Jacob's Surgery (Wed 8/28/13)

My little boy,

Though you won't remember it years from now (thankfully) I will and wanted to take the time to record my thoughts and pictures of this day in your life.

After our family moved to North Salt Lake we had to make an appointment for your 6-month check-up. We met with your new pediatrician. He couldn't believe how big you were, especially given that fact that you were a preemie. He made the comment that he was very impressed with how healthy you were. While in the office I asked him a question about your circumcision. After examining you he told us that you would need what is called a circumcision revision. When you had your circumcision it didn't heal correctly so we needed to correct it. The pediatrician mentioned to me that we would do this closer to your 1st birthday.

Months passed and your birthday was approaching so I called up the doctor's office to make your appointment to make your well-child visit and the revision. I scheduled your visit but was then surprised to learn that you needed to have the procedure done up at Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake by the Urologist. After learning this I got the name and number of the urologist's office that we needed to meet with to set up your consult and contacted our insurance to get authorization.

We met with Dr. Snow shortly before your first birthday and he agreed that the procedure needed to be done and got me an appointment for you at Primary's for Aug. 28, 2013. He then let me know that I'd get a phone call the day before to let me know what time we needed to be there. I was definitely comfortable with the procedure and knew you would do great but I, along with your dad, were more worried about how you would handle the anesthesia.

The next few weeks passed by quickly with things like your 1st birthday, church callings, etc.... The two days leading up to your surgery seemed so long. As you may find out, I'm not always the most patient person and wanted to know what to plan for. I got the call Tuesday afternoon shortly before 3pm letting me know that we needed to have you checked in at Primary's at 10 am the next morning. I was grateful to have a set time, but also a little disappointed that it was later in the morning. I thought they would have done it earlier were you are still young. I worried how you'd do going that long without any food or drink and no nap.

I called your dad up after I got off the phone to let him know and to ask him to pick up some apple juice for you. The nurse said you couldn't have anything after midnight except water, pedialyte or apple juice and that had to stop after 8am in the morning. So that night while mom went to work at LDS Hospital Dad took you and your sisters to the store and got the juice and picked up Aunt Rachel from the bus stop. She agreed to come down and stay with Ashlyn and Kaylee so Dad could come up and be with you and Mom at the hospital. Before bed, dad bathed you and did your night routine. When I got home I woke you up around 11 to try to get in one last feed so that you wouldn't be so hungry. At first you didn't want it but as soon as I put the milk in the fridge and hopped into bed you decided to wake up and drink it before falling back asleep. I was very grateful for this.

The next morning we all got up, bathed you again and got the diaper bag ready to go. I had to also get Ashlyn ready for Preschool. We decided to put her in and it just so happened that her first day was that same day. We left the house shortly before 9:15 am so that we could fill up the car with fuel and dad could get a drink for his headache. You were pretty happy while we were at the gas station but once we got on the road you got fussy since it was past your nap time.

We checked in at 10am on the 2nd floor at Same Day Surgery. Then waited for about an hour before it was our turn to go back into an exam room. As we watched the other children in the waiting room we definitely felt very grateful that you were only having a minor procedure compared to what some of the other families there were going to have to go through.

When we went into the exam room we answered the questions, got a low-down on how things would go, got you wiped down and put you in your surgery clothes and spoke with the Doctor. You didn't really like having your vitals checked and we had to work on calming you down. Once you were all dressed and calmed down e then down to the pre-op waiting area to meet with the anesthesiologist. After talking to her for a few minutes and answering questions we followed her down to the surgery area and then handed you over. You went easily with her as we turned around and walked back to the waiting area. You went into surgery around 11:30. For the next half hour your dad and I visited, called and checked on your sister, and played angry birds on the kindle. I think the only question we really wondered about while you were back in surgery was how you did when they laid you down. You didn't like it in the exam room so that's why we wondered. About 30 mins later Dr. Snow came in and let us know that everything went smoothly. He gave us some instructions and told us what to expect over the next few weeks and then left. About 5 mins later our name was called and I was allowed to go and be with you in PACU.

You were laying in Bed 9 drinking a bottle of glucose water (aka sugar water)when I came in. You looked so still but the moment I came to your bedside and you saw me you put your bottle down and tried to get up. After the nurse readjusted your tubes I was able to hold and rock you. You finished off another 2 bottles of water before leaving PACU. You definitely weren't very happy that we didn't give you more, but we wanted to make sure you weren't going to throw it up. We then moved you to Post-OP bed 3 and that's when Dad was able to come back and be with us. You drank 2 1/2 bottles of formula while in Post-op and we had to give you another dose of pain medicine. You were so tired and in pain that it was difficult to console you for a little while. You only wanted me to hold you standing up so your dad and I took turns holding you. Finally towards the end you were able to fall asleep, even though you'd sometimes twitch in your sleep. We finally got the green light to go home at 2pm.

On the way home you were still pretty groggy but as soon as you got home and saw your sisters you were wanting to play, walk and climb everywhere. You are a tough little squirt that must have a pretty good pain tolerance, that's all we can say.

You are now a week out of surgery and doing well. The swelling has gone down a lot and the bruising is slowly going away. Our biggest challenge right now is dealing with your night terrors, but hopefully that will pass quickly. You love that you get to take 2 baths everyday.

Here are some pictures we took on our way to the hospital and while we were in Recovery/Post-Op: