Getting reay for Tuesday

Friday, July 20, 2007

Well Tuesday is the big day for Joey. He is heading into children's hospital for his surgery. It is going to be a long day for mommy and daddy too - we are both really worried about our little guy. What he is going thru is such a routine thing, many of the same operations are done every week and we are going to one of the best hospitals in the world - but that does not seem to make it any easier.
When we went to the hospital Wednesday for his pre-op appointment there were so many kids there with all different health issues. Just in the room we were in there was a quadriplegic, a little person, another clef baby (with both sides of his lip clef), three other babies and one kid around 7 or 8 with problems that weren't visible - but you could see the stress in the families faces. Being around all the kids didn't make me feel sad it made me feel grateful and lucky and almost ashamed that I was worried so much about our little "issue". I know other peoples problems does not minimize what we are dealing with - but yet when you see the faces of the kids smiling and playing - or the group of cancer kids running or playing pacman it really puts life in perspective. What we are having done is nothing compared to what some of the kids will have to live with - their stories are just beginning while Joeys will be over in a few weeks of healing. The kids may be in and out of the hospital for the rest of their lives - however long that may be. My thoughts and prayers are often wandering to the kids at the hospital and their families.. .God bless them all and keep them safe.
At the pre-op we weighed our little porker... he is 13 pounds 14 ounces! I can't believe it. he gained three pounds in one month. He is 23.5 inches long now too.... growing like a weed. The nurses just loved him - he was smiling so much and having fun while they tried to take his blood ox. The surgery will take in total about 3 hours. He will have bubblegum flavored gas to get him sleeping, then they will administrator the iv and tube to start the surgery from there. They have a person whos job is to go between the surgery and us to keep us in the loop for the progress.... so we are not surprised if it takes longer than anticipated. Dr. Meara said that if all goes well and he is eating and feeling good after the surgery then we can take him home! That would be so great - but I am not counting on it.. I would rather all of us feel he is in a good place and spend the night to be sure, but we will see how he is feeling. He will have to have a special feeder and no binky for 6-8 weeks! That part will be tough - but if he can go that long without it then maybe he can just not use it any longer.
I guess I better sign out now - just typing out some of my thoughts. Pray for the little guy for us - and for all the other kids out there who could use a little extra support.
I will write more next week - and post some new photos :)