Surgery Numero Uno

Alexander in his Looney Toons hospital gown pre-surgery

Life and parenthood is unpredictable yet again.  In preparation for the first surgery, I think Mommy and Daddy were the most worried about the fact that Alexander was not supposed to eat anything between midnight and 7:30 (surgery start time) on Thursday morning.  He usually has two 4oz bottles (at least) between these times.  Plus, the longest he has ever gone without eating before this point was about 5 hours.  So, we came up with a plan to help ease this hunger and were prepared for the worst.  Little did we know that this would be the easiest part of the next 3 days.

Alexander went down for a nap around 6pm on Thursday evening.  We thought he would wake up to eat around 9 and then we could feed him again at 12am to give him as much as possible before his fast.  We were wrong.  (Alexander loves to change our plans and sometimes (like this time) the change is for the better.)  He didn't wake on his own from his "nap."  We had to wake him up from a sound sleep 5 and 1/2 hours later at 11:30pm.  We showed Grandma Gayle how much he loves bathtime before we gave him a large bottle.  We all went to bed hoping that he wouldn't be too loud when he started screaming for food in the morning. 

We needed to leave the house at 5am.  Alexander started stirring at 4:30am, perfect timing.  He fussed a little but didn't seem like he was starving yet.  He cried a little louder as we packed him up and buckled him into his car seat.  He fell back asleep on the way to the hospital.  We checked in, changed him into his Looney Toons hospital gown and set in our "room" to wait for the doctors.  The nurse checked all his vitals and he was awake and smiley most of the morning.  Final at 7am, he realized that he was hungry.  Mommy took him for a walk around the hospital floor and he calmed down by 7:15am.  That was all the crying he did.

Last family photo before surgery

We met with the doctor and handed Alexander off with the nurse at about 7:45am.  We had been told that it would be about a 30 minute surgery, so it was quite unnerving for Grandma Gayle, Mommy and Daddy to still be in the waiting room close to 9am.  Finally, the doctor came in to tell us that it went well.  There had been a delay because the drill didn't match the bits and they had to get a different drill from the other hospital. 

We headed back to the "room" where the nurse brought him back to us.  You could tell his mouth was sore, and he was still very groggy from the anethesia.  His mouth/nose was kinda bloody, but he wasn't really hungry or very fussy.  They wanted to watch his vitals for 2 hours before we could leave.  We tried to feed him, but a nipple (or anything) in his mouth was the last thing he wanted.

Chillin' with his panda the hospital gave him, just waiting for the doctors to come.

Our preacher came by to visit and Alexander seemed happy to see him until the end of the conversation and Alexander had a bit of a screaming fit.  Some pain medicine helped him calm down and try to sleep off the pain.  By noon, we were ready to go home, but Alexander was not himself.

Even at home, he didn't want to eat, needed more pain medicine and slept a lot.  By Friday night, we were starting to worry that he had only had 4-10oz in two days when he normally eats 28oz per day.  We called some of our wonderful supporters for help and had an in-home appointment for Saturday.  Finally, with tube feeding, Alexander was able to get a full belly around 1pm on Saturday.  Two more feedings straight to the stomach on Saturday helped him rehydrate and start to turn the corner.  After several hours of sleep, he ate 2oz via the bottle at 3am for Daddy and another 3oz from his bottle at 8am on Sunday for Mommy.

Sunday for lunch, he had 5 whole ounces from his bottle and had some fun play time.  Finally, he is back to himself.  He's laughing, smiling, playing, eating, pooping and sleeping in between.  He's such a tough guy and barely needs any more pain medicine.  It might take a day or more to get back to his normal 28oz, but he's already looking and acting great!  It was a rough couple of days for everyone, but we are so glad it was only a couple of days.

Grandma Gayle and Uncle Marcus have headed back to their homes, Nana and Bumpa are on their way back to Lubbock and I think we will get ready and go to our church's Fall Festival.

Talking with Uncle Marcus that weekend

Three Months

I apologize to the very few people who try to keep up with this blog that it has not been updated in well over a month.  So much to say, plenty to write about and many photos to post.  Yet, I never find the time to blog.  You might think that having an infant is my excuse, but it is not.  I get so busy at work and am on the computer all day, so when I get home and have family time, I never turn my computer on.  I blame it on my wonderful I-pod touch.  I check all my mail, look a Facebook and get updated, but blogging and typing in general isn't really worth the time so I don't write e-mails or blog much.

The weekends have been busy, but this weekend is just relaxing and having fun with the cutest baby in the world.

So, where to start with all that has happened since Labor Day weekend??

Nana and Bumpa arrived Septmeber 10th and have been having fun everyday with Alexander.  It is so nice to have someone at the house and teaching Alexander so many things everyday.  Nana makes sure Alexander is talking and having good tummy time while Bumpa makes sure he works on his laugh and smile.

Mommy and Daddy have both gone back to work full-time and been super busy with Fall activities.  Alexander has visited Texas Tech campus a few times.  He's been to dinner with the Interfraternity Council, celebrated a Syrian's 30th birthday and seen the cultures of the world at Culture Day in CMLL.

Grandpa Mickey turned 60 at the end of September.  We all went to Amarillo to surprise him with a birthday party.  Alexander got to meet his Great Aunts Robin and Debbie and many other great family members.

Alexander still doesn't love the camera.  But that doesn't stop anyone from taking pictures of him.  Also, in September, we did the vows of Christian Parenthood at our church.  Alexander received his very first Bible.

Alexander had his first shots at 2 months old and will have his first cleft procedure next week.  More to come.  Now to change a very, very full and stinky diaper.