Our little patient is doing pretty well, all in all. She is tapering off the prescription pain-killer, resting a lot, and doing her best to fill up on foods with no substance. Good times.
Backing up to the actual surgery day . . .
When the nurse called Sarah back to the procedure room, I gave her a quick hug and settled in for the wait. After about 10 seconds, the receptionist who had been watching me said, “You can go back with her if you want.” Then she added with a smile, “I saw the look on your face.”
Was I that obvious? I guess so!
When I got back to the room, Sarah was ensconced comfortably in the Scary Chair. (Which is what I silently dubbed it.)
She dutifully read the list of risks including cheery notes about nerves being permanently cut and the rare chance that she might wake up in the middle of the procedure. Nothing like a bit of light reading to start things off with a flourish.
The instruments were all ready . . .
and the surgeon arrived for a pre-procedural chat. (And also to examine her teeny tiny veins.)
That was my cue to vamoose back to the waiting room. I am very good at waiting in waiting rooms. And also vamoosing.
She was completely done in about twenty minutes. When they brought me back to her room, she was lolling in a wheelchair, eyes glazed, mouth open, pale and traumatized-looking. Turns out though, that while her body was moving a little slow, her brain was moving at its usual top speed. As soon as we got out to the car, she whipped out her phone, pulled up an app that translates typed text into speech and started typing questions and comments.
I had to smile at my high-tech girl as I had a spirited conversation with her phone.
When we got home she lay down a few minutes and then got her ice packs in place by inserting them into a scarf and holding it all on with an ear warmer.
She posted this picture on FB and then added,
I don’t know if anyone has noticed the green cap of a water bottle on top of my head. Mom and I were sitting in the kitchen, wondering where the cap of the bottle I had been drinking was. I have no proof of this, but I think someone sitting in the nearby living room overheard this conversation, found the bottle cap, and sneaked it onto my head as he walked by. I only discovered its presence about ten minutes later when I saw myself in a mirror. Since I still lack any incriminating evidence, I won’t identify this suspect, but his name starts with a Steve and ends with a Smith.
From the back it looked just like we had a rabbit in the kitchen.
When she sat down to drink some (cooled off) tea and a magazine. I told her that she looked like a lady of leisure, so she struck a Lady of Leisure pose for me.
She posted this photo on Facebook yesterday with the comment,
“One more hour of applying frozen veggies to my face. Then Chipmunk Sarah will emerge in all her glory.”
(Note: I know peas and corn make better ice packs but the only small size of frozen veggies they had was green beans.)
Last evening was hard for her. The pain increased quite a bit and she got very uncomfortable. It did my mama heart no good to see the echoes of the suffering from earlier years. I’ve seen those eyes filled with pain too many times to count.
At least this suffering is temporary and easily fixed with time and rest.
Today she is feeling like she is on the mend. She posted this photo with the comment:
“Chipmunk Sarah has arrived. Watch out, Chip and Dale.” (She was wearing the hat because she was cold.)
Nice to know our own personal chipmunk (AKA Rabbit in the Kitchen) has only lost a couple of teeth—and not her sense of humor.
So glad she’s on the mend! She’ll be as good as new in no time! 🙂
How’s are you feeling Sarah? Don’t you have a colonoscopy coming up? My dad said that topping off the “prep” w/ a splash of Mountain Dew makes it more palatable (our GI doc prefers vodka—obviously he was kidding–we think) ! Because I’m mostly tube fed, I get to skip the drinking & run it through my j-tube….guess I found a positive to a feeding tube!
Meghan, how are you doing on modified (partial??) bed rest? Will you be able to pop into school on the last day or two for part of the day? You’re due in June, right? You look great despite not feeling 100%!
Take care, ALL!
Jodi,
Yes, Sarah does have a colonoscopy coming up but we’re going to wait until after Madi is born to get it scheduled since we don’t want Sarah to be mid-prep when the call comes. 🙂
Bed rest is doing the job for Meagan, slowing those contractions down. And I agree. She DOES look great!
Glad you found one upside to your feeding tube; I love your positive thinking. 🙂
so glad it is over and done with and that Sarah is on the mend..
never thought about dividing the peas into smaller bags? 🙂
glad green beans worked, and that Summer was a faithful bit of warmth.
Sarah is such a trooper. Glad to see she is on the mend. The swelling doesn’t look too bad at all.
Nice pictorial Becky! Glad to hear she is on the mend. I am sure she is glad THAT’s over!!!!
Glad she is better and you, too. Looks cute with the scarfs around her. Noticed Summer there with her to give comfort.
so precious. Glad you are feeling better. I hope you reconsidered and are taking the weekend off work
Trooper, she is. Signed, Yoda.
When you talked about the ice packs, all I could think was, “Thank goodness there was more than just cauliflower in freezer bags available!” She looks adorable as a rabbit. (And as about everything else, too!)
I highly recommend sherbet; it’s cold so it feels good, and it tastes good, too! Keep on mending, Sarah!
Cutest. Chipmunk. Ever!! Glad you’re on the mend Sarah! 🙂