Making hospitalization easier

[JORDYSMOM]

Definitely your own pillow! That is one thing I take with me everywhere I'm staying overnight. I also take books to read when the kiddo is sleeping.

For Jaelyn, maybe you could let her pick a couple of favorite things to take. I like the learning to knit idea. It's a great time to learn something together or do some crafting, scrapbooking, etc. Try to make it fun even though we all know it isn't.

 

[JORDYSMOM]

Definitely your own pillow! That is one thing I take with me everywhere I'm staying overnight. I also take books to read when the kiddo is sleeping.

For Jaelyn, maybe you could let her pick a couple of favorite things to take. I like the learning to knit idea. It's a great time to learn something together or do some crafting, scrapbooking, etc. Try to make it fun even though we all know it isn't.

 

[JORDYSMOM]

Definitely your own pillow! That is one thing I take with me everywhere I'm staying overnight. I also take books to read when the kiddo is sleeping.

For Jaelyn, maybe you could let her pick a couple of favorite things to take. I like the learning to knit idea. It's a great time to learn something together or do some crafting, scrapbooking, etc. Try to make it fun even though we all know it isn't.

 

[JORDYSMOM]

Definitely your own pillow! That is one thing I take with me everywhere I'm staying overnight. I also take books to read when the kiddo is sleeping.

For Jaelyn, maybe you could let her pick a couple of favorite things to take. I like the learning to knit idea. It's a great time to learn something together or do some crafting, scrapbooking, etc. Try to make it fun even though we all know it isn't.

 

[tara]

I like to bring my laptop and I get the cheapest one month subscription to dial up internet I can find (usually about $12). Then I tell all my friends and family to call me on my cell phone because my room line will be tied up since I'll be online all day. Or they can email me instead!

I bring lots of pillows, 3 to be exact. I bring my own toiletries. (hospital toothbrushes are the worst!) Is this Jaelyn's first hospitalization? i have learned to ask for meds at the hour, not at prescribed intervals. The doctor has to write these orders. What I mean is, if I have IVs every 8 hours, I ask the doctor to write the Rx for 7AM, 2PM and 10PM. This give me a little bit longer sleeping time and my meds typically come ontime. If they are schedule "every 8 hours" and one nurse is late, the next one will be later...and before you know it, you're waking up at 2AM for IVs! No fun. I also schedule 4 respiratory treatments with the RTs. I usually have them come at my first IV treatment so my schedule might look like this: 7AM, 11AM, 4PM, 9PM. I try and work around meals and visitors so I'm not "booked" when I have guests.

So my best advice is schedule, schedule, schedule. That way you'll know what to expect and when to expect it. I also bring notes for the front door. "DO NOT DISTRUB 2300-0700." Have the doctor write the order for this as well. There's no reason to get vitals done while you're sleeping, no matter what the nurse's protocol is (usually twice per shift)

It's all about schedule and doctor's orders. I'm very picky about getting my rest when I go in. It's the least the nurses staff could do to accomodate me.

I also ask for the cafeteria food list. CFers are allowed to order whatever they want, not just from the patient meal list. Maybe all of this is redunant because you've done this before. If so, my apologies.

Ok, more stuff to bring. DVD player is good. They probably have video games and dvd players in each room, or at least one on the floor to pass around, but it's best to bring your own incase of technical difficluties. (I've been stuck without one before!) I also like to bring my own contraband of enzymes. Most nurses don't understand that you need them with all snacks, and frankly they are just too slow in bringing them at the right times. So for snacks I prefer to take my own. Make sure to HIDE them!

You can bring her favorite blanket or comforter. I'm usually hot in the hospital beds though, since the mattresses are made of rubber and/or they always have that waterproof pad under the patient. That makes it really hot. But each room should have a fan. Lotion is good cause the rooms are dry. I would maybe go to the dollar store and get some coloring books or toys she hasn't seen before. Pack them away just for the hopsital and save a new one for every other day or so. That's what I do when we go on car trips with my 2 year olds. LOL! Distraction is key! The days can get long but if you have a good schedule, you'll know when you can leave the room and for how long. That's another bonus to having a good schedule! If the weather is nice make sure you have suitable outdoor clothing and just GET OUT of the room for an hour or two each day.

Good luck. Hope some of this helps.

