Surgery #1

Tuesday night we got NO sleep. I literally had less than two hours of sleep! I have never in my life been so anxious about anything. All I could think about was what was going to happen the following morning. I knew it was necessary, but that still didn't ease the anxiety of it all. Poor little guy couldn't have a bottle after midnight so I stayed up to make sure he got as much in as he could until then. We all then took a nap. Wayne and I were up and going a little after 3. He was allowed to have clear pedialyte then, and I was determined to get everything in him I could. I was so afraid of him getting hungry.

We all (my family was in town) got ready really fast, loaded up and headed to the hospital. We filled out tons of paper work, had to take him to get his blood drawn, prayed over him, and before we knew it we were heading back to the surgery area. Wayne and I were the only ones allowed back. Our families waited anxiously.

As we got back, they brought in a gown that was entirely too big. I put it on with tears in my eyes. All I could think as I watched Wayne hold him was that no baby this small should ever have to be cut on. It just wasn't fair.

The anesthesiologist came back and reassured us that Grant was in more danger in the car on the way to the hospital than he was actually back in surgery. This slightly eased my nerves.

Before we knew it, Dr. Metz was back seeing us one last time before scrubbing up, and then the nurse came back to get our baby. We were able to walk him to the door. Wayne and I had a quick debate on who would carry him. I let him win, but I got lots of sugar before we handed him over. ;) Watching the nurse carry him down the hallway was the hardest thing I have ever done. His head was facing us over her shoulder, and I watched until I couldn't see his sweet face anymore. The floodgates opened.

Wayne and I went back to our room and waited ... in silence. There was really nothing to say, and we both had extremely heavy hearts. My Dad called after a few short minutes and told us he was going to go and get us some breakfast. Luckily, it helped the time pass. After our little man was gone for about 30 minutes, the anesthesiologist came back to tell us that Grant was "under" and he was doing great. They were about to begin surgery. Shew, I knew it would be about an hour before they brought our sweet baby back.

About this time, Br. Kevin showed up. I tell you, it was the perfect timing. We had lots of good conversation, and it helped the time pass as quickly as possible. For that I will be forever grateful. A little bit later, my dad pulled the "preacher card" and came back for a quick visit. I was looking at my watch constantly. We had FINALLY made it to 45 minutes when the phone rang. My heart sank. No one ever mentioned the phone ringing. We didn't even know until this point that there was a phone in the room. I could tell from the way Wayne was talking that he wasn't too happy, and I was anxious to hear what was going on. When he hung up, he informed us that they were JUST THEN beginning surgery. A microscope wasn't working properly so they had to fix it before they began. Talk about frustration. My little man had been out for an hour so far, and they hadn't done anything. The anesthesiologist was wonderful. He had a crew in there so he was able to come out and keep us informed throughout the entire time. He assured us again that as long as the lens came out easily, the surgery should only last about an hour.

He was correct. About an hour later, I saw Dr. Metz coming down the hall. He quickly came in and told us our little guy was doing just fine! He was in recovery, and in about 30 minutes he would hopefully be awake enough to come and see us!

Wayne and I were practically standing in the hallway from this point on. Then we saw the most precious sight we have ever seen. A nurse was coming down the hall holding our precious little boy! I quickly sat in the rocking chair (there was noway anyone was holding this baby before me!!!) and rejoiced at the feeling of him in my arms again!

After a few minutes, I gave daddy a turn. You can tell in this picture just how exhausted we were. Stress tends to do that to you.

Even though we saw some pitiful little children at Children's Hospital (and my prayers go out to their parents), nothing has ever looked as pitiful to me as this.

We had to give him some more pedialyte, and once they saw him taking it well, we were able to dress him and head home. We did have a fairly long evening and morning this morning. It's hard to tell what from. His ears, colic or his eye??? They told us his eye shouldn't really hurt, but it was hard for us to grasp that.

Today we had to run back to the doctor to get the patch removed. As we were waiting, a little guy walked out into the waiting room with his mama, and she proudly proclaimed that "everything looked just fine!" Wayne leaned over and said, "Why couldn't we have heard that last week?"

I was so nervous about this. I was honestly afraid that I might would pass out. I was expecting his eye to be really bloody. Funny thing was it looked almost completely normal. If you didn't know he had surgery, you wouldn't know he had surgery. His doctor was really pleased with everything and even measured his eye prescription. This will make more sense to those who wear glasses, but his prescription so far in the right eye is +20!!! (Remember he has no lens.) As long as it's the same next week, we will order his glasses. We went in and picked them out today. It was hard seeing him in the sample pair that his prescription will most likely be, but I'm sure we will be use to it quickly. The importantly thing is he will be able to see!

We went ahead and bought his sunglasses frames (his prescription lenses are not in yet). Dr. Metz said we could use them as a patch, and we also thought it might help him get use to them. Wayne talked me into the yellow ones, and to be honest, I think they are adorable!!!

(I'm sorry the pictures are all poor quality, but this wasn't exactly something I was excited about. I just didn't even want to take my camera.)

Thanks again for all the prayers. This little guy is living proof that prayers are answered! We are so thankful for his safe surgery, and praying for the same next week!

Now, we better continue with the NINE drops that have to go into his eye every day!