Updates

Savannah has come a long way since her surgery. She started out horrible and completely inconsolible for the first week after her surgery. She was in pain a lot, and she was constantly fussy and difficult to deal with on a daily basis. We thought she was going to be like this the whole six weeks, but thankfully she's recently taken a turn for the better.

One week ago today, she woke up a completely different child. She was much happier, smiling much more, and appeared to accept her situation a lot better. She was suddenly more alert, happy, and wanting to play in her spica table. I didn't know if it was just a fluke she was having a good day or if it would continue in the days to follow, but we were happy and just counted our blessings. Fortunately, that day was the start of many more "good" days.

Savannah's Cast

Savannah's cast is going to be the same as the one she had before. I was so hopeful it would be different this time, somehow easier, that I just lost it when the nurse told me. My eyes are puffy from crying so much this morning.

I am taking her to the pediatrician this afternoon to make sure she doesn't have an ear infection since she's been pulling at her eyes and telling me it hurts. It could be her teeth since her top eye teeth are still trying to come though, but we can't chance it with the surgery coming up in a few days. I hope it's nothing because I really don't want to reschedule her surgery. I just want to get it over with ya know.

Surgery is scheduled for Feb 12 at 9:45 am. We will be heading to LR the morning of Feb 11 for a final physical to make sure she's all cleared for surgery. We will be staying in the Ronald McDonald House that night. I have got to start packing today sometime. My packing list from my last post has grown. I am just ready for it all to be over. :(

Preparing for Surgery 2

The following is a list of things that we will be needing before and after Savannah's surgery. Some of these things we already have, and some of them I'll have to buy.

Hospital List is as follows: binkies, bottles, pediasure, ankle socks, lotion, Valentine's Day book, diaper cream, winter hat and jacket, other clothes, wipes, toothpaste, toothbrush, hairbrush, Lysol, and Germ-x.

Home list is as follows: disposable bibs, stroller, duct tape, hospital scissors, spica table, beanbag, vusion cream, mupiroxin ointment, vaseline, Motrin, Tylenol, pillow (for bath), bath sponge, thermometer, foam shampoo, scotch ape, medical tape, and brown padding the hospital will give us. `

I know there is more, but this is all I can think of right now. I know it looks like I am adding a lot of unnecessary things, but believe it or not, most of it is actually going to be needed for various reasons. The Valentine's Day Book is something I am giving her for Valentine's Day. She will more than likely still be in the hospital on Valentine's Day which sucks! The Lysol and Germ-x that's on the hospital list is to use everywhere in that hospital because the last time we all came home with the stomach flu. Imagine trying to deal with a child in a body cast for the first time that has the stomach bug. It was NOT fun, and I am out to try to prevent it this time. I at least have to try right? All the different creams are to treat her diaper region hemangioma in an attempt to prevent ulceration due to the cast.

It's really overwhelming because there is just so much to still get done around the house, not to mention I have to go shopping for some of the stuff we will be needing, but first I have to take an inventory to figure out what I already have. Yeah I know I still have three weeks, but I just like to get things done ahead of time. It doesn't help that I am having to plan a birthday party for the little monkey right in the middle of all this, thus another reason I just want the surgery planning and preparations out of my way. I am going to enjoy her birthday and her party, and I want her to have the best birthday a 2 year old can have! I might go pick up a few things today, but it just depends on how the rest of the day goes..we'll see!

Preparing for Surgery 1

There is so much to do to prepare for Savannah's surgery. We worked on re-arranging her bedroom today to help accommodate her and me while she is in her cast. I wanted her changing table/dresser closer to her bed, so I didn't have to run back and forth to get all the supplies I need to change her diapers and padding. The last time, we had 2 different size diapers, medical scissors, medical tape, scotch tape, poise pads, and another kind of tape like stuff we were instructed to use around the edges of her cast. Not to mention all the vaseline, diaper creams, etc, that I have to keep handy to try and prevent diaper rash and ulceration of her hemangioma while in her cast. All this stuff was either on or in her changing table/dresser, and it will be the same this time around. That's why I don't want it across the room from where I will be changing her diapers.

We are also thinking of putting a twin sized bed in her room for one of us to sleep on at night. Since Savannah normally sleeps with us, and it's already crowded in our bed, I don't think there's anyway we are all three going to fit comfortably in our bed, so somebody will have to use the twin bed while the baby and the other person sleeps in our bed. We will probably alternate so that we each get a fair amount of nights in our own bed.

I actually made a list of everything we are going to need to get for the day of the surgery and for after the surgery when we get back home. I couldn't sleep one night after we found out, so I made a list on my notebook on my cell phone until I finally fell asleep. I am going to devote a whole new entry for my lists because this one is long enough. I want to write it somewhere besides my cell phone for my own records. I will probably do that tomorrow sometime.

I am going to bed now and I am going to try to get some sleep. There's just so much to do, and my brain is going 90 to nothing if you KWIM! I am sleepy though, so I think I can actually sleep tonight.