Tara

 

[tara]

I like to bring my laptop and I get the cheapest one month subscription to dial up internet I can find (usually about $12). Then I tell all my friends and family to call me on my cell phone because my room line will be tied up since I'll be online all day. Or they can email me instead!

I bring lots of pillows, 3 to be exact. I bring my own toiletries. (hospital toothbrushes are the worst!) Is this Jaelyn's first hospitalization? i have learned to ask for meds at the hour, not at prescribed intervals. The doctor has to write these orders. What I mean is, if I have IVs every 8 hours, I ask the doctor to write the Rx for 7AM, 2PM and 10PM. This give me a little bit longer sleeping time and my meds typically come ontime. If they are schedule "every 8 hours" and one nurse is late, the next one will be later...and before you know it, you're waking up at 2AM for IVs! No fun. I also schedule 4 respiratory treatments with the RTs. I usually have them come at my first IV treatment so my schedule might look like this: 7AM, 11AM, 4PM, 9PM. I try and work around meals and visitors so I'm not "booked" when I have guests.

So my best advice is schedule, schedule, schedule. That way you'll know what to expect and when to expect it. I also bring notes for the front door. "DO NOT DISTRUB 2300-0700." Have the doctor write the order for this as well. There's no reason to get vitals done while you're sleeping, no matter what the nurse's protocol is (usually twice per shift)

It's all about schedule and doctor's orders. I'm very picky about getting my rest when I go in. It's the least the nurses staff could do to accomodate me.

I also ask for the cafeteria food list. CFers are allowed to order whatever they want, not just from the patient meal list. Maybe all of this is redunant because you've done this before. If so, my apologies.

Ok, more stuff to bring. DVD player is good. They probably have video games and dvd players in each room, or at least one on the floor to pass around, but it's best to bring your own incase of technical difficluties. (I've been stuck without one before!) I also like to bring my own contraband of enzymes. Most nurses don't understand that you need them with all snacks, and frankly they are just too slow in bringing them at the right times. So for snacks I prefer to take my own. Make sure to HIDE them!

You can bring her favorite blanket or comforter. I'm usually hot in the hospital beds though, since the mattresses are made of rubber and/or they always have that waterproof pad under the patient. That makes it really hot. But each room should have a fan. Lotion is good cause the rooms are dry. I would maybe go to the dollar store and get some coloring books or toys she hasn't seen before. Pack them away just for the hopsital and save a new one for every other day or so. That's what I do when we go on car trips with my 2 year olds. LOL! Distraction is key! The days can get long but if you have a good schedule, you'll know when you can leave the room and for how long. That's another bonus to having a good schedule! If the weather is nice make sure you have suitable outdoor clothing and just GET OUT of the room for an hour or two each day.

Good luck. Hope some of this helps.

Tara

 

[tara]

I like to bring my laptop and I get the cheapest one month subscription to dial up internet I can find (usually about $12). Then I tell all my friends and family to call me on my cell phone because my room line will be tied up since I'll be online all day. Or they can email me instead!

I bring lots of pillows, 3 to be exact. I bring my own toiletries. (hospital toothbrushes are the worst!) Is this Jaelyn's first hospitalization? i have learned to ask for meds at the hour, not at prescribed intervals. The doctor has to write these orders. What I mean is, if I have IVs every 8 hours, I ask the doctor to write the Rx for 7AM, 2PM and 10PM. This give me a little bit longer sleeping time and my meds typically come ontime. If they are schedule "every 8 hours" and one nurse is late, the next one will be later...and before you know it, you're waking up at 2AM for IVs! No fun. I also schedule 4 respiratory treatments with the RTs. I usually have them come at my first IV treatment so my schedule might look like this: 7AM, 11AM, 4PM, 9PM. I try and work around meals and visitors so I'm not "booked" when I have guests.

So my best advice is schedule, schedule, schedule. That way you'll know what to expect and when to expect it. I also bring notes for the front door. "DO NOT DISTRUB 2300-0700." Have the doctor write the order for this as well. There's no reason to get vitals done while you're sleeping, no matter what the nurse's protocol is (usually twice per shift)

It's all about schedule and doctor's orders. I'm very picky about getting my rest when I go in. It's the least the nurses staff could do to accomodate me.

