Ricky is home! (long update)

Okay, here is the total lowdown.

We arrived at the hospital Day Surgery department on Monday at 10:45 for the anticipated 12:15 surgery time. Ricky got into hospital jammies and bracelets and got his temperature taken. A lady from Play Therapy came to talk to Ricky and she showed him pictures of a little girl going to get surgery, and told him what was going to happen.

So me, Rick, my mom, and Rick's mom hung around and waited and waited and waited with Ricky. And waited and waited and waited. Ricky was very cranky, and hungry and thirsty, not having been able to eat or drink after midnight the night before.

Finally around 1 the anesthesiologist came and we talked about Ricky a bit, and learned what to expect. Then the nurse came and gave him vercid which is this fun stuff that within 20 minutes or so made him totally stoned out of his mind. He was lolling his head around and laughing and acting dizzy. I carried him and Rick came along and we followed the anesthesiologist to the door of the hallway leading to the operating theatre. I handed Ricky over and Rick and I waved to him as he was carried away. Ricky looked over the anesthesiologist's shoulder, lolling his head and waving giddily. We couldn't stop laughing.

So then the four of us went to have lunch in the main hospital and hung around there for almost two hours. Still no page on the parent pager. So we went back to the waiting room, and waited some more. Finally I went and asked the receptionist what was going on. She phoned Dr. Messner in the operating room and found out that everything went fine and she'd soon be out to see us. So I went and sat down.

Dr. Messner came and talked to us. She said that everything went great and she didn't even get close to his eyes and brain (which is a good thing). There was a ton of gunk in his ethmoid and maxillary sinuses, lots of polyps (news to us) and old goo and stuff to clean out. Poor little guy. We asked lots of questions and she was really in her element, answering all the questions about the surgery. It was amazing to see how different she was after surgery from at a clinic visit.

By this time Rick had had to leave to go get Andy from day care (it was about 4) so my mom, MIL and I went to see Ricky in recovery. He'd just woken up and was very combatant, pulling at his IV and nasal catheters. The nurses had to give him two doses of morphine to calm him down and then he was OUT. He fell asleep so fast he was still holding the popsicle they gave him, and as it drooped out of his hand I caught it with a paper cup.

My mom and MIL called their husbands to let them know how things went, and after a long while we got transported to a room on 3South. We finally got there about 6:30 and I ran to get some dinner before the dining room closed.

We had a rough night. He really wasn't feeling well. He watched a lot of videos and finally fell asleep around 1:30 morning after his first sinus flush. I had fallen asleep around 10 only to be woken by Ricky and the nurse at 1 when she came in to flush his sinus catheters. That was a true nightmare and so I'll spare you the details.

Tuesday morning Ricky was very out of sorts. Kind of staring into space. It was very sad. But throughout the day he improved (despite getting sinus flushes three times in the day) and by the time Rick brought a Tarzan video in the evening, the worst was over. Ricky was wiggling and thrashing in his bed and raring to go, fresh from several nice long naps. At lunchtime he had finally eaten for the first time... Two chicken nuggets, but better than nothing at all! Also, he drank lots of chocolate milk... His favorite drink!

The IV remained in, and Ricky finally fell asleep at around 11 thanks to the "mood" channel on the TV which features nature scenes and classical music. About 4:30 a.m. he woke up wet, having wet his bed in deep sleep, and while the nursing assistant was changing his bed we discovered that the left sinus catheter had fallen out. Upon further examination we discovered that the right one was out too. They had been hoping those would stay in for about 4 days but the nurse wasn't surprised they were out already. No more sinus flushes, hooray!

We got discharged today bright and early at 9:30 a.m. (Ricky was actually still asleep!) Fastest discharge ever, and boy were we ready! We were delayed a bit because the hospital was showing Toy Story 2 on their movie channel (not even on video yet, what a treat!) but Ricky got tired of it and we were OUT OF THERE!!!

Ever since we got home he's been playing and so happy. We're having some great time together, just Ricky and me. He's been highly into creative stuff... He did Play-Doh, watercolors, and now he is doing fingerpaint. We are so glad to be home.

Thanks to all who called, sent cards, prayed, and just thought about us. You guys are great!

Update!

The boys both saw their pediatrician yesterday for a well-baby appointment. The best I remember (bad Mom, I forgot to write it down), Ricky is 42.5" and 38 lb., and Andy is 32.5" and 26 lb. They both plot out to 25-50%ile for weight. Ricky is 75%ile for height and Andy is 25-50%ile for height.

Dr. Lee (the pedi) said that Ricky definitely still has a speech delay, and she wants us to pursue this with the school district (who would be responsible for doing speech therapy at this point). Andy definitely still has eczema, and obliged Dr. Lee by having a nice big patch on his arm to show off to her at the appointment. We're going to keep applying lotion unless it gets worse, in which case she'd prescribe some sort of cortisone cream to put on it.

After that it was off to the ENT doctor for Ricky's pre-op appointment. The visit was a large nightmare thanks to appointment delays and both boys being very tired. To top it all off the nurse practitioner noticed that Ricky has a lazy eye (his left) when he is tired. Yet another thing to worry about... But I refuse to worry about it until after the surgery!

Surgery is all set for Monday at either 1:15 or 12:15 p.m., depending on who you talk to (hopefully we'll get it straight before then). He can't eat or drink any time after midnight the night before. He can drink clear liquids and eat Jell-O for three hours before. (Now THAT should be interesting) We're getting there 1-1/2 hours before the surgery.

The nurse practitioner (surgeon herself didn't make an appearance) felt it necessary to tell me that complications can include vision loss and leakage of brain fluid because of the proximities to the sinuses. So now there is something for me to feel guilty about if this surgery goes wrong.

Please think about us now as we wait for Ricky's surgery to be over! He will be in the hospital for three nights.

Sinus surgery scheduled (again)

Well, we have a fourth date now for Ricky's sinus surgery. I wish they would make up their minds. THis sound like it's for real.

Surgery on Monday, March 20, and staying overnight for three nights before coming home. Pre-op appointment the Thursday before. Andy's birthday party is on Saturday the 18th (his actual birthday) which works out okay still.