Well, so much has been going on with dude since last Wednesday. Here's a quick update.
Day #1 (surgery) Thursday
All went well. I think that everyone in the house could feel the tension because instead of getting up at 5 am to get ready and leave, we were all awake at 3:30 am. To say this was a long day is a very big understatement.
Nolan did great. Poor boy wanted to eat and drink but he was not aloud. We had an awesome pre-op nurse who gave him a new Hot Wheels, played with him,let him play with all the tools in the room, color, etc. The Dr came in to talk to us and ordered some happy juice for Nolan. As soon as the medicine kicked in we changed him in to his gown and me in to my nice bee keepers suit. I call the relaxing medicine happy juice because Nolan was laughing at everything and was limp in my arms as I carried him to the operating table. I stayed until he was completely asleep with the gas. The Dr, said the surgery went well, his tonsils weren't as big as he though Nolan just has a small throat, however, his adenoids were huge he said. He said that his ears are going to hurt very bad in the next week or so because of the resonance pain and the fact that his tubes are so open now. No more snoring, chocking, stopping breathing in his sleep or car seat, etc. Yay!
His awesome nurse!
The whole thing took about 1 hour, from when I left the room until they came out and got me to meet him in recovery. He was screaming when I got back there but as soon as they put him in my lap in the rocking chair, he went back to sleep.
Right after sugary, that's oxygen I'm holding to his face
We were in recovery for a little while until they knew that he would be ok without the oxygen, then we where wheeled up to his room in Pediatric Unit. It wasn't long before he was semi awake and asking for food and drink. The nurse and I attempted to slow him down but he was doing so good.
Daddy sent me with a new spider man toy for buddy to open when he was somewhat coherent. He slept with it the whole time we were there.
This was his first hand cover from surgery. They ended up changing it so that the could watch the IV site. He didn't like the changing but liked the new one better.
Early in the evening we were able to take him for a ride in the wagon around the Peds unit and he loved it.
One disconnected from IV fluids, (which after getting sick later was hooked back up to for the night) he was able to ride around in the wagon.
The early evening proved to be harder. I think his medicine from surgery was wearing off and he started to get sick, EVERYWHERE. I felt bad his nurse because was supposed to be going off duty (yes, this all happened at 7pm lol) and I had to strip right there in front of her because I was covered in nasty. Poor Nolan was not doing so well at this point. They gave him some medicine to help settle his stomach, then gave him pain meds and he went to sleep.
This is after he was sick, given multiple medicines and finally relaxed a little bit. He looks so tiny in this big bed.
Once he was asleep I had the nurse come sit with him so I could run down to the Ronald McDonald house to do some laundry and get a couple of snacks. Early on I was able to sign a waiver to allow him to be in an actual bed instead of a crib. Hospital policy is under 3 in a crib but because I was there the whole time they allowed it. That first night wasn't too bad, just a lot of thrashing about and coughing in his sleep. He would not let me off his bed or out of his sight.
Day #2 (Fri)
The Dr came in bright and early and said that he was able to go home today since his oxygen was good through the night. I just need to be able to watch him while he sleeps. He warned me that he would still snore for a little while because his Uvula will be a little swollen. Day 8-10 are going to be the worst, his breath is going to get horrible, and that it will get worse before it gets better. (I will find this out later)
Tanis and Nolan looking out his room window at the mountains.
His pain meds the nurse gave him right before we left were starting to kick in. :)
Daddy and sister got there just as we were finishing breakfast, which the Dr said he had to eat a tiny bit and drink some before he could be discharged. We went home and did as we did in the hospital. He was on pain medication every 4 hours, slept in the living room with me, and did not want to let me go almost all day. He did lay with daddy for a short while but would ask for me again. I felt so bad for him.
Later in the day when he was awake for a short while, daddy ran to the store to get him a new toy (tradition is when someone is sick, etc they get a little prize). Daddy got him a car track that attached to the wall. He loves it. Him and sister played with it until he was too tired to stand.
The rest of the day was same as it has been. He was up and down with pain, it was hard to get him to eat or drink anything. By the end of the day I was almost afraid I was going to have to take him in for IV fluids. He also ran a mild 102 temp Sat night.
Day #3 (Sunday)
Sunday was a little better. Instead of his pain meds every 4 hourse, we started alternating pain meds and Advil every three hours. The Advil seems to make it a little easier for him to eat and drink while the pain meds help him sleep. He had a couple of cups of juice and a tiny bit to eat today. The Advil is keeping his temp down but he hasn't had too many wet diapers today. Hoping tomorrow is better. He was awake for a bit of the day today, was able to play for a little bit, watch some TV, and hang out with daddy.
He did take his nap in his room, but was not able to sleep in bed for the night. He kept waking up coughing and choking, which I'm sure you could imagine only hurt more. I put him on the couch sitting somewhat upright and he did better through the night. Guess it will be a couple of days before he can sleep in his bed for longer than his nap time. Hoping tomorrow goes even better.
Day 4 (Monday)
Today was ok. We walked sister to school, he had to stay bundled up under the cover of the stroller and blankets, which he hated. He was cranky and clingy all day. We did manage to get him a bath, medicine but can't get him to drink or eat very much. Let me tell you trying to fight with a 2 year to force things like this. Tonight was not so great and afraid I may be calling the Dr tomorrow to see whats going on.
Day 5 (Tues)
Today was not a great day at all. He woke up in a horrible mood, terrible pain and I couldn't get him to eat or drink anything, barely his medicine. I called his surgeons office and he instructed me to take him to the ER after the hubby got home from work for some IV Fluids. As soon as daddy got home we were out the door. After a few hours in an IV drip, good blood tests, him eating 2 apple sauces and drinking one juice we were on our way home. He seemed to be doing better. Had a really good wet diaper (first one in three days) and the morphine they gave him in the ER through his IV really helped relax him. We went home at about 11pm. Took some more medicine when we got home and went to bed. Slept ok, took some more meds later in the early early am and so far so good. Dr said to let him have his pain meds at night every 4hrs and during the day rotate advil for pain meds every three hours to stay on top of pain. Now that he's hydrated he should feel a little better and be able to eat a little better and drink more.
When we first got a room, they were super fast about it, went to triage then straight back to room.
After they started the IV
He finally felt like eating a little applesauce after IV drip and morphine was started
Time to start passing out :)
I will update with Wed and Thur tomorrow
LAST UPDATE
Since last week not much has been going on. He's been doing better, still only eating yogurt, apple sauce and ice cream. Not much but it's something. He's also been able to hold down a little bit of his milk each day so that's a good thing. In the last month or so since he hasn't been able to keep anything down he's lost almost 5lbs. Hoping he gain some of it back. He has his post-op check up next Mon hoping it goes well so that he is aloud to be back out in the general public for good. Which would mean that mommy can start going back to the gym :)
Thurs-his first "food" in his chair since surgery
His bed has been on living room floor since we got home. He had a belly ache here.
Nap on mommy, the only place he's wanted to be
Sleeping on couch
He had awoke in pain and didn't want to move.
