It's official: Johnny no longer has an ostomy! But it wasn't going to go without a fight. This week has been the WORST for bag leaks. We changed two bags Saturday, one bag Sunday, one bag Monday, three bags Tuesday (that was a record), and then today, Thursday, this morning at the hospital about 30 minutes before operating time, the ostomy gave one last hurrah. All over my sweater. But it's done, over, I will never have to change another ostomy bag in my life. (though I still feel the need to knock on wood.)
It was a rough morning at home. The cut off time for feeding Johnny before surgery was 3:30 this morning. I nursed him then and we went back to sleep. But he woke up at 5:30 wanting to nurse, which we could not longer do. It is the worst feeling in the world to know your child is hungry and not be able to feed him. Alex tried to bounce him back to sleep but he wasn't having it, so we were up at 5:30, then checked into the hospital at 7:30. Johnny was pretty cranky, and it was hard for me to hold him because he just wanted nurse and we were both frustrated.
Surgery was scheduled for 9:00 am and lasted about about an hour. Johnny was away from us for about 3 hours total. They don't let parents back into the operating room with babies, so when it was time to go back the anesthesiologist carried him away. It's always a little sad for me to see Johnny being carried down the hall. He's a pretty brave little boy though!
Surgery went well! Johnny has a pretty big incision at the sight of the closure. Even though this procedure was not as complicated the anal reconstruction it will be a harder recovery. The anus is in a region of the body that just doesn't see a lot of action. You sit on it, but it stays pretty stationary, unlike his abdomen. Every time he twists or scrunches his stomach the sight of that closure is giving him some discomfort. He's had a couple of doses of morphine, but for the most part he's just on mild pain relievers. He's been pretty out of it and sleeping restlessly.
Now we are just waiting for a poop! We are told this will probably take a couple of days (although one of the docs told me there is another kid in for the same thing who has been waiting six days!!) Johnny can't have anything orally until we see that first stool. Not being able to nurse him has been the hardest thing for me. I know it would be such a comfort to him and help him sleep better. Last time I was nursing him within 5 hours of surgery. But now I have no idea when I will be able to nurse him next. I've got my pump along and am having some major flashbacks to our NICU days when the cycle of pumping, washing my pump parts, holding my baby, and eating something is all I do. It's not very much fun. They did say that if he really starts to perk up and if they are hearing bowl sounds, they might let him start nursing even though he hasn't pooped yet. We've smelled some gas! So that's a start!! Have you ever been so excited about gas? Probably not.
During each of our hospital stays I am always amazed by how, even though we're not really doing much, the days are so busy. There is always someone coming in our room or to check some piece of equipment that has gone off beeping. Alex and I have been watching the West Wing on Netflix (I know, I know, ten years late), and we had the very last two episodes left. We decided we would watch them and will all the interruptions it took us from 3:00 on the afternoon to 10:00 at night!
Alex and I have been so appreciative of all the prayers and support we've been getting from family and friends. I can definitely feel the peace of the Lord even in the midst of this stress and frustration. We'd love it if everyone could say a few prayers today for a big diaper blowout! that would be great!
More updates to come.
Thanks!
It was a rough morning at home. The cut off time for feeding Johnny before surgery was 3:30 this morning. I nursed him then and we went back to sleep. But he woke up at 5:30 wanting to nurse, which we could not longer do. It is the worst feeling in the world to know your child is hungry and not be able to feed him. Alex tried to bounce him back to sleep but he wasn't having it, so we were up at 5:30, then checked into the hospital at 7:30. Johnny was pretty cranky, and it was hard for me to hold him because he just wanted nurse and we were both frustrated.
Surgery was scheduled for 9:00 am and lasted about about an hour. Johnny was away from us for about 3 hours total. They don't let parents back into the operating room with babies, so when it was time to go back the anesthesiologist carried him away. It's always a little sad for me to see Johnny being carried down the hall. He's a pretty brave little boy though!
Surgery went well! Johnny has a pretty big incision at the sight of the closure. Even though this procedure was not as complicated the anal reconstruction it will be a harder recovery. The anus is in a region of the body that just doesn't see a lot of action. You sit on it, but it stays pretty stationary, unlike his abdomen. Every time he twists or scrunches his stomach the sight of that closure is giving him some discomfort. He's had a couple of doses of morphine, but for the most part he's just on mild pain relievers. He's been pretty out of it and sleeping restlessly.
Now we are just waiting for a poop! We are told this will probably take a couple of days (although one of the docs told me there is another kid in for the same thing who has been waiting six days!!) Johnny can't have anything orally until we see that first stool. Not being able to nurse him has been the hardest thing for me. I know it would be such a comfort to him and help him sleep better. Last time I was nursing him within 5 hours of surgery. But now I have no idea when I will be able to nurse him next. I've got my pump along and am having some major flashbacks to our NICU days when the cycle of pumping, washing my pump parts, holding my baby, and eating something is all I do. It's not very much fun. They did say that if he really starts to perk up and if they are hearing bowl sounds, they might let him start nursing even though he hasn't pooped yet. We've smelled some gas! So that's a start!! Have you ever been so excited about gas? Probably not.
During each of our hospital stays I am always amazed by how, even though we're not really doing much, the days are so busy. There is always someone coming in our room or to check some piece of equipment that has gone off beeping. Alex and I have been watching the West Wing on Netflix (I know, I know, ten years late), and we had the very last two episodes left. We decided we would watch them and will all the interruptions it took us from 3:00 on the afternoon to 10:00 at night!
Alex and I have been so appreciative of all the prayers and support we've been getting from family and friends. I can definitely feel the peace of the Lord even in the midst of this stress and frustration. We'd love it if everyone could say a few prayers today for a big diaper blowout! that would be great!
More updates to come.
Thanks!
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| A very groggy Johnny gets a visit from Grandma and Grandpa Shepperd |
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| This is our view. Not bad! |
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| FINALLY got Johnny to stay asleep in his crib. Note the pacifier. He never takes them, but he's so desperate to nurse he'll take it now. Poor baby. |