Shea's Surgery - Day One

"BEFORE"

"AFTER"

We are winding down on "day one".  He was very very brave going into surgery as you can see from the "before" picture.  Shea was in for 3 hours, and the doc is pleased with the outcome on the table.  He completed the bone graft / reshaping of the acetabulum.  The femur needed to be cut, the head of the femur rotated and then reaffixed with hardware, and he did tighten the hip capsule via stitching.  Our little man is on IV antibiotics, morphine, and NSAIDS.  His hip pain is well controlled, but he's fighting a nasty headache most of the day.  I'm hoping by morning they can decrease his morphine and I'm wondering if this will help eliminate his headache.  He is cathed, and has a blood drainage tube as well.  Urine output is a bit low...so they are keeping an eye on that.  I've been told he has "things" that need to be done at 11, 1, and 6 in regards to meds and input output measures...and also we are repositioning him every 2 hours through the night.  We will be busy!  The nurses have been great so far.  A big goal for tomorrow is to have the bedrest order lifted and get him up into a chair, as well as meet with the PT to go over details of the wheelchair order, and other details.  The puppy dogs have been great for propping various body parts...and I'm sure all the other stuffed friends at home will come in handy also.  I think a shopping run to buy some body pillows and a bean bag or two will also be in our near future.  Thanks for the kind words and prayers.  Also a special request...we've been talking to shea about the fact that this surgery will help his hip to "work better" but that he will still need leg braces and his walker to ambulate.  I'm hoping he understands this...many people have innocently spoken out loud about the fact that surgery will "help shea to walk on his own" and well you know little ears take it all in!!  He woke up today and said...mommy I need to walk.  I'm hoping that was just an expression of wanting to change positions and get out of bed, not a young mind misunderstanding the big picture.... guard his little heart and soul God... I'm sure you will.  Good night all... Good bye "day one".

gearing up .... 4 days until the surgery...

Well, it's been a whirlwind of a week.  To give you a hint, even though I only work 20 hours a week, there were so many doctors appointments scheduled, that I went out see patients on memorial day in order to fit the rest in!  I'm thankful it's friday for sure. 

Now that I'm finally sitting still I think my body is vibrating... not sure if that's residual from the frenzy of activity this week, or just a side effect of all the caffiene I needed to consume today to make up for my sleep deprivation and lightening speed appointment hopping!
    
Tuesday through Friday we had a marathon of 2 pre op lab visits, pre sug ortho appnt, 2 orthotist appnts for the spica brace, a 9 month pediatrician appnt for emily, and dan making a run to rochester to pick up the spica carseat.  Fanagling (how exactly do you spell that word anyhow?) emily via stroller, equiptment, shea via wheelchair and the diaper bags, and oh yes...heavy rain!

Who needs the gym?  I've got my kids!  Also as a general update...the bunkbeds are working out great so far!  All of our fears of the shenanigans that might have broken out were of no need.  PHEW!  We caught a break -

Also...baby emily started previcid, in hopes it may improve her night time sleep.  So far we've seen an improvement of waking 2-3 times at night rather than the 3-5... so maybe this will be the ticket?

Thanks to all for your prayers... we will take every one of them!