Hand Surgery Follow-up

Caleb had a check-up with his hand surgeon yesterday. It's been over a year since his syndactyly release surgery on his right hand and almost a year since the surgery on his left hand. Both surgeries went well, and his fingers have healed. His right ring finger is still crooked, and he might need a minor surgery at some point to get it straightened back out. It sounds like that's still several years away, though.  We also will continue to watch for scar tissue build-up between the separated fingers. If that happens, a minor surgery can be done to clean up the scar tissue. We will follow up with the surgeon again in a year. 

Busy Weekend

What a fun and busy weekend we had!

Brad and seven of his friends formed two teams for the 10th Annual Jacob's Buddies Golf Tournament on Saturday morning. This golf tournament was started by the grandparents of a boy named Jacob. He has Down syndrome, and the golf tournament is a fundraiser for the Down Syndrome Association of Central Oklahoma. Brad won "longest drive", and his prize was a new putter. A couple of our friends won raffle prizes, too!

Caleb and Jacob's grandmother

We met some friends for dinner on Saturday evening. Everyone was decked out in Thunder gear for Game 4 against the Memphis Grizzles.

Brad watched the game at our friends' house, and Caleb and I went home. I watched the first quarter of the game and then went to bed, because I had an early morning the next day.

I woke up at 4:45 Sunday morning to prep for my half marathon. Brad got up around 5:20, and we tried to move Caleb from his bed to his car seat without waking them, but that didn't work so well. They dropped me off downtown at about 6:00, and they went to park near the 3 mile mark on the course. Some storms were moving into OKC, so the start time got pushed back from 6:30 to 7:00... and then 7:15... and then 8:00... and then we finally got started at 8:20. I felt great for most of the run and was on pace for a sub-2:15, but the last three miles absolutely killed me! I ended up finishing at 2:19:30. 4:30 behind my goal time. Oh well. I did improve on my time from my first half marathon last fall, so I'm glad about that. I'm definitely a faster runner than I was just a few months ago, so hopefully I'll continue to improve... and maybe I'll finally beat 2:15 whenever I run my next half marathon.

Per the surgeon's instructions, I removed Caleb's bandage Sunday afternoon. He still has several scabs and stitches, but his fingers are looking great!

Two Weeks Post-op

Caleb had his two-week post-op appointment with the hand surgeon today. His bandage was removed, so I got to see his "released" fingers for the first time! They look great! The surgeon put another bandage on and told me to remove it in a week. We will return for another appointment with the surgeon in two weeks. 

One Week Post-op

It's been one week since Caleb's hand surgery, and we still have a week to go until his first follow-up appointment with the surgeon. Caleb seems to be doing well. He took Tylenol 2-3 times/day for a couple days after surgery and took an antibiotic for four days.

We cancelled all of his activities (MDO, therapies, etc) last week, so that he could rest and recover. Tuesdays are usually very busy for us, so it was a nice change to spend a lazy day at home. The only time we even got out of the house that day (aside from my early morning run before he woke up) was for a walk around the neighborhood. 

On Wednesday, I returned to work and Brad's mom stayed with Caleb at our house. 

We went to the zoo on Thursday afternoon. Caleb always enjoys the gorillas and chimps. This big gorilla and Caleb seem to have some fascination with each other. This is the second time they've had a staring contest. I'm not sure if the gorilla likes Caleb or if he wants to eat my baby! It was pretty warm that afternoon, so he had to cool off by getting his feet wet in the creek at the childrens zoo.

My mom stayed with Caleb while I worked on Friday. 

Caleb did have a play date at a friend's house on Saturday evening. Some other good friends were in town from Kansas, and we just couldn't miss the opportunity to see them and get the three October 2012 kiddos together. We kept a close eye on Caleb and made sure he and the other kids didn't do anything to hurt his hand. We had a great time playing with sidewalk chalk, bubbles, and all of Miss P's toys.

He is home from MDO again this week, and we still aren't resuming our full therapy schedule. We'll ease back into the routine gradually, as we and the surgeon feel comfortable.

Syndactyly Surgery #2

Caleb had syndactyly release surgery on his left hand this morning. This surgery was very similar to the surgery he had on his right hand last November (Syndactyly Surgery). We had to be at the hospital at 6:00 and were called back to a pre-op room at about 6:30.

After meeting with nurses, the anesthesiologist, and the surgeon, he was taken back for surgery shortly after 8:00.

The OR nurse called at 8:40 to let us know that Caleb was asleep and the surgery had just begun. We expected to receive a call from the nurse every hour, but she never called again.

Brad I stayed occupied with magazines (Brad), Sudoku (me), and peanut M&Ms (mostly me). Waiting room magazines gross me out (yes, I'm a bit of a germaphobe), but I had to check out this magazine that was sitting on the table next to my chair. It's from Spring 1988! After I looked through it, I made a beeline to the hand sanitizer dispenser by the reception desk.

For about the millionth time, a complete stranger came up to me to tell me how much I look like Korie Robertson from Duck Dynasty. He was reading some magazine that had a photo of her in it. He held the magazine up by my face, so he and Brad could do a side-by-side comparison. He thought our resemblance was uncanny.

Back to the surgery, the surgeon came out around 10:45. He said that everything went well. About ten minutes later, Brad and I were able to go back to the recovery room. Caleb was waking up when we got there, and I got to hold him right away. Brad and I both thought Caleb came out of this surgery better than his last one in November. He slept a little more and was less cranky when he was awake. His nurses were great. They were so friendly and attentive.

Caleb was discharged at 12:30. Brad and I picked up lunch at ChickfilA, and we headed home.

