Wren Surgery Update

Wren's surgery went well!  Thank you ALL for your prayers!!!  Your prayers for protection for Wren, for traveling mercies, for a successful surgery, for all the details!!!  THANK YOU!   We wondered ....... how she would do with not eating until 1:00pm.  But she was able to drink until 10:00am.  Huge Blessing.  We had an eye exam for both of them at 9:15 so that was another distraction.  Wren still has to patch one eye for 2-4 hours every day for another 2 months:(  We found out Iley is SERIOUSLY near sighted!!!  Her eye prescription is -9.0 on one side, and -8.5 on the other!!! Yikes!  How is she even functioning?  I think her glasses she has now are like -1.75, hardly anything!  

While we are in the eye doctor the hospital called and wondered if we could get there a little early, I guess they had an earlier opening.  So we are rushing around to get there in good time, every thing is looking good.  I check out, Troy is loading the girls....we head off making good time....cruising along...... AND THEN.......thlunk thlunk thlunk.......we have a tire blow out on the highway!!  We are about 6 minutes from the hospital and we are STUCK!  I mean really stuck.  The spare tire is a perfectly good spare tire, and it is with us ......BUT....it has to be saw zawed out!  This is a known fact about this year of Suburban!  Just a bit of an issue!!!  So Troy calls a friend he knows in the area.....and I start praying!  I DID!  I just said, "God you know where we are and where we need to be.  If we are supposed to be to surgery on time, and it's your will that Wren have surgery today, PLEASE send someone to help us quick!  And Lord you know our budget is stretched and we can't afford a huge towing bill.  PLEASE help!  in Jesus name, AMEN"  We have 15min. to get to the hospital to NOT be late.  It wasn't 5 minutes later that Roadside assistance pulled up behind us!!  I'm not joking!   He loaded me and the girls up and transported us to the hospital.  On the way he's asking me questions about the girls, and what we are doing etc.  I was totally calm....it was crazy!  I did some serious "witnessing:)"  I also told him exactly what I prayed, and that I felt like God sent him to us!  I think I about made him cry:)  He was so sweet.  He helped me get the girls and the car seats in the hospital, and stayed till we were checked in past security......Then he hugged the girls....and I said I want to hug YOU too...and then he left.  Troy said he came back and parked behind him with his lights on till the wrecker truck got there.  Thank you Lord for  your protection!!!  So while we are gone, Troy is making arrangements with his friend "THANK YOU DAN F!!!!!"  Who leaves work and comes straight over to help!!  He has AAA......SO he used that to call the wrecker truck, and we didn't have to pay for that!  We did put 4 new tires on before we left town......but that needed done anyway.  So once again...Thank you LORD for taking care of us!!!  And Thank you Dan for being such a good friend!!!  And thank you mystery man (can you believe I didn't even ask his name!) You were our "Jesus with skin on" today! 

Now Dad.......aren't you glad you didn't know all that yesterday:)

So while Troy is taking care of the car....I'm at the hospital answering a million questions and keeping an  eye on these two.  I managed to snap a couple of pictures.

 The nurse was worried they'd tip over.....I made Iley get down......good thing she doesn't see these two at home!

 Traffic Jam!

 Poor little Honey!  I slept with her like this all night........correction.....I lay with her all night.....she slept fitfully.......I dosed off and on.  Then she woke up at 4am....for good.:(  Thank goodness for the Disney channel!!  She watched.....I dozed.   She had already slept 5 hrs during surgery, so the nurses warned me this was likely!  

Bathroom trips were interesting...pulling our IV pole, and carrying her, and trying to keep everything out of the toilet!...gown strings and corners, and loose cords...she was too woozy to even walk....whew!  She would sit and just lean on me....making it a little hard to wipe her.  Sorry if that's too much info:)  Just giving all the details!

This is the next morning....she still looks just a little woozy!

Iley kept loading the puke bucket with all the gifts!  I had to dump it a couple of times when Wren swallowed hard several times and we didn't know if things were coming up!!  She never did get sick:)  Yay!   These little monkeys came with Wrens implants.  They have cochlear implants that Velcro on:)  Cute.

