Feb. 27, 2009, Conyers, Georgia~

Mattie Denise Wright here.  Sorry if I haven't written; have been meaning to write, but things have been crazy!

I have been running back and forth from the hospital to be with Korina Grace, our youngest.  She went into the hospital on Wednesday; today they finally moved her out of the Intensive Care unit, to the regular Pediatrics floor, much to our relief.

This all started on Tuesday, Tuesday afternoon to be exact.  Korina was complaining that her tummy was hurting; as time went on, the pain got worse, to the point to where she was throwing up and whimpering.

We got concerned, so we rushed our young daughter to the ER.  They immediately notified us that she needed surgery; they thought she had appendicitis.  She was in surgery for over an hour.

It was scary!

We were never so glad to see the doctor once he came out!  He said the surgery went well, but it had been close:  her appendix, grossly swollen, was on the verge of bursting; this was why she was so sick in the first place. 

He said that she had been placed into the Pediatric ICU (PICU), mostly for observation.  He said that she would be hooked up to monitors, IV's, and wires, but he felt that she would be okay, once she'd passed the critical 24-hour mark past surgery. 

We saw her immediately after surgery.  My heart broke when I saw her.  She looked so pale, so helpless; there was really nothing I could do except to keep her in my prayers, pray that she would make it without any complications.

Thank God, those "complications" never occurred, although Korina was in a great amount of pain.  She would probably be hurting for a while, the doctor told us.  She just had major stomach surgery; it would be some time before she felt like herself again.

Today, when I saw her, the doctors had pulled the "nose hose" out of her nose.  She could now eat, but would have to have liquids for several days, until her belly could get used to having food again.  She did have an oxygen tube, but at least the ugly nasogastric tube was out of her nose, much to her relief (and mine).

Now she's in the regular Pediatrics ward.  She can have visitors any time from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m.  Her daddy and I have been in to see her; during our time with her, we read to her, play with her, to get her mind off her hospital stay.  Sometimes nurses come to take her "vitals" or the therapy team comes in to work with her; this is when she cries the most.

She also cries when the pediatrician examines her.

Kaylie, Kristmas, and Kensington want to see their hospitalized sister, but they are too young.  My sister Morgan is watching them while we are witih Korina.  We do tell them that their sister misses them, and she wishes that they could come see her.

We know this isn't possible.  Rules, you know.  Children under the age of 13 aren't allowed to visit; hospitals are usually scary places, and they don't understand why their sister or brother are there.

Obviously, I'm back home as I write this.  I had to get a change of clothes, plus I took a two hour nap.  (Ahhh, I feel so much better!  :) )  I figured I'd update you on what's been going on. 

Other than Korina ending up at the hospital, life has been really good for us.  Greg is still employed, and I'm still taking care of the children.  I worry if his job will hold; the economy is so bad nowadays!  I pray that he will continue to work; I don't know what we would do if he lost his job!

I mean, how would we pay our bills?  How would we provide for our children?  They need clothes, food, shoes, school supplies, other items on a regular basis!  And with Korina, you have to put extra medical expenses in there, too, which makes it hard to try to stay ahead!

Well, I am going to go; we are going to be leaving for the hospital within a half hour.  I will write in here again soon; hopefully it won't be a while between writings!  Take care, and may God bless you!

~Love, your Georgia friend, Mattie Denise.  :D