The Patient

Today was a rough start for Isaac. He awoke with a fever of 101 and refused any breakfast. He cried a lot from his tummy hurting. My Dad brought him Maalox and Mylanta and with a couple doses of those, he was able to take his meds. He has eaten chocolate pudding and chocolate covered pretzels. Everything else I've offered him has been met with a blanket over his head. Great. We are trying to get his fluids down him which isn't going so well. So I am now using the pretzels as a bribe to drink. Whatever works, right. The surgery center called and when Billy told them all his symptoms they said it was all normal and to keep giving him fluids. Easier said then done!

Tomorrow afternoon we leave for Waco for a Gala at our adoption agency. We would stay home with our invalid, except that we are the speakers at the event. I think he will be fine because most of the travel and night will be spent tucked comfortably in his car booster seat with a blanket and the DVD player. At the Gala, he will have grandparents to dote on him for the 2 hours we are there. Wish us luck and please pray for no fever tomorrow!

Isaac Update

A boy and his dog.

Yesterday, Isaac did well. He ate 3 meals and had a lot of energy. We couldn't get him to drink much but when I totaled it up since his surgery, he had drank 56 ounces, so that is great! Today has been a different story. He threw up this morning while Billy was giving him some bites of breakfast. He has been very lethargic and overall sad today. He doesn't want to eat or drink anything and gets mad if we try to make him. He is still taking all his meds without a fuss which is great, but I worry about him having such strong painkillers on an empty stomach. I managed to get half a hot dog down him and a cup of applesauce, but that is it. So I hope he is getting enough fluids. The surgery center will call us tomorrow to see and I will tell them how he has been. Hopefully this is all within the normal range.

Billy's Article

My husband had a second article published, this time in Fostering Families Today, the Nov/Dec issue. You can see the magazine digitally and turn the pages. He is in the table of contents and beginning on page 56. He wrote about our experience fostering a newborn that stayed with us for only a month. Good job, Honey! I'm proud of you!

Tonsillectomy

Pre-surgery, we waited in our little spot and he watched Dora. He was quiet and nervous but we were still able to get a smile out of him!
After Surgery
( I couldn't resist taking a pic of his cute IV bandage!)
Isaac did really well! They wheeled him back without us and said he was shaking hands with the nurses and Dr's before they gave him the gas. After surgery, we heard him screaming in recovery and when they took us toward him he was bucking on the bed like a bull! The nurses were wide eyed and I assured them that this did not surprise me. He was just scared and he doesn't handle scared all that well.
They gave him this cute star stuffed animal with a blue cape, so I have been calling him Super Star. He was sad after surgery, but managed to drink 6 oz. of gatorade, so that was good. He has to have meds round the clock so we will be getting him up twice in the night.

Pray that he begins to eat tomorrow and that he can handle the pain meds. He said his tummy hurts. And if he comes off the pain med, his throat will hurt pretty bad too. So far he has had some applesauce and a few sips of a smoothie. He has been comfortable on the couch with DVD's. We have to get 50 oz. of liquid down him in the next 24 hours, so please pray for that as he does not want to eat or drink anything.

Surgery Update

Billy and I are in the waiting area. The nurse wheeled Isaac back about 20 minutes ago and in a short while the Dr. will finish and come in to tell us how he did and give us our post-op instructions. Isaac was very subdued and quiet- not like himself at all! So I think he has been nervous. But he has not cried or said he was scared. They put a small DVD player with a video he picked out on his bed and they said he could watch it until he falls asleep which would only take about 2 breaths from the gas mask. In the waiting room he asked me if any of the signs posted around the room that said no food or drinks also said he would be getting a shot. I told him no but that he could confirm with the front desk if that would make him feel better, so he walked up there and said "excuse me Mam, do these signs say that I am going to be getting a shot?" She was so sweet to affirm that this would not be happening. The nurse told me that they would put his IV in his foot after he was out, so he wouldn't even know it.

So far so good! It is great to be around people who are used to working with children! Everyone has been super nice. I'll let ya'll know how it all went once we are settled at home.

Isaac's Surgery

****Isaac goes in tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. I will post about the surgery when we are home in the afternoon. Thankyou for your prayers!

Tomorrow morning we will be headed to the Pediatric Surgery Center for Isaac to get his tonsils and adenoids taken out. I am really nervous and haven't been able to concentrate on much all week. This is his first time to experience anesthesia. He has had a snoring problem since he was a toddler and the ENT said that his tonsils were big and he would breathe much better if they come out. I had this done when I was his age and I still remember the gas mask. I also remember sitting on a blanket in the backyard and whispering that I wanted a pickle and my Mom said "No! You just had your tonsils out!"

The procedure is about 30 minutes and the recovery at the Center could be up to 3 hours and then we will go home. He has to stay away from activities for a week, so no church, school, or Awana all next week. We are going to be go crazy!! I think he will enjoy the cold treats and all the TV watching that he doesn't get otherwise. Please pray for Isaac to have a stress free procedure and for our nerves while we wait!