We went in for the aortopexy yesterday (Happy Cinco de Mayo and Boys' Day everyone).
We got to the hospital around 7 a.m. Since we went in for pre-op on Monday, we got to go straight up to day surgery. They were super nice, and recognized us right away (you know, since this is becoming a habit for us). They quickly took KP's vitals and then let him dissapear to the playroom while I finished up his history with them.
They got some new toys in the playroom that KP really enjoyed. I will update this post later with those pictures once I get them off of Dylan's phone. They had a new microwave for the kitchen, and some push toys that we haven't seen before.
Papaw and Uncle Jack got to come visit in the playroom for a short while. KP was a little apprehensive at first, but warmed up pretty quickly.
Around 830am the nurse came and got us to go down to the holding area. KP gave everyone hugs and kisses and then held on for his ride in the elevator. We made quite the little parade. :)
We dropped Papaw and Uncle Jack off in the waiting room and KP and I went on to holding. We got KP's favorite nurse there, so he spent most of his time flirting...as usual. :)
His general surgeon came down and talked a bit about the procedure, and that's when we found out it would probably take a couple of hours. I've been spoiled by our 30 minute procedures lately, and forgot what a full blown surgery entails. Whoops.
They took him to the OR around 930am, and we all went down to the cafeteria for breakfast. Dylan joined us again upstairs in the waiting room around 11.
Around noon, the OR nurse came out and said that KP was stable and doing nicely. He seems to have found KP absolutely fascinating, and also seemed to have a lot to say, but never really said it. We left that conversation very confused, so we just focused on "stable". :)
They finally stitched him up around 130pm, and KP's doctor came out and talked to us. It appears that the operation went well, and we will be just waiting to see if it has the intended effect.
They admitted KP into the ICU, and we finally got to see him around 3pm. He was fussy, but medicated by the time we got in there. The nurses said that he tried to flip over when he first got to them...yep, that's our boy.
He ended yesterday, calm and asleep with an arterial line, chest tube, i.v., foley catheter, and chest tube all in place (not to mention the usual leads).
On the nurse's suggestion, Dylan and I went home for some rest since we knew that today would be a long day.
This morning they told us that KP threw up in the middle of the night, so we knew he was ready for liquids. He drank almost 20 oz of liquids this morning!! He was sooo hungry! After putting all of that away, they dialed down his iv, and eventually capped it off. There were rumors that we would be moved to the general floor today, so they went ahead and took out his foley cath and arterial line.
He was signing this morning and flirting like crazy with the cute TL nurse that came to check on him. :) He took a nap midday, and then woke up and downed another 12 oz. So, they let him have some solid food.
Unfortunately, even thought his oxygen levels were staying high, he was still retracting a lot while trying to breathe, so the decision was made to keep him in the ICU another night. We love the ICU because we get so spoiled there, but it means that he is not doing as well as expected, so it is bittersweet news.
So, at the end of today he just has the i.v. (which is capped, but will not be taken out until the discharge papers are signed), and his chest tube (which may come out tomorrow) left. I love watching the tubes drop off. I think that is still my favorite part of recovery.
He let us hold him a couple of times today, and he and Paul played for a while. Dylan sent a text saying that Paul now had his leads on thanks to Dr. Everett. :) I guess he was up to his old tricks.
I will try to update more tomorrow. Don't forget to follow us on facebook. I will update his status more regularly on there.
xoxo
Margot