I also ask for the cafeteria food list. CFers are allowed to order whatever they want, not just from the patient meal list. Maybe all of this is redunant because you've done this before. If so, my apologies.

Ok, more stuff to bring. DVD player is good. They probably have video games and dvd players in each room, or at least one on the floor to pass around, but it's best to bring your own incase of technical difficluties. (I've been stuck without one before!) I also like to bring my own contraband of enzymes. Most nurses don't understand that you need them with all snacks, and frankly they are just too slow in bringing them at the right times. So for snacks I prefer to take my own. Make sure to HIDE them!

You can bring her favorite blanket or comforter. I'm usually hot in the hospital beds though, since the mattresses are made of rubber and/or they always have that waterproof pad under the patient. That makes it really hot. But each room should have a fan. Lotion is good cause the rooms are dry. I would maybe go to the dollar store and get some coloring books or toys she hasn't seen before. Pack them away just for the hopsital and save a new one for every other day or so. That's what I do when we go on car trips with my 2 year olds. LOL! Distraction is key! The days can get long but if you have a good schedule, you'll know when you can leave the room and for how long. That's another bonus to having a good schedule! If the weather is nice make sure you have suitable outdoor clothing and just GET OUT of the room for an hour or two each day.

Good luck. Hope some of this helps.

Tara

 

[tara]

I like to bring my laptop and I get the cheapest one month subscription to dial up internet I can find (usually about $12). Then I tell all my friends and family to call me on my cell phone because my room line will be tied up since I'll be online all day. Or they can email me instead!

I bring lots of pillows, 3 to be exact. I bring my own toiletries. (hospital toothbrushes are the worst!) Is this Jaelyn's first hospitalization? i have learned to ask for meds at the hour, not at prescribed intervals. The doctor has to write these orders. What I mean is, if I have IVs every 8 hours, I ask the doctor to write the Rx for 7AM, 2PM and 10PM. This give me a little bit longer sleeping time and my meds typically come ontime. If they are schedule "every 8 hours" and one nurse is late, the next one will be later...and before you know it, you're waking up at 2AM for IVs! No fun. I also schedule 4 respiratory treatments with the RTs. I usually have them come at my first IV treatment so my schedule might look like this: 7AM, 11AM, 4PM, 9PM. I try and work around meals and visitors so I'm not "booked" when I have guests.

So my best advice is schedule, schedule, schedule. That way you'll know what to expect and when to expect it. I also bring notes for the front door. "DO NOT DISTRUB 2300-0700." Have the doctor write the order for this as well. There's no reason to get vitals done while you're sleeping, no matter what the nurse's protocol is (usually twice per shift)

It's all about schedule and doctor's orders. I'm very picky about getting my rest when I go in. It's the least the nurses staff could do to accomodate me.

I also ask for the cafeteria food list. CFers are allowed to order whatever they want, not just from the patient meal list. Maybe all of this is redunant because you've done this before. If so, my apologies.

Ok, more stuff to bring. DVD player is good. They probably have video games and dvd players in each room, or at least one on the floor to pass around, but it's best to bring your own incase of technical difficluties. (I've been stuck without one before!) I also like to bring my own contraband of enzymes. Most nurses don't understand that you need them with all snacks, and frankly they are just too slow in bringing them at the right times. So for snacks I prefer to take my own. Make sure to HIDE them!

You can bring her favorite blanket or comforter. I'm usually hot in the hospital beds though, since the mattresses are made of rubber and/or they always have that waterproof pad under the patient. That makes it really hot. But each room should have a fan. Lotion is good cause the rooms are dry. I would maybe go to the dollar store and get some coloring books or toys she hasn't seen before. Pack them away just for the hopsital and save a new one for every other day or so. That's what I do when we go on car trips with my 2 year olds. LOL! Distraction is key! The days can get long but if you have a good schedule, you'll know when you can leave the room and for how long. That's another bonus to having a good schedule! If the weather is nice make sure you have suitable outdoor clothing and just GET OUT of the room for an hour or two each day.

Good luck. Hope some of this helps.

Tara

 

[tara]

I like to bring my laptop and I get the cheapest one month subscription to dial up internet I can find (usually about $12). Then I tell all my friends and family to call me on my cell phone because my room line will be tied up since I'll be online all day. Or they can email me instead!

