Discharge Day

Jake finally succumbed and slept most of the night and in fact slept through several rounds of Dr.'s and didn't wake up till 10am.  He hadn't slept much previously so it was much needed.  The consensus was clear Jake was going to be able to go home as expected especially now that the allergic reaction had come and gone without any signs of reemergence.  The rest became standard procedure, reviewing all of the paperwork, signing the discharge forms, and filling the many prescriptions to take home.  It was check-out time at the hotel and we walked around some of the streets around the hospital.  Jake found a construction site with huge machines and cranes and the orders were clear, stay here and watch.  Worried about traffic on a Friday and a holiday Friday to boot, we left for the airport with plenty of time.  There wasn't any traffic, leaving us at the airport with several hours to kill.  Hard to say if we just beat the traffic and it would have gotten exponentially worse.  Last trip, Jake was calm as he watched planes and workers from the windows but today was a different story.  The agitation ensued....this now means Jake shouts a bunch of things out and doesn't know what he wants.  First, he was hungry but wherever we took him he said the other place.  Then Jake wanted to go by the window but in the United terminal most of the windows had a panel on the lower half which prevented Jake from watching from his stroller.   We walked around and around with Jake yelling at the top of his lungs to try different places.   After about 30 minutes of this agitated state, a donut settled him down.  Finally, we were able to find one gate where the panels didn't exist and Jake was happy.  After some time, we headed to the gate to board.  As we stood in line awaiting our boarding, Jake decided he didn't like waiting.  He started yelling for a walk and when we didn't comply because we were boarding, he screamed louder and louder.  It was a rough scene with a crowded gate area and Jake yelling at the top of his lungs.  It got more interesting when he started yelling, "I have to go poop,  POOP POOP!"   After what seemed like an eternity, we were allowed to board and we found our row to settle in.  Then a not so subtle reminder from Jake that we forgot to see the pilot sent us upstream against traffic.  We were allowed to enter the cockpit and Jake met the pilot.  After takeoff, Jake seemed to battle with this confused agitated state once again.  He had to go to the bathroom and after the first trip, he proceeded to yell every time we got back to the seats that he had to go again. Yelling ensued and to keep the peace we took 7 trips in about 10 minutes time back and forth to the bathroom.  It was rough period and harder because this behaviour is so out of character for Jake and his normal personality.   Eventually, Jake passed out for the rest of the flight but without first taking its toll on his sleep-deprived parents.  

After forever and then some, we were on the ground and on our way with home with a huge sense of relief.  Unfortunately, Jake returned to his agitated state first about taking his medicine and then ultimately about where he wanted to sleep.   We spent a good 90 minutes doing laps among the bathroom, our room, his room, and downstairs.  He simply couldn't settle down and kept yelling and crying about what he thought he wanted.  Whenever we presented his requested option, it wasn't what he wanted.    We urged him to calm down on our bed which took quite some time but finally he settled down and wanted to go to his room.  We put him down to sleep but a minute later he reappeared in our room.  Surprising, as he shouldn't be able to walk without pain due to the incision from the bone graft taken from his hip.  So, the final choice was made and Jake slept in our bed where he still remains.   A sleep-deprived emotional trip but we are home and hopefully we can cure Jake of this new agitated confused state he has been in.  Luke and Olivia got up early to see us and anxiously await to see their brother and the cast color he chose.