Life after surgery #2

So....I think it's obvious by now that I am not the greatest at updating this blog.  My intentions are there, however having time is not.  I was planning on doing updates ever day when Xyler was in the hospital but was too tired to do it.  I guess I am just getting old.  :)  I will just have to recap everything right now.

Day One In Hospital - In my last post I briefly talked about how Xyler was after surgery.  I still won't go into too much detail.  His surgery was set for 8:30 AM and we had to be there by 7:00 AM.  We had to wait for quite a while before they finally called us back to get Xyler ready for his surgery.  Dr. Kaza(Xyler's surgeon) met with us briefly.  He couldn't believe how big Xyler was and he thought he was so cute and loved his dark eyes and long eyelashes.  Then the anesthesiologist came in and talked to us.  After we got an employee to come in to help Scott administer a priesthood blessing to Xyler before they took him back for his surgery.  Saying goodbye before they take him is always so hard.  I was doing good up until that point.  They just had me carry him to where he needed to go as far as we could go.  I gave him a lot of kisses and a big hug and with tears in my eyes I had to hand him over to the anesthesiologist.  Scott and I made our way to the waiting room and began our long wait.  It is nice that they update you throughout the surgery and I was always watching the clock waiting for an update.  After a long wait we were finally able to see Xyler and by this time it was 3:30 PM.  This one was longer than his first but they also had to do more this time. 

In his first surgery they put in a BT Shunt so that he would get blood flow to his pulmonary arteries.  they also had to widen both his left and right pulmonary artery.  Both of those looked good so they didn't have to do anything with them during the second surgery.  So, this surgery they had to take out the BT Shunt, patch up his hole between the lt and rt chamber(which we have a piece of the material they used and were told that his hole was really big), and put in what they call a conduet, which is from a donor, for his pulmonary valve.  Xyler did not have a pulmonary valve before this surgery.

It is always such a relief when the doctor comes and talks to you about the surgery and then when you can see your child.  I don't even get scared at seeing him with so many tubes and IV's after surgery because I am just so relieved that he made it!

I was so happy and surprised when they told us they would try to take the breathing tube our that evening.  It happened sooner than we thought it would!  Yay!

  
He slept most of the first day after surgery, which who can blame him.  It's hard getting the anesthesia out of their little systems and then add pain meds on top of that and you have a nice sleeping concoction.  We did see some eyes a few times but only for a few seconds, but he did kick his legs up a lot.  That was one reason why they took out the tube sooner than expected.

It is now late and I am once again super tired.  I think I should just blame it on my kids and not from being old.  :)  I will try my hardest to get on here tomorrow, or I guess I should say later today since it's after midnight, and finish telling about this surgery and add more pics. 

Surgery Day

I just want to give a quick update about Xyler's surgery.  Everything went well today with his surgery.  It was about 6 hours long so our morning went by really slow.  They have already taken out his breathing tube and have been working on weaning him off of oxygen.  He was still sleeping when we left but had woken up a few times to fuss a bit.  It is so nice having his surgery over with and to be on the recovery side now.  We are so grateful that he is doing as well as he is and hope that he continues on this path.  It has been a long day and I am ready to get some sleep so this one will be short but I will try to write a longer post tomorrow and add some pics.  Goodnight.

Surgery Date!!!

Xyler had his MRI on May 24th.  After a long wait of 4 weeks for insurance to approve it I got a call to schedule it but the soonest they could get him in was for June 13th.  This was all because of the type of anesthesia they were going to use on him was only done on Wednesdays at a certain time.  I was devastated since I just want to get this surgery past us.  Poor Xyler is getting sick of his oxygen tube and keeps pulling it out.  I called his cardiologist to see if there was anything they could do.  He changed what kind of anesthesia they would use so then we were able to get him in for his MRI the very next day.  This was an answer to my prayers!

Xyler did really well with the MRI.  He was so cute when they were putting him to sleep.  He fought it at first and then he took a big yawn and made the cutest little noise and then went to sleep.  His body instantly went limp and he seemed like he would be out for a bit.  The nurse took him from Scott's arms and then laid him down on the table for the MRI.  Once he was laid down he instantly woke up and started wiggling like crazy!  Scott and I both couldn't believe he was awake.  He does not like to be laid down on tables since he normally ends up getting poked by needles when he is.  I'm thinking he woke up because he was scared he was going to get a shot.  :)

A week after his MRI I got the call for the date that his surgery was set for, June 15th.  Well, I just got a call today and they have now changed it to June 14th.  We take him in on the 13th for his pre-op.  It seems so crazy that it is only a little over a week away.  There are so many things I need to do to get prepared for it.  It is hard to describe all of the emotions that go through me.  My sister is being a saint and watching my 3 other kids.  It is so hard to be away from my other kids.  We are still trying to figure out where we are going to be staying so I'm stressed over this.  We have options for places that are about 30 minutes away but I have a very hard time with being that far away from Xyler.  It is hard enough that I have to leave him at night but it seems unbearable to be that far away too! 

Right now I think I am just trying to think about how hopefully he will be off of oxygen after this surgery and will fatten up and get more strength.  It is hard to think about the moment when I will have to give him a hug and a kiss and let them take him away from me and into the O.R.  Right now I am just trying to keep that out of my mind but it's not easy.  It is so hard to wait while knowing that they are operating on him and his heart.  I am so thankful for these miraculous doctors and nurses that can do these things.  He is a very strong little boy and I know he is a fighter and will fight through this.  He already showed us this with his first surgery.

Hopefully in a little over a month we will be able to go out somewhere as a family.  We have not been able to do this since Xyler was born.  It will be so nice to take Xyler places and for him to experience more than just home, doctors offices and hospitals.  He will either love it or be a little scared.  I can't wait to see which one.  :)