I bring lots of pillows, 3 to be exact. I bring my own toiletries. (hospital toothbrushes are the worst!) Is this Jaelyn's first hospitalization? i have learned to ask for meds at the hour, not at prescribed intervals. The doctor has to write these orders. What I mean is, if I have IVs every 8 hours, I ask the doctor to write the Rx for 7AM, 2PM and 10PM. This give me a little bit longer sleeping time and my meds typically come ontime. If they are schedule "every 8 hours" and one nurse is late, the next one will be later...and before you know it, you're waking up at 2AM for IVs! No fun. I also schedule 4 respiratory treatments with the RTs. I usually have them come at my first IV treatment so my schedule might look like this: 7AM, 11AM, 4PM, 9PM. I try and work around meals and visitors so I'm not "booked" when I have guests.

So my best advice is schedule, schedule, schedule. That way you'll know what to expect and when to expect it. I also bring notes for the front door. "DO NOT DISTRUB 2300-0700." Have the doctor write the order for this as well. There's no reason to get vitals done while you're sleeping, no matter what the nurse's protocol is (usually twice per shift)

It's all about schedule and doctor's orders. I'm very picky about getting my rest when I go in. It's the least the nurses staff could do to accomodate me.

I also ask for the cafeteria food list. CFers are allowed to order whatever they want, not just from the patient meal list. Maybe all of this is redunant because you've done this before. If so, my apologies.

Ok, more stuff to bring. DVD player is good. They probably have video games and dvd players in each room, or at least one on the floor to pass around, but it's best to bring your own incase of technical difficluties. (I've been stuck without one before!) I also like to bring my own contraband of enzymes. Most nurses don't understand that you need them with all snacks, and frankly they are just too slow in bringing them at the right times. So for snacks I prefer to take my own. Make sure to HIDE them!

You can bring her favorite blanket or comforter. I'm usually hot in the hospital beds though, since the mattresses are made of rubber and/or they always have that waterproof pad under the patient. That makes it really hot. But each room should have a fan. Lotion is good cause the rooms are dry. I would maybe go to the dollar store and get some coloring books or toys she hasn't seen before. Pack them away just for the hopsital and save a new one for every other day or so. That's what I do when we go on car trips with my 2 year olds. LOL! Distraction is key! The days can get long but if you have a good schedule, you'll know when you can leave the room and for how long. That's another bonus to having a good schedule! If the weather is nice make sure you have suitable outdoor clothing and just GET OUT of the room for an hour or two each day.

Good luck. Hope some of this helps.

Tara

 

[tara]

I like to bring my laptop and I get the cheapest one month subscription to dial up internet I can find (usually about $12). Then I tell all my friends and family to call me on my cell phone because my room line will be tied up since I'll be online all day. Or they can email me instead!

I bring lots of pillows, 3 to be exact. I bring my own toiletries. (hospital toothbrushes are the worst!) Is this Jaelyn's first hospitalization? i have learned to ask for meds at the hour, not at prescribed intervals. The doctor has to write these orders. What I mean is, if I have IVs every 8 hours, I ask the doctor to write the Rx for 7AM, 2PM and 10PM. This give me a little bit longer sleeping time and my meds typically come ontime. If they are schedule "every 8 hours" and one nurse is late, the next one will be later...and before you know it, you're waking up at 2AM for IVs! No fun. I also schedule 4 respiratory treatments with the RTs. I usually have them come at my first IV treatment so my schedule might look like this: 7AM, 11AM, 4PM, 9PM. I try and work around meals and visitors so I'm not "booked" when I have guests.

So my best advice is schedule, schedule, schedule. That way you'll know what to expect and when to expect it. I also bring notes for the front door. "DO NOT DISTRUB 2300-0700." Have the doctor write the order for this as well. There's no reason to get vitals done while you're sleeping, no matter what the nurse's protocol is (usually twice per shift)

It's all about schedule and doctor's orders. I'm very picky about getting my rest when I go in. It's the least the nurses staff could do to accomodate me.

I also ask for the cafeteria food list. CFers are allowed to order whatever they want, not just from the patient meal list. Maybe all of this is redunant because you've done this before. If so, my apologies.

