We played Uno and Canasta as a family to pass some of the time.
To say that everything has gone smoothly would not be the full truth.
We chose Chiang Mai Ram Hospital because of online reviews. And some in-person investigation on Tuesday. We're okay with the facility being not 100% perfect... We feel that as long as we can communicate, the Doctors/Nurses are well trained, and the operating theater is sterile that it's okay for us to be treated there.
However we missed out on some key details.
One website said the hospital would provide inpatients with a translator during our entire stay. What we've found out is that the translators only work from 8-5 and are there only if you call. Oh and the hospital is not customer friendly. Things are not explained as well as one might hope for.
However all that being said Josiah is doing very well.
Today he had his IV removed because we opted to mix his antibiotic and pain meds into food and ingest them versus the solution or through the IV. There were a lot of communication issues in the switch to oral medications but we've got it all worked out now.
Some of the nurses are patient and speak enough English that we can communicate. But sometimes language isn't the barrier. One nurse told us at 6pm tonight that the Doctor had gone home and will be in tomorrow to check on Si. About an hour later the Doctor came in... ah Asia, there are some things that seem to unite all of your people groups :) misinformation is one of them!
Josiah has a tube to drain fluid out from where the fluid was leaking. Unfortunately the fluid did not drain enough today (Friday). The doctor won't remove the tube until more fluid drains and Josiah cannot leave until the tube is out. So he's "stuck" in the hospital until more fluids drain.
We're taking extra measures over night to lift the area where the fluid is in hopes that it'll drain faster/overnight and he can have the tube removed tomorrow.
Alia Becky and Josiah all shared the hospital bedroom (two beds just for Si!) and are doing that again tonight. I've got the two littles at home with me. Zander is having trouble himself as his body decided to push another tooth through today so he's pretty miserable and not himself.
We had fun at the hospital today. While they do serve food if you order it, its very very common to bring in food. So I got mexican take out from one of the local restaurants for lunch and we stocked up the fridge with yogurt, teas, and chocalate milk from the 7-11 (yeah how crazy that Thailand is littered with 7-11's) and for dinner Pizza Hut delivered to his room.
Oh and we had my perennial weakness for an afternoon snack: ice cream. Who can pass up a $1 magnum ice cream bar right from the hospital cafeteria?
In general he is healing well, however when he laughs it hurts the incision area. So we have to be careful doing one of the kids' favorite activities of watching Americas Funniest Videos on YouTube. He has to pause it when the video makes him laugh so he can manage the laugh and not make it worse.
We're totally blessed by technology!
Josiah Intently playing a game on the iPad, the pad on the floor in the background is Alia and Mommy's bed for two nights.
Josiah Pre-surgery
Help him laugh (or cry)
Keep praying that communication would be smooth and that he would drain quickly.
We'd love to hear your prayers, thoughts and funny stories in the comments below this post (or email us). We'll read them to Josiah to help the time pass. If you're reading this elsewhere you can comment here
