The Puddles

We just got our first report.  They just placed Ben on the heart-lung bypass machine.  It has taken most of this time to prepare Ben for the operation and to cut through all of the scar tissue. He is doing fine.  We will get another update in 2 more hours.  Hopefully at the next update we will hear if they were able to remove the membrane successfully and whether or not the valve needs to be replaced.  We will let you know more soon.

We arrived this morning early by 15 minutes (Thank you Mom for making sure that I was awake). Ben is in a good mood this morning eventhough we woke him up at 4:30am to give him a drink of sprite. Ben picked cherry for his flavoring today (medicine and breathing treatment). They gave him his medicine at 7:30am and he was happy. Very happy. So happy we really wanted him to share some of the good stuff. He didn’t. Darn.

After an excellent prayer by Pastor Mike B., they wheeled him back. After all of the drama about “the doors”, he didn’t even realize we had left him at the doors. Many tears were then shed. He is in excellent hands. Both God’s and the doctor’s.

We are just waiting to receive our first update. Thank you for the prayers. It is not over yet, so keep praying. He needs them.

Tomorrow we leave at 5:30am to go to the hospital for Ben’s surgery.  He took a tour of the hospital today and talked to the child-life specialist.  Besides the drama of all of the testing, the tour was the hardest.  The good news is that the entire cardiovascular waiting room areas have been redone and roomier and nicer than the last time.  The bad news is that Ben saw patients in the CVICU (not intentionally but on the way to see the empty room on the tour which just happened to be next door to the room Ben was in the last time) and other kids and I think that it made it real.  One of the jobs that the child-life specialist gave Ben for tomorrow is to say good-bye to mom and dad at the double doors (this is when he leaves to go to the surgery).  He absolutely does not want to be separated from mom and dad and go back to the operating room alone.  He will start to stare out and get grumpy and then he says that he is sad about “you know.”  When asked what that is, he says, “THE DOORS. THE DOORS.”

I know that everything will be ok, but I hate to see my boy hurt and scared.  Right now he is very scared.  Tomorrow morning will not be any easier.  There is a light at the end of the tunnel.  A few days of difficulty and road will become better.  But getting there is hell.

Today Ben goes in for pre-op.  It is 5:00am.  If you know me at all, I don’t do 5:00am well.  There is no coffee on board yet.  It is still brewing.  We are trying to get some things done this morning before we leave.  Aunt Debra and Gordon picked up the girls yesterday to take to her house, and I think they settled in ok.  Aunt Debra said that there wasn’t too much drama.  Something about a temporarily lost new princess tootbrush and no air for the air mattress (that Ainsley insisted on sleeping on!  Despite the fact that she had a bed). That’s it.  Not too bad.

Now it is time to grab Ben and his constant medical buddy George (a stuffed monkey).  And then we are off for a day of paperwork and labtests.  Yeah . . . . .

Ben and Daddy are going on an adventure today!  Tomorrow we leave at 6:30am to go spend the day at the hospital for pre-op.  Boring!  I can only imagine all of the paperwork that will be filled out tomorrow.  “What? You need my left arm in order to perform the operation? Oh, and after the hospital stay is over I’ll have to give you my first-born child to cover the rest of the costs?”  Yuck!  Ben’s last day of school was Friday.  He is spending this morning sleeping in and eating a hearty breakfast. But . . .

Daddy and Ben are going flying the afternoon.  Flying in an airplane? Yes.  A very nice gentleman in our church is taking Ben flying in his airplane today.  What a kind gift for our family.  Today is our last day with our BenBen before life becomes really stressful and this is a fabulous way for Ben to have a great and restful day.  Thank you, Mr. Stanley, for this adventure!  We will hopefully have pictures later today to mark today’s occasion.

Chris and I gave blood today.  We are doing a directed donation for BenBen.  Our blood will be processed and ready for delivery in the operating room.  Chris and I are both A+, and Ben has to have A+ blood.  I can’t take the surgery for him, but I can give a pint of blood.  Having never given blood before, I squeezed the ball too quickly and donated all of the blood in about 2 minutes.  I was feeling really good until the needle was out.  Then after about 30 seconds I thought I was going to pass out.  Chris noticed while waiting in the recovery area.  He asked someone to help me.  Darn.  I thought that having given birth to three children that those kind of things wouldn’t happen to me.  The good news is that Chris and I made it home in one piece and that we are about to sit down to dinner with the whole family.  Thanks for everyone’s prayers.  They are all truly appreciated.  Now . . . on to Wednesday!

Aunt Debra came over and took family photos today.  Thank you Aunt Debra!

Ben’s last day of school was Friday.  He had his goodbye party that afternoon.  Pastor Sue made cupcakes for the class.  Ben told everyone that he was going to get an xray and then heart surgery next week.  He asked if anyone had questions.  Chris, Ben and I did our best to answer them.  But most just had to say that they were going to miss Ben and gave him lots of hugs.  I think that Ben did a great job, but Ben is also the type of kid that doesn’t talk about his emotions much.  So instead he just acts out.   He was super hyper when he got home and there was some acting out.  But that is to be expected when facing what he is facing.  Now on to the next step.

Ainsley had her thanksgiving feast this week at preschool.  It was so adorable to see all of the kids dressed up.  The teachers sent home paper bag vests that they were suppose to decorate.  She was told to decorate it any way she wanted.  So she did.  It was a princess vest she said.  When she told her friend at school, the girl told her that it was not a princess vest it was an alien vest.  An argument ensued,  I finally stepped in and told the little girl that Ainsley made a princess pilgrim vest.  But you should have seen Ainsley . . . hands on hips, the neck was gyrating, her voice level was rising . . . she made it clear that hers was a PRINCESS VEST.  And so it was.

The rest of the meal was fabulous.  The kids had a good time.  The food was delicious.  And I was so glad that I was able to attend.