Day 4: Up and down

Josh is okay, but nowhere near normal. He was on an emotional/behavioral roller coaster. He'd go from silent and cuddly (not my boy!) to happy to a kicking and screaming inconsolable temper tantrum.  He has been taking his meds really well and drinking pretty well. He asked for a milk refill tonight which I gladly gave him. He isn't eating much, though.  The docs say that will come.

My dad joined us last night and stayed all day.  He was great with Josh and very patient.  Ken had to go to Cincinnati today, so it was nice to have an extra set of hands.  Or someone that could watch Josh when I lost my patience.

Day 3: Discharge

Josh had a great night sleep.  We had a talented night nurse who left the room dark except for a small pen light while she checked him.  She gave him his medication and he went back to sleep.  He woke up this morning in only a little pain (defined by not crying out).  We got his pain medication in and he was peaceful.  I started pushing the water into him.  Then, when his breakfast came, he voluntarily drank milk.  He got his 90mL down in about an hour and a half.  He was allowed 2 hours, so we were celebrating.  We were discharged around 9:00. 

He's doing well at home.  Thank you all for your prayers and support.

Day 2: Still here

Josh still isn't drinking much, so we will be facing another night here.  The nurses say that the second day is the worst.  It was evident that Josh was in a lot of pain.  He had some big crying spells 30-60 minutes before the 4 hour mark where he could get another dose of pain medicine.

Kristy's mother Kaylene and stepfather Ron joined us today.  It is nice to have company while we watch Cars II for the tenth time.

Day 2: Drink, son, drink

We had hoped for an early discharge after Josh ate a good dinner and drank 2/3 of a carton of milk last night.  However, he woke up and wouldn't drink for Kristy or eat more than 2 bites of breakfast.  When Ken arrived, he was able to get Josh to take a few sips, but not quite the 2-3 oz per hour that the nurse practitioner want him to prove before discharge.  So, we're going to try to get him a lunch that makes him thirsty so that he'll drink more.

The night was as good as can be expected.  Evening meds weren't until 9, so Josh didn't go to sleep until 9:20.  The 12:45 vital sign check and medication made him wide awake.  He didn't go back to sleep until 2:20.  Then the empty IV bag woke us at 5:30 and we've been awake since then.

Day 1: Post surgery hospital recovery

We had a special visit this morning from the pet therapy team, Ashley and Riley.  The attendants could tell that Josh had a dog at home by the tender way he pet the dogs.

Josh didn't eat much lunch, but was sure happy to eat part of a snicker doodle Daddy brought from Paradise Cafe.  The doctor said that he can eat anything except sharp things like chips and popcorn.  His direct statement was, "I don't care if he eats a burger on the way home."  Our struggle is getting Josh to drink.  He has taken a few sips here and there, but nothing substantial.  This is upsetting because we were warned that dehydration when he gets home will land him back in the hospital.  Dr. Trigg's (ENT/surgeon) nurse practitioner said that she would not discharge us tomorrow if he is not drinking.  However, if we are willing to forcefully syringe liquids down him, she'll let us go.  Ken tried it a short time ago and Josh clenched his teeth.  We may have better luck with a syringe that wasn't used for medicine.

We all had an afternoon nap, so that made us feel better.  This picture was Josh shortly after his noon pain med after daddy read him the surprise books that Aunt Megan sent to the hospital.  He didn't want to take a nap in his bed, but wanted to be in Daddy's arms.  Those of you who know Josh know that he is NOT cuddly.  I told Ken to enjoy being the "chosen one".  I think that I'll hang this picture side-by-side with the one of Ken holding him as a newborn in the hospital.

He made it

Josh successfully made it through his surgery.  We got to the hospital around 6:45, met with the surgeon and the anesthesiologist between 7:15 and 7:30 and he was taken back around 7:45.  It was cute how they took him back.  He got to push his bear "Bebo" in a toddler car back to surgery.  He did not cry at all because he was having fun.  People have asked us if he knew what was coming.  We chose to leave him in blissful ignorance.  We told him that he was going to the doctor and that was it.

At 8:10, the surgeon came out to tell us that he was done.  Josh's tonsils and adenoids were larger than normal, but not as huge as he had thought they would be based on the sleep study.  He said though that tonsils and adenoid size are all relative to the child.  Shortly after speaking with the surgeon, we were invited back into recovery where Josh had just woken up.  He was crying hysterically.  I got to hold him in the bed.  (Talk about a full lap between both of my children!)  The narcotics were affecting him because he was not coherent and wouldn't answer questions.  He just cried.  He finally was coherent enough to state that his mouth hurt.  The nurse gave him some more IV pain meds.  I started singing, "Rain drops on Roses", "Doe a Deer" and "I am Jesus Little Lamb."  He not only calmed down, but closed his eyes and dozed off a bit.  It brought back memories, because those songs soothed him as an infant.



At 9:00, they wheeled us up to his room.  He took a few sips of apple juice and is now calmly watching Cars II.   

T&A tomorrow

We are resurrecting our blog to keep people updated on Josh's surgery and recovery.  A few weeks ago, Josh had a sleep study.  He was diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnea.  The treatment for this is the removal of his tonsils and adenoids.  We are scheduled to be at St. Vincent-Peyton Manning Children's Hospital at 6:45 AM tomorrow.  He will stay overnight and then have a 1-2 week recovery.  That is the part that I worry about the most- the recovery.  Please pray for us all!