Post Surgery

Early Thursday morning was Oia's surgery and the procedure went well. Speaking for myself, I didn't really sleep a wink the night before, just nervous for the morning to unfold.


We arrived at the hospital by 630am. We were walked to our room, changed Oia into her gown, answered a few last minute questions, vitals were checked, dotted line signed, then around 800am Oia was taken from us by the anesthesiologist and carried through the forbidden double doors ~ without us ~ the part I just can't handle. Rob walked with her as far as he could but I on the other hand am exceptionally emotional these days and stayed behind to release my emotions privately from behind the door of our little waiting room. Oia was cooperative and trusting the entire time we waited, just as I knew she would be ~ saying "okay" to everything the doctors and nurses explained to her. She is so small yet so big.


Rob and I tried to enjoy our breakfast date in the hospital cafeteria... sounds lovely, doesn't it? Then surprisingly, after just 45 minutes, the surgeon called us to say they we're nearly done and we would be notified once she was wheeled into recovery. Ten minutes later, we were headed back upstairs to cradle our groggy and very uncomfortable girl. Big belly and all, I crawled into the bed with Oia to hold and comfort her and let her sleep off some more of the sedative. She was aware of her environment and us (which was not the case after her eye surgery) and in and out of sleep. She showed some signs of pain by flinching her leg so we requested some pain meds for her which thankfully came quickly. Oia was in recovery for about an hour and a half and even though she could hardly hold her eyes open, she still mustered the strength to utter a pitiful "go". Translation: "Get me the heck outta here!"


Once getting home, we set up camp in our king bed, turned the tube to cartoons, and alternated sleep with play, all at her beckon call.


It wasn't until about 230 yesterday afternoon that we saw a slight smile again. She devoured a bowl of grapes and blueberries, chugged lots of drinks, fussed on and off, but was surprising manageable. Then, bed time came and that all changed.

Oia and I slept in the guest bed together so we could have more room. I needed to be by her side to reposition her as necessary. Despite the meds, she tossed and turned and fussed all night long. I resorted to a dose of Valium around midnight but even that didn't seem to help much. She was just plain uncomfortable. Needless to say, morning came way too quickly.

Today has been a long day of carrying, sitting, and lots of wagon rides which she is now completely sick of, and a stroll in the jogger.


We have not forced to her stand at all, in fact, we are kind of reluctant to even attempt it (even though doctor says to do it as soon as possible). I don't even expect her to want or be able to do it at this point. Oia, on the other hand, tried to get to her feet a few times later this afternoon. Since she initiated being on her feet, we strapped her walking bootie over her cast and put a tennis shoe on her other foot but as soon as her feet tasted the ground again, she screamed. I applaud her for trying, she even attempted several times after that. She finally worked up enough endurance and shook off enough pain to take a spin around the house on her brand new scooter, which must have been simply irresistible given her previous cries.


Our plan is to continue the pain meds for another day and see where we should go from there. Right now my angel is down for the night and sleeping peacefully, with the help of Valium. I think tonight we may all get a little sleep, or so I hope.

One day down. Feels like way too many left to go... thank goodness my mom is here to help us. We can do this.