second time around

Yesterday morning started very early, just like we like Lucas' surgeries to start. We left our home at 4:30 for a 6 AM arrival time. By 8:10, Lucas was being taken back to the operating room. It was 4 hours... 4 long hours before we would see him again. Nate and I decided to go to the cafeteria and grab some breakfast, because we knew it would be a long morning.

We returned to the waiting room before 9 AM, just in time for our first nurse update. During the second update we got, she reminded us that she wouldn't be entering the OR from that point on because of the ear being exposed, and the risk of germs. She got a thumbs up from the surgeon though, so we took that as good news. At around 10:30 AM, we spoke with the audiologist who tested the implant. He reported that it was working great and the surgeon was just closing up. We got some relief from that news. Around 11 AM we saw the surgeon. He said that surgery went as expected - he was able to get a full electrode insertion, but he also hit a CSF gusher, just like last time. He was not surprised by it. Luckily, he was able to manage and control it quickly, so it shouldn't be a problem.

After we spoke with the surgeon, he told us that they were taking an x-ray (to make sure the implant was placed properly), and then they were going to do the heart echo. Yes, another heart echo. Because of Lucas's heart condition, he has a heart echo every 6 months. He had one in June, during his trigger thumbs surgery, so I decided to call his cardiologist and inquire as to whether he wanted to do another echo under sedation. He decided it was a good idea, so we scheduled another "two-fer". Hopefully we'll get a good report.

We got to see Lucas around noon, and he was discharged at 1:00. We were surprised that Lucas's head was not wrapped, like it was last time. They wanted him to be able to wear his processor, so they didn't wrap it. I was concerned that his incision was exposed and that he would pick at it, but so far, so good. It is well sealed with Dermabond.

Lucas never really woke up before we left, and he slept the whole way home. The nurse said he only needed to be "wakeable", which he was. She kind of rushed us out of there. We were worried that he would throw up on the way home, but he saved that until he got home, but certainly made up for it. The anesthesiologist gave him "double" anti-nausea medication, but it definitely wore off by the afternoon. Lucas slept on and off the entire afternoon/evening, only being awake for about 10 minutes at a time... long enough to beg for juice and crackers, throw it back up, and go back to sleep.

The discharge instructions said to call the ENT resident if Lucas threw up 3 or more times at home, so I did. She was very nice, and called in an anti-nausea medication to our local pharmacy. We couldn't give Lucas his pain medication or antibiotic if he was just going to throw it back up! CVS told us it would be an hour before the prescription would be ready, so I gave them my "sob" story, and they had it ready in 20 minutes. I'm glad I spoke up. We gave him the med, but didn't wait long enough to give him food/drink/medicine, so he threw it up anyway. But, that was the last time (7:30 PM) he has thrown up, and he ate pretty well today.

He actually slept through the night, but with me sleeping next to him, and both of us on the floor of his bedroom. I set up a little bed area for me, and he wouldn't leave my side, so that's how we slept. He woke up at 6:45 AM, and went strong all day, playing, walking and running. I have not noticed any increased balance issues or dizziness, so we're really grateful for that. I'm very happy to report that Lucas is pretty well back to normal.

Yesterday we really felt the effects of major surgery, but today you would barely know it. Other than the fact that Lucas would not take a nap today, even after 2 consecutive car rides during which he fell asleep, he had a great day. He expressed to me that his ear hurt when he woke up this morning. I was surprised that he was able to express that to me so well, but also very thankful.

Yesterday was no walk in the park. My stress and anxiety were really high. I couldn't concentrate on anything for more than 3 minutes at a time. I spent a lot of time pacing, and updating my Facebook status on Nate's iPhone, which is time consuming because it's not my phone. Several day surgery staff told us that we looked familiar. You know you're there too often when... This surgery was just different than the other surgeries though. We knew what we were in for, we knew what we were up against, and we knew what we had to lose. So far, the outcome has been as good as we could have asked for, minus the gusher. We are unbelievably thankful for that, and attribute it greatly to all of our wonderful local family/friends and our worldwide CI friends, who were praying for and thinking of our little Lucas. With 5 surgeries, 2 sedated MRIs and 3 hospitalizations in less than 3 short years, we're hoping this is our last major procedure for a long time.

Lucas's incision site looks great right now, and I believe it will heal quickly. The N5 implant is remarkably less noticeable on his head than the Freedom. I can barely feel it! The Freedom protrudes. The N5 looks much for comfortable. But what do I know.

Now the countdown begins! Activation is scheduled for December 9! At that time, he will get 2 N5 processors (one intended for back-up), but he'll wear them on each ear! He'll then have the Freedoms as back-ups. He'll be hearing with 2 ears before his 3rd birthday and before Christmas! YAY!

I've Arrived!

I received my first THREE negative comments over the weekend and feel compelled to share a note with someone who likes to call themselves "Anonymous":

Dear Anonymous,

I may not know you're name, but I do know where you live and that you spent over 10 hours on my blog on Saturday. Thank you so much for visiting, but 10 hours? I didn't think what I had to say was all that interesting and I can't help but wonder what responsibilities you neglected while you were leaving nasty comments on my blog.You are a repeat visitor too.

I really appreciate your insight and well thought out responses [insert eye roll here] to my posts, Green With Envy regarding my jealousy towards my sister for going to a taping of the Oprah Winfrey Show and Ebony & Ivory, also about my sister, our relationship and 11 year age gap.

I have never moderated my comments before they are posted and have never deleted one that I didn't agree with. Oh, I take that back, I did delete Leah's on Ebony & Ivory, but featured it yesterday in it's entirety.

I always try to answer specific questions or provide further clarification when asked, either in the form of a personal e-mail to the commenter, an update post on the topic or in my own comment for all to read. Hard to do that when I don't who you are, so I'm doing it this way.... your very own post! :)

Anonymous, please don't judge me or insult me on my own blog, but if you must don't cowardly stand behind "Anonymous". It's really unbecoming. If you're going to be negative, you should have the balls to use your name.

That is all. Thanks, again for visiting! I really do feel like I've arrived now.

xoxo

long day

Here's the short version... tomorrow I will write a longer post. Hopefully Lucas will be feeling better then, and I will have gotten some rest.

It's been a very long, rather stressful, but successful day. We are home. We were discharged at 1 PM. The surgeon was able to fully insert the N5 electrode array, and it is working appropriately. It's been a long afternoon/evening though, because Lucas has not been able to keep anything down. He wants to eat anything and everything, but much to his dismay, he can't. I'm happy to report that he can walk though, although he's a little bit wobbly from the anesthesia. I hope he has a good night, and I'll write more tomorrow. Thanks for all of the prayers and well wishes.