surgery day

So, we've been home from CHLA for about an hour now and everything is going so much better than the last time we did surgery. I guess that is obvious since I actually have a moment to get on the computer!

His surgery was scheduled for 9am this morning, but we had to be there at 6:30am (so I've been up since 5:30am...yawn!). My parents were sweet enough to come into town last night and spend the night so they could watch Hannah for the day for us.

He was in good spirits for all the pre-op stuff (getting a new toy from the nurses helped)

and his only complaint was how thirsty he was since he hadn't had anything to drink since 8:30pm last night. I felt bad that I had to keep telling him he couldn't have any water.

He didn't even get taken to the OR until almost 9:45am, so that was a bit of a drag because he was starting to get really restless and toys weren't helping at that point. After he went in, Samuel and I had breakfast at the hospital and then headed back to the waiting room. Surgery was supposed to take about an hour, so after another 30 minutes our surgeon came out and told us that all went well and the nurse would come get us soon to see him. We also talked with her about what the next steps would be in his treatment, and it looks like we will be doing another surgery this summer.

Last time, no one took us to recovery until after he had woken from the anesthesia and he was absolutely hysterical and screaming in pain. It was heartbreaking and I wanted to be sure that didn't happen again, so I made sure that the nurses knew to come get us before he woke up this time. I was so relieved that when we went back there, he was still asleep. We had a great nurse who was so attentive and sweet--it really made a huge difference.

When he finally awoke he was really upset about the IV in his hand and then I think it all hit him because he starting screaming about the pain and kicking his legs. I was really surprised that he was even able to move them at all. Last time any movement at all you could tell was excruciating for him, so I knew this was a good sign--despite the screaming.

We got him some apple juice which he really needed--poor guy. He was quite upset for about another hour, but after some pain medicine we got him calm enough to convince him to go home. He started to get upset again, but apparently it was because he wanted to get some hashbrowns from McDonalds to eat before going home. Another good sign, since last time, he didn't eat for at least 3 days.

I was apprehensive about the food since he had only been "awake" for about 2 hours. He must have been starving because he decided he also wanted a quesadilla from Taco Bell. He ate the quesadilla with no problem and said he felt fine, so we went to Jack in the Box for hashbrowns since it was already 1:30 and McDonlads doesn't serve them that late. He ate those as well with no nausea. Yeah, these aren't the best choices for food and I normally don't let him have all that junk, but I felt like he was entitled after all he had been through.

Since we've been home he's had about 3 glasses of water, one juice box and some cereal...I guess he was starving because any one who knows Sammy, knows that he is NOT a big eater at all.

He's been going 4 hours between pain meds and is content to just lie on the floor or couch and play with his cars. He has even attempted to walk even though he crumpled to the floor trying. I am so shocked because he didn't walk for about 2 weeks last time and needed pain medicine every two hours for the first 3 days after surgery. I am so relieved that everything is going so much better.

As for the next surgery, since his legs still have about a 9 degree curve left and he has such a severe turn-in, our doctor is going to have to cut the bones on each leg and actually move them to the correct position and then hold the bone in place with pins until they heal. He will be in casts for 6-10 weeks while the bones heal and will have to be in a wheelchair since he won't be able to walk. Yeah, I am NOT looking forward to that one at all. I am thinking that the double stroller will be our best friend this summer.

I am so grateful to everyone for their prayers, well wishes, emails, phone calls, and offers to watch Hannah for me. They have helped to make this a much better recovery than last time. Our family appreciates all the love!