to swim around in there and every move would make it difficult for the instruments recording his heartrate to pick him up. Each time the heartbeat would stop recording, our hearts would skip with him. All breaths held until the rhythmic thump returned. We would play that game three times a day for the duration of Karin's stay.

The night nurses in the long term/ high risk floor have a pretty good system for ensuring quiet on the floor. Ambiens all around! I kid about the nurses but we found that most patients we spoke with would also be given some sort of sleep aid by their doctors. The stress of the visit alone would keep anyone awake and sleep was important for both Karin and Baby. Karin and I argued back and forth over whether or not I would spend the night and she won so I was pushed out the door to go home and spend time with our cats. Sleep was important to me too (so said Karin) and I reluctantly returned home.

One year ago. The start of it all. Life would never be the same and its hard for me to remember what life was like before that day. Today at work it was all I could think about. As we approach Liam's birthday I'll be re-posting entries from my Carepage written nearly everyday for the first few months Liam's life. I'll give some thoughts on looking back on those days knowing what I know now. They won't all be this long or in depth but this is how it all got started. I am looking forward to this project with excitement and more than a little fear. I haven't looked at those pieces or the copious notes I took at the time and I'm not entirely sure that I am ready to process it all. But the more I look back on where we started, the more I am filled with pride about my family and where we are today. This has by far been the most stressful, difficult, and trying year of my life. This has also been the most fulfilling, loving, and wonderful year of my life.

And it all started, one year ago, today.

We'll call them blog McNuggets.

I still wake up in the dark of the night and the first thing I think to myself is - "I gotta call the hospital and check on Liam!" Even if he's right next to me. It happens a lot more often than I'd like to admit.

The seizures seemed to only get worse as the week and ultimately the weekend went on; with a grand finale of a seizure this morning just after I left for work. This one lasted about five minutes and for the first time he needed a diastat shot to break him from it. He slept for the rest of the day (you would too after a shot of valium like that) while Karin contacted his neurologist and got the new doses for his meds. We increased a dose of medicine and will be seeing the doctor on wednesday morning anyway. The appointment was actually made months ago so Liam's timing couldn't be better. He has been fine all day and all night but I hesitate to expand on that as it would be what we call - tempting fate. (yes, of course I'm knocking on wood as I type this.)

The big move to the second floor is still in progress but we are into the nitty gritty details now. Our space upstairs feels comfortable and welcoming and is a small escape from nurses and visitors. When your house feels like a clinic a nice quiet room is all you really need.

Liam continues to get bigger and bigger as I think I forgot to mention that at his last pediatricians appointment the big guy weighed in at 19 lbs. 12 oz. !!!! My little chubs.

We're all gonna pretend that last night's patriots/colts game just never happened K?

The Sandman Series is everything I hoped it would be. Great, now I have to go out and buy all the books.

The neighbors across the way set up their Christmas lights last night and a gauntlet has been thrown down. One that we simply can't compete with. Lights everywhere, an inflatable snowman and not only a large inflatable Santa Claus but also a large inflatable reindeer dressed like Santa Claus. They did a good job and it pleases us that we can see it all from the couch.


I'm hoping that the Redbox gets the new Star Trek movie quickly. We haven't been to a movie all year and so I have a lot of catching up to do. The Hangover, Inglorious Basterds, District 9, and Where the Wild Things Are are on the list too. I'm beside myself with excitement for Viggo in The Road too.

Liam decided to stay up all night tonight! Yay! So here it is 3am and he is still awake. Good thing we have no early appointments tomorrow. He may still be awake but I'm fading fast. Couch next to his crib is always comfortable enough for me, even if it is about 6 inches less wide than I am tall.


Night all.

NaNo No More

I didn't have to work today and so I got to spend the whole day with Liam in the hospital. I am surprised by just how dark it has gotten so early in the day. Every year it surprises me. As this is the first time Liam has had a hospital room outside of the intensive care units it is the first time he has had a room with a view. The natural light coming through has been wonderful but all of a sudden the room got very dark. Ever fall asleep in the daylight and wake up in the dark? Unsettling. I had to ask my wife what day it was.

Two posts in one day?! I'm not sure it will happen all that much but I have the time. The first was an update on Liam so I think I'll keep this one to non-Liam related things.

I'm having a hard time with the new Pahlaniuk book Pygmy. Trying to figure out what the narrator means in his broken English is distracting the flow of the narrative. I am trying to decide whether or not the plot so far looks promising enough to trudge through it. On the other hand I started reading Perforated Heart by Eric Bogosian. Its a quick read and I'm enjoying it, even if I have read many books that follow the same formula. Its the usual portrait of the artist type story. Yes the narrator even has his old journals from when he began his career as a writer. Troubles with the ex-wife and the girlfriend and the unending fear of dying alone. A bit cliche but an enjoyable read nonetheless.

I had every intention of participating in the National Novel Writing Month this year but here we are on the 3rd day of the month and I'm already 4500 words in the whole. I had thought that it would be the perfect way to stay productive as I stayed up watching over Liam every night. This visit to the hospital has put a bit of a dent in those plans. I may still start today though and see if I can't crank out some extra pages during the weekend. I have been preparing story lines and characters in my head for a few weeks now so I better get them down on paper soon before they disappear.

I want to make a little widget for my sidebar that will help me add up how many days Liam has either been at home or the hospital. Someday next year I hope that the days home will outnumber the hospital but that is a loooooong way off. A really looong way off. Anyone who knows how to create something like that pretty easily I would appreciate it.

RAWR! Halloween in the Hospital.

Cutest. Halloween Costume. Ever. Plain and simple.

I have been away from the blog while Liam is back in the hospital. He's doing very well and at this point we are simply biding our time until he finishes a treatment. The five day course of inhaled antibiotics can't be given at home so we must wait until Friday before going home. Yesterday Liam was moved out of the ICU though which is a good thing. The Docs decided that he was less likely to catch something really serious (the true fear of coming to the hospital) up on the normal floor rather than in the ICU. Liam is comfortable and sleepy.

Liam's first Halloween was as fun as it could be in the hospital. We put him in his costume and had many nurses visit and take pictures. He was the best dressed baby in the unit. He had fun and so did his mom and I. The costume will be used again during his jungle themed first birthday party.

One of the worst parts about being in the ICU is the closeness to all the other patients. Not closeness in terms of distance but in the camaraderie and bond that is formed between families nearly instantly. Its a small and exclusive club; one that no one really wants to be a part of. Since you can only understand what this is like if you have experienced it your fellow patients families can be a comfort with only a head nod or a wave. And so it stands to reason that if one family has a truly terrible day, we all do. It is very hard to distance yourself from feeling that it just as easily could have been my kid rather than theirs that had to go through this or that. I don't want to get into specifics out of respect for every other PICU family but this stay has been very hard in that regard.

I thought that I would have all sorts of insights into our day to day life in the hospital now that we are back but it is so mind numbingly routine that there really isn't anything to tell. Liam sleeps, and eats, and poops, and not much else. We are constantly visited by respiratory therapists, nurses, doctors, physical therapists, and housekeepers. There isn't much to do other than hold Liam and read to him which I do most of the time I am with him. The TV only has a few channels most of which we don't watch. The windows to the room truly give a fishbowl feeling. As if all of the families are part of a big aquarium for the docs. I keep tripping over the bubbling treasure chest and Karin still finds enjoyment in swimming through the skull's eye.


Side Note about being in a private room at a Children's Hospital: Its hard not to feel like Gulliver when going to the bathroom on a toilet about 8 inches off the floor.