Needless to say this was one scary day for me. And Will. The surgery was a simple adenoidectomy (with a few other things thrown in). I'd coached moms through this 100 times and I knew it was not a big deal. However, this time it was MY baby getting poked and cut and made to fall asleep with crazy gasses that I do not fully understand.
Will and I went to the Avenues Surgery Center the day before and checked the place out. The nurse gave us a little tour and loaded Will up with stickers and a coloring book as well as cookies (way to go nurse!). We both felt much more calm after this little visit. Will knew what to expect so nothing was a surprise to him. Still, I was having a bit of a nervy spaz.
We checked in and filled out the necessary paper work and waited for them to call us back. Cute little Will didn't complain once about being hungry or thirsty and he was allowed no breakfast. Not even water :(.
Steve and Will in the waiting room. How cute are they?
When they called us back, the same nurse who had given us the tour on the previous day was in charge and that put us both right at ease. She was so great with Will. He had his blood pressure taken and was again stocked up with stickers, crayons and a coloring book. Happy day. We then went into another waiting room where he changed into a hospital gown and some crazy socks (he thought he looked dashing) and had a little exam by a resident.
Cute Doodle in his gown and socks.
We had to hang out for a bit after that in order for the surgeon to finish his previous surgery. Will just watched TV or played games on our phones. He was so good. About 30 minutes before the surgery the nurse came in to give him Versed. Lovely, hilarious Versed. This is a fast acting medication that calms the kids down to the point of bliss so they don't have a nervy b when they're taken away from their parents to go into the OR. Will was out of control funny. The room must have looked like a 3D movie to him because he kept stretching out his hand to touch things that were across the room. He was stoned out of his mind. We couldn't understand a word he was saying.
Here's Will with the Versed in full force.
Notice his expression hasn't changed. At all.
He really had no idea what was going on.
The anesthesiologist wheeled him back in a wagon and Steve and I went to yet another waiting room. I listened to an audio book and knitted while Steve watched a few episodes of Modern Family and laughed himself sick. Oddly enough, we were both quite calm. Talking to the surgeon and anesthesiologist beforehand helped to calm my fears. They are both really capable men.
In what seemed like very little time, Dr. Finlayson (Will's surgeon) came out and told us everything went swimmingly and that as soon as the anesthesia wore off enough, we would be allowed to go see him. He took his sweet time waking up but we expected that as I have the same reaction to anesthesia.
He was one ANGRY little man when we went in to see him. He had forgotten about the wagon ride to the OR (he was really looking forward to this) and started crying and hitting me (not allowed at any other time) and calling us "LIARS!!!" It was so sad and yet hilarious.
Here he is drinking his "slushee" after surgery.
One of the post op nurses heard his tirade about the wagon and offered to pull him out to the car in it. The staff at the Surgery Center were really so great. All of the nurses, the receptionists and his doctors were wonderful, skilled and kind people.
Here's the little man getting his way. Only acceptable after such a tantrum because of the fact that he was coming off anesthesia and wasn't in his right mind ;).
And away he goes down the hall.
I was dreading the coming nights, believing that he would be in pain and would't be able to sleep. Hmmm, just the opposite. He was riding his bike later in the evening. He remained angry for the rest of the day (as we were warned that he may) but by the next day he was his happy self and wanted to play with friends. Only Tylenol has been required for pain and the only thing he hasn't been able to do is swim. What a relief! I'm so happy we decided to have the surgery done. He breathes soooo much better now and sounds so much more clear. Hooray!!! We have his post op check on Thursday and then we're in the clear for all activities! I'm so proud of Will for being such a brave boy. He was a tough guy through the whole thing and hardly complained a bit.