Ok, more stuff to bring. DVD player is good. They probably have video games and dvd players in each room, or at least one on the floor to pass around, but it's best to bring your own incase of technical difficluties. (I've been stuck without one before!) I also like to bring my own contraband of enzymes. Most nurses don't understand that you need them with all snacks, and frankly they are just too slow in bringing them at the right times. So for snacks I prefer to take my own. Make sure to HIDE them!

You can bring her favorite blanket or comforter. I'm usually hot in the hospital beds though, since the mattresses are made of rubber and/or they always have that waterproof pad under the patient. That makes it really hot. But each room should have a fan. Lotion is good cause the rooms are dry. I would maybe go to the dollar store and get some coloring books or toys she hasn't seen before. Pack them away just for the hopsital and save a new one for every other day or so. That's what I do when we go on car trips with my 2 year olds. LOL! Distraction is key! The days can get long but if you have a good schedule, you'll know when you can leave the room and for how long. That's another bonus to having a good schedule! If the weather is nice make sure you have suitable outdoor clothing and just GET OUT of the room for an hour or two each day.

Good luck. Hope some of this helps.

Tara

 

[thefrogprincess]

Anything entertaining, books, games, simple crafts, her favorite movies if her room has a dvd player/vcr. Don't forget to bring stuff for yourelf though, even just a few books/magazines. There will be an amazing amount of "nothing to do" time. When DH was in the hospital I brought a couple magazines, a book, and a cross stitch thing I was working on.

 

[thefrogprincess]

Anything entertaining, books, games, simple crafts, her favorite movies if her room has a dvd player/vcr. Don't forget to bring stuff for yourelf though, even just a few books/magazines. There will be an amazing amount of "nothing to do" time. When DH was in the hospital I brought a couple magazines, a book, and a cross stitch thing I was working on.

 

[thefrogprincess]

Anything entertaining, books, games, simple crafts, her favorite movies if her room has a dvd player/vcr. Don't forget to bring stuff for yourelf though, even just a few books/magazines. There will be an amazing amount of "nothing to do" time. When DH was in the hospital I brought a couple magazines, a book, and a cross stitch thing I was working on.

 

[thefrogprincess]

Anything entertaining, books, games, simple crafts, her favorite movies if her room has a dvd player/vcr. Don't forget to bring stuff for yourelf though, even just a few books/magazines. There will be an amazing amount of "nothing to do" time. When DH was in the hospital I brought a couple magazines, a book, and a cross stitch thing I was working on.

 

[thefrogprincess]

Anything entertaining, books, games, simple crafts, her favorite movies if her room has a dvd player/vcr. Don't forget to bring stuff for yourelf though, even just a few books/magazines. There will be an amazing amount of "nothing to do" time. When DH was in the hospital I brought a couple magazines, a book, and a cross stitch thing I was working on.

 

[thefrogprincess]

Anything entertaining, books, games, simple crafts, her favorite movies if her room has a dvd player/vcr. Don't forget to bring stuff for yourelf though, even just a few books/magazines. There will be an amazing amount of "nothing to do" time. When DH was in the hospital I brought a couple magazines, a book, and a cross stitch thing I was working on.

 

[Mommafirst]

I brought my own purell and a container of heavy duty disinfecting wipes. I wiped EVERYTHING down when we first got there --- most importantly the phone and remote control which can get missed by the cleaning staff when they come through.

I brought a camera, because even though its not a family trip, I figure these are things that are a part of my daughters life and should have some pictures.

Our children's hospital has a tv/dvd/vcr in every room, but we brought our own movies even though they can rent what they want.

Bring a clock. The days and hours meld together without one.

Bring some snacks to keep in the room for your daughter and for you.

We brought a sterilizer for nebs because we weren't sure if she would get a new neb for each treatment, but we didn't need it because they opened a brand new one for each treatment. I'm still glad we had it because I was able to sterilize my daughter's toothbruth and pacifiers every day (she was just a year old at hospitalization).

Since your daughter is a little older than mine, you might want to bring card games or board games or something else you can do together to pass the time. If she is creative you might want to bring crafts or help her start a hospital scrapbook.

I'm sorry you are going in, but I hope that she will see a difference in the way she feels. I saw a big difference in my daughter after only 5 days. And you may want to ask them about going home with a PICC line after a few days. We were told to expect 14 days in, but got to leave after 5. I got the feeling they were assessing ME to make sure I would keep the protocol up while we were home. Its not fun to feel judged, but I think I was pretty clear of my devotion to her care.

