Hoss' Surgery and Recovery

Monday, August 30, 2010

Friday, August 27, 2010

We are home early!

Unbelievable, this little guy is doing great and we got the choice to come home ealy!!   I am getting us settled in and will update later this evening, possibly in the morning... 

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Post Op

Wow, so much has happened and changed since I last wrote.  First off, Hoss is doing awesome right now his disposition is amazing, happy, playful, full of smiles for us.  He is really swollen, both eyes are little slants for him but he is taking it like a champ!  He is however getting another dose of blood because one of his hemo's (trobin?) is low right now.  They will recheck it in the morning and evaluate it from there.

Last evening (first night after surgery) was a long one.  When I first got back to the PICU room, after his surgery, Hoss had woken up and when he saw me he broke into tears!  I was able to hold and nurse him for the first time which lasted for about 2hrs.  He was comfortable as long as the meds were coming every couple hours.  It was a hard cycle of me holding him to nurse and comfort him while I sat uncomfortably and unable to fall asleep.  I so badly just wanted to hold and comfort him, I wasn't going to put him down, and I didn't get much sleep because of it.  It was obvious when the pain meds would be needed bc he would begin to cry in pain.  The nurses were very quick to administer his meds when I pushed the button for help.  He did some vomiting from the meds at one point in the middle of the night but soon after was sitting up playing with his toes and giving the nurses and I his first smiles! What a miracle!! He woke up in the morning comfortably and then played softly with his toys and gave me reassuring smiles as I sang "you are my sunshine".  Not too long after he needed some pain meds and went fast asleep.

Hoss was so excited to see his sister today, he woke right up and sat up in my arms when he heard her voice!  Full of smiles too : )  Not long after we were moved out (11am) to the normal pediatric floor and were given a room with my own bathroom (yay!).  Hoss was pumped to see so many faces he loved at his side, he was kicking, and throwing his arms around to show us how happy he was.  It was really hard to believe he had just had surgery.  Well, his swollen head was evidence of that but otherwise he was just so well!!

The rest of the afternoon went great, barely needing any pain meds right now.  He wants me to hold him the entire time so I have been loving the snuggle time but it is also quite awkward and uncomfortable because of the caution I have to take with his head (drain tube) and millions of lines coming off his body.  I make it work though, it will be interesting to see how the night goes since he is not medicated enough to sleep without me.

As far as the swelling, it can still get worse through tomorrow : (  His eyes may close completely and me holding him doesn't help that situation.  The cranio/plastic surgeon was super impressed with his disposition this afternoon and had mentioned him maybe coming home late Friday.  However, now that he has had more blood tonight I am unsure if that may be a possibility??

Grant just came from work and Hoss, asleep in my arms, sat right up when he heard his Papa.  He was so excited to see him and was doing "big kicks" to show him he is still his little man! 

Wow, I do certainly feel blessed that Hoss has been so comfortable today.  I don't think that is so normal!  Please continue to pray for his quick healing, swelling, successful transfusion, and a good night rest for both him and I  ; )

((hugs))
Angela

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Surgery Day

Praise the Lord, surgery was a success!

Last night it was so hard for me to go to sleep, I didn't want to wake-up and have it be "the day".  I managed to sleep great though, awoke to my alarm at 3:40am for Hoss's final meal before surgery.   We arrived for check-in at 6am and things moved along fairly quickly.  Hoss was so brave when they put the IV in him, he barely fussed at all.  My mom, the nurse, and I sang Jesus loves me while he was poked.  He loves that song, sister Sophia sings it to him all the time.  He was really tired from being up so early and snuggled right into me and fell asleep while we waited for the nurse to take him back to the surgery room. I let loose the tears when I handed him over.

My dad, mom, Grant, and I waited patiently in the waiting room.  We were updated at 10am that Hoss didn't cry at all when they took him into the room, the nurse said he was very calm!  It was at 11am that we got the ALL DONE!  We met with the Dr's and they said everything went perfect and Hoss was already breathing on his own and rubbing his eyes.  I cannot tell you how excited and anxious I was to know it was over and everything went great!  I couldn't wait to see him give him kiss and let him know that I was there.  It was about a 2 hr wait from then though until he moved from recovery to the PICU.

Hoss looks really great right now, he has hardly any swelling right now, but I have been warned that will change.  He opened his eyes once and looked at Grant and I and it really did just break my heart because of the way he look at me and then broke into a cry.  I comforted him and he was so groggy and tired and fell back into sleep.  He doing pretty good but I know the pain is there and it really really hard to see him push out tears and moan when he is bothered by the nurses.  Everyday will bring less pain and I am praying it happens fast.

I will be staying bedside tonight and for the rest of  the time.  In the PICU it is not meant for bedside sleeping and there isn't a bathroom for my use in the PICU at all.  They were not even suppose to let me stay but got the message that I would be "staying" in the wooden rocker without sleep if I must.  So when I arrived back they had a chair that pulled out into a bed for me ; )  I can't leave that boy, he's my baby. 

I am using a computer on a different floor right now and will update when I can and when someone can be with Hoss while I am gone.

Thank you for your support, prayers, thoughts, and love!!!  Keep praying for his pain and for the swelling to be minimal.

Angela

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Night Before Surgery

I can't believe tomorrow is the day, it is extremely hard to grasp the reality of it.

The day starts early, we will arrive at the hospital at 6am for check in and will be with Hoss until 8am for surgery prep.  Prep will take 2-2 1/2 hours and then surgery will begin and take another 3 to 3 1/2 hours.  He will go into the PICU (pediatric intensive care unit) for at least the first night.  They will move him to the regular pediatric level after that for the next few day, going home on Saturday.  I have my bags packed and will be staying with him at the hospital.  I just found out that I get free meals since I am nursing and there will be a bathroom with a shower in his room. 

I will be updating the blog if and when I have access to a computer.  I am so thankful to everyone who has been thinking and praying for us during all this.  Thank you!