Caleb napped for most of the afternoon. He ate and drank really well this afternoon/evening, and his pain has been managed with Tylenol every six hours.

We appreciate everyone's kind words and prayers today. Also, thanks to our good friends who brought us dinner this evening. Thanks for giving me a chance to focus all of my time on Caleb rather than on preparing a meal! We are so excited to have this day behind us. We're so excited that, for the first time since Caleb was born, we don't have any surgeries on the horizon! Yea!!!

Hand Surgery Rescheduled

Several people have been asking me about Caleb's next hand surgery, and I realized that I never mentioned on here that it got rescheduled. It was originally scheduled for March 31st, but it got moved to April 7th. So... two more weeks!

Sixteen Months & a Heart Update

How in the world is Caleb already 1/3 of the way through his second year?! Happy sixteen months, Caleb Drew!

I completely forgot to post this earlier because we were so busy the last couple weeks. Caleb had a cardiology appointment on February 13th. His AV Canal repair looked great, and his mitral valve wasn't leaking! Caleb doesn't have to go back for a year!

Caleb has one more surgery coming up... his syndactyly release on his left hand. That's scheduled for March 31st. After that, we won't have any surgeries/procedures on the horizon! Yea!!!

No Bandages!

Per doctor's orders, I removed Caleb's bandages this morning. Aside from a few brief glimpses during bandage changes at the surgeon's office, today was my first time to see Caleb's hand since surgery three and a half weeks ago. It looks pretty gross right now, but the swelling will go down soon. The scabs will flake off little by little over the next few days and weeks. I didn't ask the surgeon about the stitches, but I'm guessing they'll dissolve or fall out. At least one stitch already fell out today. Caleb returns to the surgeon in early January.

Happy to have his bandages off

Trying to figure out what's different

Before surgery

3.5 weeks after surgery

Hand Surgery Recovery #3

Caleb had his three week post-op appointment with the hand surgeon this afternoon. The surgeon is pleased with how Caleb's fingers are healing. He rewrapped them and told me to remove the bandages in three days. We'll then be able to start gently washing his hand., and the scabs will gradually start flaking off. Unless we have some concerns between now and then, Caleb won't go back to the surgeon for a check-up until early January,

He will be able to return to Mother's Day Out and the church nursery next week! I do worry about the other kids in MDO and nursery messing with his hand while it continues to heal, but I'm glad that we'll be able to return to our regular schedule.

Hand Surgery Recovery #2

Caleb had his two-week post-op appointment today. His bandages were removed, so it was my first opportunity to see his "released" fingers. A resident removed the bandages, and I think she may have pulled a little too hard on the last layer of bandages. His fingers started bleeding a little, and Caleb started screaming! She left the room, and I spent several minutes trying to console my very inconsolable child. He was so mad and obviously in some pain. The surgeon returned and worked on the bandages a little more. He told the resident that the skin graft had been "disturbed". Maybe that's because she pulled too hard a few minutes before. The surgeon rewrapped Caleb's fingers and said to return in 10 days. He said he expects Caleb's hand to be fine next week, so maybe that "disturbed skin graft" isn't a big deal.

He can't go to Mother's Day Out or the church nursery until at least after his next appointment. But some good news... his skin graft site on his groin is healing well! We dont have to keep that area bandaged anymore! And Caleb can take real baths now! No more sponge baths! We will have to keep his bandaged hand dry, but I'm so glad I can bathe the rest of his body now!

Hand Surgery Recovery

It's been one week since Caleb's hand surgery! I took Caleb to see the surgeon last Thursday, and he'll go back next Monday. I think he'll get his bandages off at his next appointment. He seems to be doing really well. He hasn't needed any Tylenol the last few days, and he doesn't ever mess with the bandages. It probably helps that I keep the arm bandages covered most of the time, and the groin bandage is covered by his pants.

(Sorry for the poor-quality iPhone pics) 

Syndactyly Surgery

Caleb had his syndactyly release surgery on his right hand this morning. We arrived at the hospital shortly before 5:30 and were taken to a pre-op room shortly before 6:00. After getting his vitals checked, we spent time playing, reading, and taking photos (cue eye roll from Brad).

Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb seemed like an appropriate book to read before surgery. 

Above is one last look at his right hand before surgery. We won't see his "released" hand for at least a week, maybe two.

He was taken back to the OR at 7:00. It took about 30 minutes to prep him, and the surgeon started at 7:30. The surgery took about 2.5 hours. The surgeon came out to the waiting room afterward, and then Brad and I were both able to go back to recovery and be with him around 10:30. 

He was very fussy for quite a while during recovery, and we thought it was just because he was waking up from anesthesia. We tried all sorts of things to get him to calm down. Offering him juice, offering him water, breathing in humidified air, breathing in some supplemental oxygen, covering him with warm blankets, rocking, bouncing, etc. Eventually, the nurses decided that he was probably in some pain. A dose of Tylenol/codeine and he felt quite a bit better. Sorry it took us all so long to figure that one out, Caleb! 

We were able to take him home around 1:00. Caleb has slept off and on for most of the afternoon/evening. When he has been awake, he has been wanting to eat and drink. He hasn't had any pain medicine since 11:30, but we will probably give him a dose right before bedtime. 

Thanks to everyone who prayed for Caleb and for those who sent us thoughtful messages today. Thanks to Jen for giving us some BabyLegs that her son no longer needed. I was able to modify them with my sewing machine, and now they're cute bandage covers for Caleb's arm! Thanks also to our sweet neighbor who prepared a delicious dinner for us this evening!