Good luck!!!

 

[Mommafirst]

I brought my own purell and a container of heavy duty disinfecting wipes. I wiped EVERYTHING down when we first got there --- most importantly the phone and remote control which can get missed by the cleaning staff when they come through.

I brought a camera, because even though its not a family trip, I figure these are things that are a part of my daughters life and should have some pictures.

Our children's hospital has a tv/dvd/vcr in every room, but we brought our own movies even though they can rent what they want.

Bring a clock. The days and hours meld together without one.

Bring some snacks to keep in the room for your daughter and for you.

We brought a sterilizer for nebs because we weren't sure if she would get a new neb for each treatment, but we didn't need it because they opened a brand new one for each treatment. I'm still glad we had it because I was able to sterilize my daughter's toothbruth and pacifiers every day (she was just a year old at hospitalization).

Since your daughter is a little older than mine, you might want to bring card games or board games or something else you can do together to pass the time. If she is creative you might want to bring crafts or help her start a hospital scrapbook.

I'm sorry you are going in, but I hope that she will see a difference in the way she feels. I saw a big difference in my daughter after only 5 days. And you may want to ask them about going home with a PICC line after a few days. We were told to expect 14 days in, but got to leave after 5. I got the feeling they were assessing ME to make sure I would keep the protocol up while we were home. Its not fun to feel judged, but I think I was pretty clear of my devotion to her care.

Good luck!!!

 

[Mommafirst]

I brought my own purell and a container of heavy duty disinfecting wipes. I wiped EVERYTHING down when we first got there --- most importantly the phone and remote control which can get missed by the cleaning staff when they come through.

I brought a camera, because even though its not a family trip, I figure these are things that are a part of my daughters life and should have some pictures.

Our children's hospital has a tv/dvd/vcr in every room, but we brought our own movies even though they can rent what they want.

Bring a clock. The days and hours meld together without one.

Bring some snacks to keep in the room for your daughter and for you.

We brought a sterilizer for nebs because we weren't sure if she would get a new neb for each treatment, but we didn't need it because they opened a brand new one for each treatment. I'm still glad we had it because I was able to sterilize my daughter's toothbruth and pacifiers every day (she was just a year old at hospitalization).

Since your daughter is a little older than mine, you might want to bring card games or board games or something else you can do together to pass the time. If she is creative you might want to bring crafts or help her start a hospital scrapbook.

I'm sorry you are going in, but I hope that she will see a difference in the way she feels. I saw a big difference in my daughter after only 5 days. And you may want to ask them about going home with a PICC line after a few days. We were told to expect 14 days in, but got to leave after 5. I got the feeling they were assessing ME to make sure I would keep the protocol up while we were home. Its not fun to feel judged, but I think I was pretty clear of my devotion to her care.

Good luck!!!

 

[Mommafirst]

I brought my own purell and a container of heavy duty disinfecting wipes. I wiped EVERYTHING down when we first got there --- most importantly the phone and remote control which can get missed by the cleaning staff when they come through.

I brought a camera, because even though its not a family trip, I figure these are things that are a part of my daughters life and should have some pictures.

Our children's hospital has a tv/dvd/vcr in every room, but we brought our own movies even though they can rent what they want.

Bring a clock. The days and hours meld together without one.

Bring some snacks to keep in the room for your daughter and for you.

We brought a sterilizer for nebs because we weren't sure if she would get a new neb for each treatment, but we didn't need it because they opened a brand new one for each treatment. I'm still glad we had it because I was able to sterilize my daughter's toothbruth and pacifiers every day (she was just a year old at hospitalization).

Since your daughter is a little older than mine, you might want to bring card games or board games or something else you can do together to pass the time. If she is creative you might want to bring crafts or help her start a hospital scrapbook.

I'm sorry you are going in, but I hope that she will see a difference in the way she feels. I saw a big difference in my daughter after only 5 days. And you may want to ask them about going home with a PICC line after a few days. We were told to expect 14 days in, but got to leave after 5. I got the feeling they were assessing ME to make sure I would keep the protocol up while we were home. Its not fun to feel judged, but I think I was pretty clear of my devotion to her care.

Good luck!!!