Well, that was quite the experience let me tell you!! It started with 20 minuites to make our decision on Mikes birthday, to the quick packing job I did, lame Toronto traffic at 6 am the next day, to handing away our smiling baby boy not knowing that was the last time we would see a smile for a few days. We made our treck to Oshawa on Wed. night for our 7:30 registration at sick kids on Thursday. We left at 5:50, and didnt make it to the hospital until 7:50 - we were late. stupid traffic. But it didnt matter. We registered Lincoln, and then headed up to the 6th floor, where the surgery would take place. We met with the surgeon where he explained that they would be putting him under an anesthetic, and removing his tonsils, adenoids, and putting tubes in his ears. We then met with the anesthesiologist who informed us again, that his risks were minimal from his pulminary hypertension! yay!. We then handed Lincoln off to a nurse at 9:30, while he was smiling and blowing kisses to us waving good bye. Man, i am glad i could remember his face before he went it. We were then escorted to the 5th floor to a public waiting room FULL of other parents waiting for their childs surgeon to come in and give them the great news that it was finally over. 1 hour later, we got the news! it went well, he was awake and in a room being monitored for sleep apnea. We would be able to see him shortly!! We got into the room where Lincoln was, and he was crying, being drowsy still from the knock out drug. Trying to comfort him was next to impossible, which only brought more tears to my eyes... he was NOT a happy camper :( We then got brought to an observation room where we would be spending the night - our 4X4 curtain inclosed cubical which we didnt know, but would be our living quarters for the next 4 days. Lincoln was hooked up to an IV for fluids, so he wouldnt get dehydrated. The foom was full of other children and their parents - there were 5 other beds in our room, all full. So, this was something completely different from the last time we spend the night at sicks kids. Then, got informed that the chairs we were sitting on, at our childs side - were, yup, also our beds. Did they recline? nope. hang on here... let me get this straight... only one parent gets to spend the night? in a public room? on a chair? while i'm 8 months pregnant? and the closest washroom is way down the hall? oh boy, this is going to be a LONG night. Luckily they let Mike stay with me, because of me being pregnant and all. My friend works on the 7th floor, and came to visit us when her shift was over. She asked the nurse if i could get a cot, but the nurse wouldnt budge because it wouldnt be fair to the other parents who had to spend the night on chairs as well. At 11:00 when everyone else was sleeping, the nurse grabbed me, bent some rules, and brought me to my own room where I would get a couch bed.. Thank goodness. As I laughed to myself. I was sooo happy for this couch bed. In my last blog, did I not complain that it would be a couch bed? When morning came, I woke up and was reunited with Mike and Lincoln, thank goodness it was only a one night stay surgery! - or so we thought... As we watched the other parents and their children leave slowly through out the day, we could only keep trying to get Lincoln to drink something. The nurses kept him on morphine and tylenol at least every 4 hours, and had his IV producing so much fluid, he was getting more wet diapers than he would at home during a regular day. The morphine was making him soo sleepy, all he did all day was sleep. We couldnt go home. BOOO. For those of you who know Lincoln, he is a super picky, i only eat the way I want to eat and drink. Only my mom can feed me, and i have to be watching my favourite show, or reading my favourite books while doing so. GREAT - we're never going to get out of here. I asked the nurses to stop the morphine so we could have him awake to try and get him to drink, and also told then to try turning down his fluid intake, as he was likely not thirsty judging by how many wet diapers he was getting. Neither worked. He stayed awake, yes, but was still NOT happy. (but we knew it wasnt because he was in pain, so we kept him off morphine). That night, we had a new set of kids and parents to spend the night with. this time, only 3 other beds were full. We also had a different set of nurses. I got a chair, for a bed, and had to BEG for a pillow. longest.night.of.my.life. impossible!!! the next day, same deal, he just wasnt thirsty. |GOODNESS - please people, beleive me when I tell you, he WILL drink at home - he hates public places, not only that, every time he saw a nurse he would scream - he knew they were going to attack him again some time soon with more drops for his nose, ears, and more antibiotics and tylenol. :( . finally Lincoln started eating cheerios, and having a small sip of fluids here and there. The Dr. came in, and we told him our situation, about being in a public place, and he said we could go home the next day if Lincoln did what he did that day (eat cheerios and drink a bit of water). We watched the room empty up again, and prepared ourselves for yet another night of a chair bed. Hang on, the room was empty, there was 6 beds, a new set of nurses... if they put me in a chair, then, ... well, i knew they wouldnt. YES ! I got a BED! but poor mike, had to stay on the chair again. The next morning, we were let go! FINALLY - nothing was better than hearing that our discharge papers were on their way!! WHOOO HOOOO!!! home! (or out of the hospital at least) Lincoln and I have decided to stay in Oshawa for the week to be closer to sick kids in case he started bleeding out (which in 1% of cases happens between day 5 and 10 - when the scab falls off). Nothing yet, and its been a week! Mike is staying with us in Oshawa for the weekend, and we will head back on Sunday - and I cant wait!!! Today seems to be the day that Lincoln is completely on the mend. He has eaten more today alone than he has in the past week combined! yay!! the Dr. said he would have a nasty taste in his mouth for about 2 weeks, so that likely has something to do with it. But it is a nice releif! On another happy note - my sister had her baby today! what a good day!
We go for a follow up hearing test in 6 weeks, and remain on antibiotics for 2 more days. things seem to be going pretty good, and it is so nice to see our special little Lincoln smiling at us AGAIN!!!
I realy didnt think that this surgery would be worse than his heart surgery. But it was. Recovery time for heart surgery - 2 hours, literally (and an over night stay). Recovery for this surgery? FOREVER - for Lincoln and mom and dad. Hope this is it!!
thanks for reading
4 weeks remaining until our baby is due! yay!
