Carter's Surgery Day

September 16th, 2008. A day that I will remember for a long time. I really feel for parents that have children that are in need of many surgery's. Not sure how they hold themselves together.

It was an early morning for Carter and I. We needed to be at the hospital for 6:30am to check in. Surgery was scheduled for 7:45am. Carter had his little pre-admin check up and then we got taken to his room to change into the cute little gown and just wait for the call.

The pediatric unit at our hospital is pretty impressive. They have a couple play rooms that are full of toys and activities. Carter took full advantage of the waiting time!


Another little boy (six years old) was waiting for his surgery, so they played the Nintendo game cube. Carter had a great time playing this. Do you have this game Uncle Nick? (Super Mario cart.)

When we did get the call, Carter was a brave little guy. He got to ride on a bed with wheels and thought that was neat. A lady in the surgical suite gave Carter a stuffed 'bear witch' and kept Carter's attention by asking what he thought he might like to be for Halloween this year. My baby has grown up a lot, but to see him laying in that big bed, he looked so small. Poor kid didn't know what was ahead of him........nor did I. I had a hard time holding back the tears when Carter looked at me and told me that he didn't want to fall asleep here because he was afraid to have a bad dream. At this point I handed him off to a very nice lady with really pretty eyes and a soft sensitive voice. That is all I could take in with her mask over her face.

I slowly made my way back up to peds, pulled myself together, and wet and grabbed a coffee from Timmy's in the lobby. I started to read a book but my concentration level was non-existent. Lori came up and sat with me, which was really nice to see a familiar face. We talked, walked, paced and thanked our lucky stars that our kids are healthy and that we didn't have to spend anymore time there.

The surgery took just over two hours. Seemed like five! They wheeled the little dude back down to the day surgery room and I got to see him. He was very groggy and very sleepy.

He woke up every hour or so and I could tell that his throat was sore from the tubes. I kept giving him little sips of water. After the glass was all gone, the poor little monkey vomited everywhere!! He was soaked, his blue blanket was soaked and the entire bed was wet. Nasty anesthetic.

He needs to keep his hand raised, dry, clean and intact. Here he is showing me. Still very sleepy!
Here he was having just one more nap before we headed home. I even snuggled up with him for awhile. Too bad I couldn't sleep.

We left the hospital just after 3:00pm.

Our night was a bit tough. We had to fight with him about not eating to much and to leave his hand still and not to pull at it. Poor daddy ended up getting the boot out of our bed and Carter got to sleep with me. Not sure how a 4 year old can take up so much room in a queen bed!

This morning has been pretty good. I'm still having to remind him not to move his fingers and I think I have said 'be careful' in every sentence. We go back next Thursday to see the doctor and to get the splint off. It could be a long eight days!!