Iley entertained herself during the 5 hours of surgery by playing in this little house........

 laying on the chairs........

 .....played......and played.....and played.....with "Wrens" balloon.......I decided another balloon would be a good investment.  This ended up being her balloon, and we got Wren another one like it.

 Backing up a little more.....this is waiting to see the eye doctor.

 NO IDEA what she's in for in just a few hours....or why we had no breakfast!!  Such a trusting little soul!  and you know.... she still doesn't know "why" we did this to her!  But she's not mad, and still loves us!  AMAZING!  If we only trusted God like that!  Even when we don't understand....and it seems like it doesn't make sense.......and it hurts.....just trust that it's for our good.

Backing up a little more......this is on the way to KC.

 This is at the hotel...night before surgery.

 Yes the phones are unplugged!  otherwise....who knows what room service would bring up, 911 might arrive......or an angry neighbor down the hall.......

She's been doing pretty well today too.  Definitely not totally herself, but not fussing much.

 

 While some drank milk with a straw........

 Others tried less healthy options........for those interested.....he says it worked?? 

 She was picking out all the marshmallows!

 Putting "the white door" to good use:) You see it's also the closest option to put some one in front of before they head out the door!  They don't have to go anywhere...just stop and stand still...see...painless!

Some randomness.......the one on the left.....silly putty.  I looked at it and thought it was a clementine!  When I walked closer.....silly putty!  strange color for putty! 

 Here is the putty again.....the reason I brought it up at all:)

This is all the "equipment" to enable Wren to hear!  Two little things on her ears come in these huge boxes!  we wer instructed to not even open them for fear of losing something before activation day!  Just bring them with you!  YES SIR!

 Glad to see brother Thatcher this morning.

 The unveiling.......she wanted her bandages off!  but when we took them off and she saw her ouchies...she wanted them back on!

 He looks like he's saying....."you're going to  play basket ball in those"

Harrison......hovering!

 She crawled up here herself and went right to sleep!  That's how you know she's not herself!  She is a very subdued little tigger!

 Of course Dad needed a hat.

 Others in the house....are NOT so subdued!  Iley was standing on her head on the chair!

Ready.......

 Set.....

 UP.......

 and OVER.........oops!  Don't worry, she landed on her feet.

 Look mom!  No Hands!

 She was on a roll!!  Her poor heart isn't going to know which direction it's supposed to be pumping!

Wren Pre Surgery

For all my prayer warriors.......please pray for Wren's surgery tomorrow.  She is supposed to be at the hospital at 12:00 noon, for prep work, then scheduled for surgery at 1:00.  Please pray for her safety, the surgeon (Dr. Cullen), for a successful outcome, for her peacefulness coming out of sedation!!!  Last time was a bit rough and wild, and she will have stitches on both sides of her head this time.  Please pray that she will have some understanding of "why" we are doing this to her, and not be mad at us:)   We are praying all of this, and trusting God with the final outcome.  Thank you for lifting Wren up in prayer to her heavenly father....who after all.....loved her first......and loves her most.

Physical # 3

So I get an email from my audiologist this morning wondering if Wren's had a physical yet before surgery.  I'm like.......YOU'RE KIDDING ME RIGHT!  This child has had 2 physicals, 2 MRI's, a spinal tap, a brain metabolism test, has been seen by a neurologist, an infectious disease team, a pediatric optometrist, an ENT, numerous blood tests.....all to tell us she's perfectly healthy.....and now she needs to be seen by our family doctor????  The answer.....well yes......she has to have a physical within 30 days of being sedated.  End of discussion.  So I have to take my child for the 3rd physical in 5 months!   ....and guess what?  SHE'S perfectly healthy!!! In fact she's grown an inch and gained 4lbs since she's been home!!  I personally don't think it's quite this much since the first time she had summer clothing, and light sandals, and this time she had leggings and a heavier skirt and tennies on.  But she has grown!  And she IS healthy. No surprise there.

