Cooper's First Surgery

Today was the big day.  Cooper Nash's very first, and hopefully only, surgery:  Tubes.

I couldn't sleep ALL night.  I was so nervous so I just stared at the clock.  I got up at 11:40 PM and got him a big ol' bottle since he couldn't eat after midnight.  He sucked it down crazy quickly and went right back to bed.  That's my little buddy.  The alarm was set to go off at 5:00 AM but I was up, and checked my phone:  4:56 AM.  So I got up and started getting ready.  Eric got up at 5:00, too.  He took care of the puggies while I got the diaper bag ready for lil' toot.  Then, I got him out of bed, all ready to go, and carried him to his car seat.  Little dude barely woke up and didn't even whine.  My angel baby.  

Eric and I made a stop at Starbucks because we were earlier than we thought, and let's face it...We needed it.  5:00 AM is kinda' a jerk.  Especially after not sleeping.  ;)  

We arrived at Baptist Hospital Surgicare and Little Toot was still sound asleep.  After I checked us in, I tried to prepare myself for what was about to happen.  I know.  It's tubes.  Totally routine, and not anything crazy.  But...he's my child.  More than that...he is my INFANT...and he was going to be put under.  Scary for any parent, I think.  Anyway, I was a mess and just wanted to hold and hug him all day.  He woke up and we played for a bit before they called us back to the surgery area.

I carried him and Eric took the stroller back to the area where they do the pre-op check.  They did and said a lot of things that I can't even remember because all I did was stare at my boy.   He was a total champ.  Eric and I thought he'd be screaming because he was hungry, or tired, or pissed, or confused...nope.  Perfection.  We talked to 2 nurses, an anesthesiologist and our doctor...I barely remember anything.  Only when they said, "Do you have any questions?" I broke down and said, "Just take really good care of him, please."  They all smiled, and said, "We will.  Don't worry."  Then...hardest thing ever...I handed him over to the nurse, and she took him to the operating room.  My arms and heart were empty.  I cried.  All the nurses in the pre-op room reassured me that it was tougher on me than it was on him, and that he was in excellent hands.  Eric hugged me.  Man, I needed that.  

We headed back to the waiting room and 10 quick yet endless minutes later, the nurse came to get us.  I said, "Is he done?  Is he okay?"  She said, "Yes."  I said with a huge sigh of relief, "Oh thank God."

The doctor came in to talk to us and told us that it was a good thing we got the surgery because the fluid that was in his middle canal was very thick and wouldn't be able to drain itself.  He told us the care instructions and said we could go into recovery to see him.  (PS - Doctor Crook is awesome.)  

The nurse came to escort us back and warned us that he was unhappy and crying - which was totally, 100% normal.  It wasn't from pain; it was from the anesthesia.  I repeated that in my head over and over as I headed back to see him.  He was screaming and my heart broke into a million pieces.  The nurse handed him to me but told me to hold his head since he was a bit "wobbly."  I kissed him so much and tried to feed him, but he only took 4 ounces.  He just wanted to be held....and honestly, he wanted to scream.  We put him in the stroller and after about 15 minutes...he stopped.  He stopped and snoozed.  Our boy...what a trooper.  

Top:  Pre-surgery.  Playing with Mama and Dada.
Bottom:  Not so happy, post-surgery.  But he is our Cooper Trooper.

My big boy.

When he woke up, we played.  He napped for 2 hours in his crib, and then about 30-45 minutes on my chest (heaven).  Then we played some more (light play - we were warned not too much since he may be groggy) - and he's back down now.  I hope tonight goes well - for us - but mostly for him.  

So, for 5 days we give him antibiotic drops - he can go back to Day Care tomorrow - and hopefully, all will be well.  HOPEFULLY, no more ear infections!  Cooper deserves a happy, healthy life.  I think we're getting there...  About time, right?   

Our baby.  He's...everything.