Super Saturday!

Saturday was the day we thought we were being discharged. Jeffrey was bummed to learn that he would stay in the hospital yet another day.

Cousin Kristen taking time to visit :)

However, I truly believe there is a reason for everything. My cousin, Kristen, came to visit and that made Jeffrey really happy. She brought with her some fun goodies: gum and chocolate, and a super cool baseball from her husband, Tall Paul, who works for the Secret Service.

Also, on that Saturday we were treated to a "make-your-own-sundae" by "Ava's Flavas". It's a nonprofit organization started by a little girl, named Ava, who had cancer and remembers the fun stuff in the hospital. Now, she brings the "fun stuff" like ice cream and crafts to brighten the day of other patients in 2 nearby hospitals. How inspiring is that?!

If you get a chance, like this page on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/avasflavas/?fref=ts
You can see where she'll be and where she's been. Show support for such a worthy cause. I love that she scoops the ice cream herself, you go girl!

Torture

Rewind to the day after surgery, epidural still in, iv's are in both hands, catheter in and Jeffrey mentions he needs to pee. Well, I was glad because that means he had some sensation to know he had to urinate. With a catheter it naturally empties one's bladder. He relaxed and let it flow. Well, when he did that the pressure caused the urine to leak out the sides of the tip and wetness was everywhere. All over the chuck underneath him and it pooled between his legs. It even wet his gauze where the incision is.
Cue the torture. Some of the tape had to be pulled back to change the dressing. Once that was done, some blisters were revealed and that freaked Jeffrey out. "Don't peel any more tape!!"

This is the crease between his belly and his right left (groin area)

That was just the beginning of the awful pain. The nurses decided to pull the foley and place a larger one in. I think the anxiety paired with the pain sensation was awful for a 9 year old.  He got a pump of epidural, a dose of Oxycodone, and some Diazepam (aka Valium). 
He was all worked up and upset, but then once he calmed down he started having loopy side effects. One slightly alarming habit formed. He twirled his hair and would pull some pieces out. We would try to redirect his need to do that by keeping his hands busy with appropriate actions, like twirling the tiger's tail.

Let's hope this memory gets repressed for him.
(Note to self, don't let Jeffrey read this blog until he's much older and done his surgeries.)

Oh, Poop!

You got one of these? We will! Never did I think that my 9 year old would need a shower chair or a bedside commode. Well, not while I was still around anyway. Amazon will be delivering one of these bad boys shortly. Jealous? You should be! 

One day, Jeffrey will be helping us on and off one of these babies. Scary thought!

SCREW YOU!

That's what the doctor literally did to Jeffrey. He stuck screws in his right hip. We are giving the femur a deeper pocket and more strength for future lengthening.

We came expecting a four hour surgery called a triple pelvic osteotomy. In pre-op, Dr. Standard presented us with 2 options. The first was the 4 hr triple osteotomy, which is tricky and risky. That's the only option we thought there was. Then he presented a second option with a surgery time of only 1 and a half hours. He even made up a name for the procedure that combined the two types of cuts and the bone graft. (later referred to as the "whatchamacallit") He wouldn't know how he was going to officially approach the situation until he opened him up in the OR.

Dr. Standard initials his knee to be sure the correct leg is worked on

The middle was the original triple osteotomy, the left and right were the other option
(They kind of look like

After Dr. Standard told us the possible options, Jeffrey chimes in with, "I want that one!" (referring to the shorter, less risky surgery with quicker recovery time.) I love that he thought he could just "order" up the surgery he preferred. 

It turns out he fished what he wished for! He had the shorter surgery (the illustration above on the left).
Now, this means he has a quicker recovery time, which is awesome! However, he is not allowed to bear any weight at all on his right leg for at least 2 weeks. Jamie and I will have large muscles from all the lifting we'll have to do. Once Jeffrey's arms are epidural and IV free, he will be able to help lift himself with his arms, but until then, it's all us.
Fortunately or unfortunately, Jeffrey has a brace to keep his hips in place which should be worn pretty much 24/7. He currently has "waffle boots" on to help keep his feet flexed, up straight, and his heels off the bed to prevent sores. 
  The 2 week timeline brings us right up to our family vacation in Ocean City. Hopefully, we'll have a clinic visit the Friday before we leave and maybe be light weight bearing on the boardwalk. Although, board walk bumps are tough to maneuver just walking...or is that just clumsy me?!