Day 1

hmmmm...

It's 9:30 in the evening, and what a day it's been. We woke late to a thin blanket of snow on the roads. It's been nearly three years since the boy has experienced a snowy winter. We arrived promptly at 10:25 and were rushed through to our room. Evidently, the hospital was busy, as another family was already occupying one side of our room. We had enough time to get settled before we were approached by nurses and anesthesiologists.

She brought Skyler the "happy juice." Imagine a 7 year old as a mean drunk. It's difficult to get angry when you know he doesn't know what he's saying; trying not to laugh but trying to be serious at the same time. His temper is short; he's having difficulty controlling the volume of his voice, and he seems to have lost all fear of me. I had to leave the room for a minute...

The VIPs are being seated for the Inauguration.

We are ushered up to the Operating Room. The ladies all agree he is very cute, while the doctors ask me a series of questions about the security of his teeth. Skyler is drooling on himself at this point, but manages to wiggle the single tooth that is loose this week for the Doc. At this point, the ladies are fussing over Sky's necklace. He's wearing a necklace of special healing crystals bound by copper, all specially selected with Sky's condition in mind.

Obama makes his speech. There are two obnoxious girls in the waiting room who won't stop talking. One of Sky's nurses comes in to advise that they do not offer blue casts. She stays for the rest of the speech.

The doctor arrives and he seems in a great mood. Apparently, everything went very well. He was able to stretch his legs and place the hip just where he wanted. I'm told Sky will be in Recovery for another 30 minutes, then he'll be sent down to the room. I go down to the room where Amber is waiting. I tell her the news and rush to the car to get my camera. I am not gone 10 minutes when she calls; Skyler is in Recovery and he's asking for me. I run back up to find my boy quite distraught. He was in significant pain at this point. His legs are stretched farther than they have been in over a year. As it turns out, his IV somehow had been jammed deep into his hand, so he was in relative agony until we made it down to our room.

Back to the room, Skyler is in pain, mostly from the IV and his general state of confusion, Amber's nearly in tears and I'm telling bad jokes to lighten the mood. Sky doesn't appreciate my humor, but our nurse Barbee was a fan. After some fluids and a Popsicle, the IV is removed and I hear a sigh of relief come from the boy. This is our first bout of silence in the afternoon. These were few and far between for the next few hours. This went on and on over the next 4 hours. We waited for the drugs to wear off, then for the new drugs to kick in.

The physical therapist shows up with two boots and a pair of crutches. Skyler now weighs about 30 to 40lbs more with the cast. So I'm lifting the child, who is bare assed, up in the air and trying to have him walk with crutches. I'll give you a moment to look at the pictures, then piece together how this might be possible... The entire time we're trying to help him make steps, he's reaching around to cover his bottom, which is sticking straight up and out of the back of his gown as we attempted to enter the hallway. I gave the therapist a look that said, "are you kidding me, get this child a wheel chair, and bring me a vallum." As i get him back into bed and promise to work with him at home, she rushes off to obtain a wheel chair.

And on it went, 2 hour wait for the chair to arrive, Ted Kennedy has a seizure, the bed nurse sings "Amazing Grace."

The car ride home was brief and uncomfortable. Amber had to ride in the back with Sky, as his foot was in the door by only centimeters. But what a relief i felt when we pulled into the drive. Sky was relieved to come inside and find his hospital bed, decked out with his sheets, pillows and assortment of stuffed pals, 3 of which are called Doggie. Grandma and Grandpa has prepared the room for his arrival. Balloons await, tied to bars of chocolate. He slips right into his role, demanding his Gameboy, then a drink, then his pee bottle. it was an hour in when the pain meds wore off. After they were administered, he was more comfortable again.

I believe the first day must be the hardest. As hims muscles lengthen, the discomfort will subside and we can put away the medication. We made a great attempt at reducing our TV intake prior to this happening, and I hope that this will continue into the coming weeks. Selective TV watching is the key.

It's 10:15 and he's off to sleep. It took several adjustments of his bed to find the right spot. I will soon follow suit. Gato has found her place between his legs...

until tomorrow