Wednesday, August 26, 2009

A Three- Five-Hour Tour Hospital Stay

When Benjamin had his open-heart surgery last October, we drove up to Nashville on a Tuesday.

And came home the following Friday.

When he had his intestinal surgery in January, we checked into Children's (here in Chattanooga) early Monday morning.

And came home the next Monday.

But this surgery?

Small potatoes.

We got there at 8:30.

Surgery started at about 10:40.

And we were walking out of the door at 1:20.

Wow.

I have more pictures than words to share about this, and that's saying something.

'Cuz I like to talk...err...type. Or whatever.

Here we are the day before the surgery in the doctor's office. We actually made this appointment in February. She wanted to see him in six months to see about scheduling his surgery.

Playing peek-a-boo (his favorite) in the waiting room. Mommy is especially waiting to get out of the "no-food-or-drink-waiting-room." Can you guess why? ;)



This boy loves his daddy.





So she looked him over, said he looked ready for surgery, and we started talking dates. Matthew starts a new job (same company, different position) the week of Labor Day, and we really wanted a Friday (so Matthew would be home to help on the weekend). She looked over her calendar and said, "How about tomorrow?"

So Matthew, who has been working insane hours right now anyway (busy time of the year for him), worked until about 3:30 in the morning, got home, showered, and got about two-and-a-half hours of sleep until it was time to take Andrew to my mom's and for the three of us to head off to Children's yet again.

Matthew working on spreadsheets and other math stuff (Can you tell I'm an English person, not a math person????)



No, Matthew wasn't asleep. Quite.



A little man-to-boy talk



"Hey, what is this thing and how can I get it off??"



Mommy and Benjamin snuggling with the giraffe. This giraffe has been with him through all his surgeries, as you will recall here and here.



Again, Matthew isn't asleep, he just doesn't know when to open his eyes.



This picture seriously makes me laugh. Look at Benjamin's face!!!



Right before going to the OR. He is completely loopy, and it was so hysterical!!



So while he was in surgery (about 90 minutes), we chilled in the room.

I ate the wedding favors from my cousin Marianne's wedding.



And Matthew tried to sleep.





Until I made him go to the van to sleep.

He was down there about 45 minutes when they came in and said they were about to bring Benjamin back to us. So I called Matthew to come back up to the room.

I took this picture of myself (obviously). The intent was to show that I was actually getting to read my Real Simple magazine when the issue was actually current, but just as I was about to snap the picture, my goofball husband said something corny (I honestly can't remember what), and I laughed. So I kept it.



They brought B back and said we needed to stay until he woke up and had something to eat and/or drink.



He slept for about an hour or so and then woke up a groggy mess. It was really cute.





He had no interest in crackers, and since he can't drink liquids, we thickened some apple juice with Thick-It and he downed a 4 oz container of that mixture.

Here is his only bandage. We go back to the doctor tomorrow for a post-op appointment.



Ready to go home!



On the way!!



He honestly was back to normal in like a day. He is just so amazing!

12 comments:

My name is Sarah said...

Such cute pictures. happy everything went ok.

Shannon said...

what a little love bug! glad everything went well!!!

Unknown said...

He is amazing and I love him! He is such a trooper.

StephHenshawBrady said...

Glad to see that everything went well for baby B. He is such a strong little guy. The man-to-boy talk picture is my favorite. So precious and innocent.

JILL said...

Carl had giraffes pop up in his life a lot... and I found this poem. Might be as fitting for B as it is for Carl:

Giraffes Don’t Huff by Karla Kuskin

Giraffes don’t huff or hoot or howl
They never grump, they never growl
They never roar, they never riot,
They eat green leaves
and just keep quiet.

Laurie said...

So glad everything went well! What a brave little guy...

count it all joy said...

What a great post, Angela. You and Matthew are hilarious (even if a little exhausted). Hope Benjamin is continuing to heal well and the doctor gives you a good report when you go for the check-up. Meredith xo.

Sharon said...

So glad his surgery went well! Loved the pictures.

Laura said...

That is WONDERFUL! Praise the Lord for an "easy" surgery.

heartchild said...

Love all of the pictures and so glad everything went so well. (I Love Real Simple!)

Jennifer {Studio JRU} said...

So happy to read that everything went well for your little guy. I must say, he is absolutely *adorable*!! Thank you for your kind words on my (in)courage interview today. I am so glad you did, so I could be encouraged my your post!!

The O'Neils said...

Angela,
Reading Benjamin's stories are so inspirational to me. Presley's surgery is only 8 days away and I get more freaked out by the day. I am so glad to have found you (or been led to you). And both of your boys are so adorable!