So my sweet Elijah had surgery about a month ago and was a super star!! I won't go into the details because I want to respect his privacy when he gets older, but I do want to share the experience.
Mary Liz had written a book about surgery for Ryan when he was a kid and we borrowed it from her to help prepare Elijah for his big day. Ironically enough less then a week before we found out he was going to have to go under the knife I was telling Mary Liz that she absolutely HAD to get it published. Anyways, he loved that book. As a matter of fact, it was what he wanted to take into the OR with him when they asked if he wanted to bring a blanket or a stuffed friend! I'm getting ahead of myself.
We get there and we're sitting in our little nook doing all the prep work. Mary Liz was with us to help with the baby because I'm still breastfeeding and he refuses to take a bottle. Elijah starts right off charming the nurses. They take his blood pressure and count his respirations. The aide was telling the nurse his vitals to record and Elijah pipes up, " No, I'm three!". At different times that morning Dr. S , the anesthesiologist, and some nurses all came out to discuss the surgery and again Elijah would eagerly insist he was three when a figure was said. He was very adament about it and it sort of became the theme for the morning. Kim, or pastor, joined us while we waited and we all got to enjoy an episode of VeggieTales. Both Kim and Mary Liz were a great comfort to me that day. :)
Skipping forward to when it is time for the surgery, Elijah had attracted a crowd of about 5 or more nurses and doctors around our little pod just charming them all! He chose cake for his anesthesia scent and the last time I saw him before he had stitches, he was riding Dr. S's back piggyback down the hall and through the OR doors.
They moved us all to his recovery room and I walked up and down the halls pushing Leland to get him to fall asleep and prayed. With the baby fast asleep I settled down in our room to wait for Elijah. The surgery wasn't very long, but what must have been a total of 30 - 45 minutes total before I saw him again felt like hours. The doctor came and told us everything went great and that they would bring him back once he came out of the anesthesia some more. Kim went ahead and left and Mary Liz toke Leland to go get lunch for us.
I heard him before I saw him. It is common for kids to be upset when they come out of anesthesia. You can and should try to prepare yourself when they inform you about this little detail, but, after being on pins and needles waiting to have my child back in my arms and know that he's ok, nothing can prepare you for that initial sound of your baby screaming and crying. I'm not quite sure if I recall who it was but I think it was a nurse who walked around the corner with Elijah in his/her arms and set him in my lap. Oh, just to hold him in my arms brought tears to my eyes.
He was a bit shaky. He was a lot sweaty. He wasn't quite sure what he wanted for about 20 minutes. Then he was definitely hungry. :) He wanted to know if he was going to get to stay the night there like in Grandma's surgery book. He was very disappointed that he wasn't. So, thank you Jesus that it seems as though he has come through this whole process without being afraid of doctors or hospital like settings!
We were on our way about an hour later. He tried to insist that he could walk (he had a type of epidural) and tried to stand on his legs. It was like watching an old cartoon where his knees just wobbled back and forth and I quickly scooped him back up! Of course, he was right next to me and there was no danger of him hurting himself or his surgical site.
We broke the rules and he had his favorite breakfast meal for dinner. Sweet potato belgian waffles, homemade peach compote, bacon, and eggs. Grandpa Boston joined us and we all feasted!
He bounced back super quick! He was playing again by the next day and completely back to normal a week later.
Maybe one day, my sweet Elijah, Dr. S will be your new step-grandpa. ;)
