Update on Surgery

Sorry it took so long to get back on here. We left on Monday for Atlanta, surgery on Tuesday, brought my boys home Friday...boy this week flew by!

Now the update - Riley was such a tough guy going into surgery. We discovered several surgeries ago that Versed(drug given to children to make them a little loopy before procedures) was not a good or necessary idea for Riley. It made the wake up and recovery FAR worse. Anyway, with no drugs or tears our brave little man went back to surgery. Reportedly he did as daddy suggested and asked everybody "what's up doc?". I know corny but cute all at the same time! We were then taken to the waiting room where everyone else was. When I say everyone that would be because altogether there were EIGHT people there to love and support us through this - GOD is great!
Since I hadn't had breakfast yet I went down to get some with Bro. Randall, Mrs. Edie and Bro. Bobby. When I returned to the waiting room Chester told me the nurse called just a couple minutes after I left to say they were getting started. I sat and talked and entertained Tate and then about 20 minutes later the phone in the waiting room was for us - the nurse said they were done. What? This surgery was supposed to take about 6 hours and it had barely been an hour. Was this good or bad? We were taken to the consult room and waited for the doctor. He came in and told us that he had expected this to be far more arduous (his word not mine), but that everything was right where he needed it to be and he didn't encounter any scar tissue like he had anticipated. Cool - Praise the Lord! Only God could take a six hour surgery and condense it to less than one!
Riley was only in recovery about 30 minutes - very short compared to his usual recovery times. He went straight to his room - no ICU for this boy. He was definitely feelin' a little weak but he was talking and doing good. He was doing well enough (and Tate not so much) that Chester and I decided it would be best for Tate and me to head on home. He does not do well out of his element. Spoiled? YES
Well, Regan and I went back to get Chester and Riley yesterday and all is well. He is a little sore, but on his way back to doing anything he wants to. We like the urostomy bag pretty good. A little funny though - last night when I was going to hook him up to his night bag (a first for me) I didn't hold the end up right and sprayed pee all over me and Riley's foot!
God is forever faithful to be there with us and to hold our hands through all that we have been through with Riley, but this time I just can't thank or praise Him enough!

Surgery

We've got surgery on Tuesday. We don't know what time yet, but probably first thing. We will finally be done with cathing and going to a urostomy bag. I have total peace about the decision and am completely fine about moving forward, but I can't help but wonder what life will look like on the other side of surgery this time. We thought surgery to cath that we had last summer would have been our last for a long time, but that didn't work out so here we are again.

We did have the benefit did I just say benefit? of Riley having a colostomy the first 18 months of his life, so we kinda know what to expect. I was really good at getting a good seal with his skin and keeping him from having skin breakdown and getting infections. The ostomy nurse at the hospital said I was better than alot of ostomy nurses she has worked with - not braggin' just sayin'. Anyway, I just wonder what life will look like for Riley. Will he be self conscious? Will it be hard to get clothes to fit? Will he still run and play like he does now? I know it will all work out, but I'm just ready to get to that point. Guess it's just the mama in me! Would ya please pray for us? We leave tomorrow for Atlanta and Riley will be admitted tomorrow afternoon. I plan to post on Facebook after surgery, and then here once we are home. Also, say a special prayer for Tate. He's going with us and he can be quite a high maintenance little handful.

Carry Your Load!

I've been called lots of things in my life - some of them flattering (some not so much), but one I gladly have given myself is task master! In our house we may not always keep things perfectly tidy or even relatively so, but we do have to keep up with the laundry! If not then the obvious happens - we were mismatched socks, shorts in the winter time, and other inappropriate attire (insert visual of ill-fitting turtlenecks in the springtime here). Well, me and the hubby don't do this alone...no sir...I didn't were all the clothes or dirty all the towels, so everybody must carry their own load, err weight! We don't discriminate for age or gender - we're an equal opportunity offender!

We begin with everyone dumping there dirty clothes in the middle of the living room floor. I know this isn't altogether practical for some, but this is our method and it works for us. There the clothes are sorted and the marathon of clothes washing begins. I usually sort, Coot washes, magic fairies fold them and put them away...yeah right. Well, just check out the pictures....

I said move that basket boy!

Fold those rags...she's really good at it. Willing to loan her out for the right price!

Tate's attempt at sorting. He was literally flinging them into piles like I do. Way to go son! So, that's us! It ain't always pretty but it gets the job done!

Father/Daughter Dance 2010

This was the first time Coot and Regan have ever attended the Father-Daughter dance. I am happy to report we intend to make this an annual event. They both had such a good time. Regan fell asleep on the way home, but by the time the got home she was wide awake and beaming from ear to ear. She told me all about how they did the "Cha-Cha Slide" and Daddy didn't even embarrass her too bad. I could tell this really meant a lot to her. I think they are gonna go on more "dates" together soon. Regan's excitement spilled over when she went to school the following Monday, because her teacher let her tell the whole class about it! Now for the pictures....

All together now....Ahhhhhh

Givin' smooches!

Oh yeah Riley was not left out. He not only ended up in some pictures, but he got to stay up with Mama after Tate was in bed. Now that's a big deal around this house!

We are so blessed!