She looks as rebellious as I felt!

And once again....I pull her from school, hurry to get there on time, walk in and there is one other person in the waiting room.....and we wait for 30minutes???? why????  And they've conveniently removed all the toys from the waiting room so there is NOTHING for kids to do??  Except check out the pottie here, and try out the water fountain.........WHY???   Oh Bother as Pooh would say....or maybe Charlie Brown.."Good Grief"

 Waiting........

 ....spinning and waiting......

 Looking at a magazine.....and waiting.......

 Checking out how this thing operates.........and waiting..........

Along with trying to pull out the rubber gloves, get down the blood pressure cuff, pull out the foot extension, crawl up and down off of the bed several times, and up and down off of mom several times, push the swivel seat across the room.....banging in to the door....I think it was shortly after this that they finally came in!

 This was a quick snap of Iley just before leaving for school.  Wren wouldn't cooperate, and I didn't want to send her off mad to school, so I didn't force the issue.  The blue guy stayed home.

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October 2, 2012 By nohandsbutours Leave a Comment

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Sunday No Nap

We used to take Sunday afternoon naps.  Now we have Sunday No Naps!  Dad was hopeful I think, but it didn't look too restful to me.

 Launching pad? Dance floor?

 Oh look!  We even have a mega phone to help with the peacefulness of the nap! As if this child needed anything to further project her voice!!

 Monday morning headed in to school.  I think Wren pays too much attention to how her brothers carry their bags!  Ya think?

 At this point on the walk.....they grab hands.....every. single. day:)

 Had to come back out for a drink.

 And to check out the artwork across the hallway.

When they first get there every day, they practice writing their names.  Mrs. Betz(seated) writes it in highlighter, and then they trace it till the last page where they have to write it free hand.  They are improving.....but it's still pretty shaky looking!  Wrens sign language teacher Mrs. Kay, is standing.   The other teacher Mrs. Hargitt has her back to us.  She has been working there for as long as I can remember as well!   These ladies do an awesome job every day!!  They truly deserve medals!  They are MY heroes for sure:)  Thanks ladies!  I know your job isn't easy some days!

 After school snack time.  Salsa with sour cream mixed in and chips.  Sherman fixed it and sat down with it, and immediately had company!    There was No...."hey can I share that"...nope.....just scoot my chair as close as possible and dive in!  Wren tries everything......

 ......Iley opted out of the salsa and stuck to straight carbs........ unadulterated!

 Bedroom update.  If you remember.....it started out like this.  Very cute....looks like a nice bedroom....BUT...that's a long drop to the floor for 2 girls that were used to sleeping in cribs......so after they graduated from their floor bed in the den beside our room....up to this room....

we turned the bed.....and them.....like this.  Not beautiful...but it worked......until...they started waking each other up!!  NOT GOING TO WORK!!!  We need them to sleep!!!  Soooo....

Now....it looks like this.   This is walking straight in the door.  The beds are to the left....the only wall without a window or door!  This is NOT my wall paper of choice for a girls room....but it was there..and stuck tight.....and my decorating budget has been ENTIRELY swallowed by my medical budget.....soooo....sailboats it is.

 Corner "headboard" all painted and installed.  Nice safe floor beds that won't cause concussions if they fall out.....may not even wake them up......and Iley rocking in the wee hours of the morning, won't wake up Wren.  I'm thinking after Wren's surgery, this will be good too!  Iley can't whack her in the night.

 I'm thinking...... I hope they don't look at that and see "LAUNCHING PAD!"  Give Wren time.....I'm sure she will!  I will hear thumps and cackles....because they don't realize that nice little do hicky on the corner stand is a nursery moniter...and I hear all.........then I'll have to go be the party stopper!

Then if you head back out the door....you see this.  What would you all suggest to put on the walls??  They are busy.......but bare.  Any suggestions?  Or just leave it alone?  They really don't care.  They're 5.  I did think about putting some family pictures, or some pictures from the trip to the beach up.  Big canvas ones.....but.....that costs $.......so ?