*the waiting room with Jeffrey on the morning of surgery: We listen to the tv, which thankfully we couldn't see, and what is on? Oh, just a documentary on "The Family", a religious sex cult. (Insert hand on face emoji)
*After surgery, in recovery, Jeffrey comments:
"Dad's in his regular clothes!" Explanation: Jeffrey last saw Jamie in his blue jumpsuit with
hat and booties as he was wheeled into the OR.
"They really 'nailed me' that time!" Explanation: Jeffrey and Jamie were joking around before surgery about how after the surgery, it might feel like you got hit by a pitch on your hip on
knee. Mix it with the fact they call the device in his femur the Precice Nail.
"Mom, I have the urgent need to clean my room." Explanation: the anesthesiologist told Jeffrey of a possible side effect after surgery. He may wake up some mornings with a strange
feeling. It will be the urge to clean your room. When you are done, you will feel so satisfied.
Don't fight that urge.
*In the hospital room at night:
"I like it better here because it makes me feel like I'm normal."
*In the hospital room the next morning:
"Don't judge." Explanation: he was wearing a makeshift bib while bacon hung from his mouth and syrup dripped down.
*Jeffrey is having trouble with his belly, and is constipated. Jamie is reading him poop poems. smh
Thursday, June 28, 2018
Wednesday, June 27, 2018
This New "Device"
Pincare is a thing of the past! Woohoo!! Jeffrey's latest lengthening is done internally. Wait until you see this contraption!
We knew it would be less complicated due to the fact we do not have to wrap, unwrap, and clean external pins/screws. No tearing gauze from scabbed over open wounds. No more screaming and pushing away child.
During Jeffrey's surgery we got schooled. Literally! Ms. Lee showed us just how this internal Precice Nail works. First, let's shock you with the size of the apparatus.
It's like a giant super heavy suitcase filled with a remote box and a giant rolling magnet. We practiced using it by turning it on and laying it on our legs. It's heavy and lasts about 2 minutes. It sounds like my nursing breast pump used to sound...*reeeeer, reeeeer...* I will post a video once we start the lengthening process next week.
Below I'm posting the Precice Nail, aka the lengthening rod, which is inserted in the middle of his femur. As the remote rolling magnets turn, the rod stretches about .2mm. We will do this probably 4 times a day for a total of .8mm a day. (That is "point 8", not 8mm).
We knew it would be less complicated due to the fact we do not have to wrap, unwrap, and clean external pins/screws. No tearing gauze from scabbed over open wounds. No more screaming and pushing away child.
During Jeffrey's surgery we got schooled. Literally! Ms. Lee showed us just how this internal Precice Nail works. First, let's shock you with the size of the apparatus.
Below I'm posting the Precice Nail, aka the lengthening rod, which is inserted in the middle of his femur. As the remote rolling magnets turn, the rod stretches about .2mm. We will do this probably 4 times a day for a total of .8mm a day. (That is "point 8", not 8mm).
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| This is the Precice Nail (the paperclip is to show where the magnet is. On his leg, there is a huge marker line so we know where to line up the rolling magnet.) Also, if the marker wears away, we can use a compass, no lie!) |
Tuesday, June 26, 2018
Prepping for Surgery
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| Mommy cuddles |
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| Daddy massages |
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| Reciprocating Massage |
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| Looking at the people below |
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| Today's Pre-op xrays |
After our appointment, we took out Jeffrey's brand new Xbox One S to hook up and download and update stuff. This really dated me and Jamie because we used to turn on a gaming system, press start, and play. He was able to play and chat with two of his good buddies from home and I know he loved every second of that. But, alas, it was time for bed to prep for the next day.
Skip to Tuesday, surgery day. Waking up, Jeff was so excited for his surgery that he woke up around 7! He then, immediately, turned on the Xbox One S and starting gaming (Uhh, I guess he was actually excited to play video games rather than go have surgery ;) Jeff was lucky to be joined "Live" online by those same friends and they played some Star Wars Battle Front.
We had to shut down the Star Wars "Live" battle, and take the short trek to the hospital. Walking there, memories flooded as I took some snapshots of Jeff from behind. Images of a goofy 3 year old making this same journey popped into my head as I watched the same goofy 11 year old strut across the street to his next surgery.
Sunday Night: Last sleep at home
This goodnight was an emotional one. Not for the reason you might think. Jeffrey seemed extra clingy due to some pre-surgery nerves. He basically tried to climb through me while cuddling.
The attention turns to little brother, Jack. Jack began to cry as we started out bedtime prayers.
Being 2 1/2 years apart in age, the boys are great friends and annoying brothers. Jack was so upset that we weren't all going to be together over the next few days. He has no problems and loves going to be with Grandmom and Poppy. However, his thoughts and emotions were getting the best of him. Jamie is so good at rationalizing situations and being optimistic, but even that wasn't calming Jack.
Jack e. was happy to cuddle with big brother and big brother was telling him it's gonna be alright. Talk about a twist of a situation. As a mom, I loved it!
I did end up sending Jeffrey up to his top bunk to be comfy and I fell asleep with Jack until midnight.
Night, Night!
The attention turns to little brother, Jack. Jack began to cry as we started out bedtime prayers.
Being 2 1/2 years apart in age, the boys are great friends and annoying brothers. Jack was so upset that we weren't all going to be together over the next few days. He has no problems and loves going to be with Grandmom and Poppy. However, his thoughts and emotions were getting the best of him. Jamie is so good at rationalizing situations and being optimistic, but even that wasn't calming Jack.
Jack e. was happy to cuddle with big brother and big brother was telling him it's gonna be alright. Talk about a twist of a situation. As a mom, I loved it!
I did end up sending Jeffrey up to his top bunk to be comfy and I fell asleep with Jack until midnight.
Night, Night!
Squeezin' in Summer in a weekend!
Happy Summer!
We started the summer by surprising the boys with an early pick up from school on their last day. Jamie and I picked up the boys and headed straight to Ocean City, NJ. They were confused as to why we were picking them up, since we NEVER do. They always stay at the after school care program. Not today!
We enjoyed 24 hours down the shore doing this...
sitting on the beach, body surfing the waves, playing paddle ball, making drip castles, walking the boardwalk, mini-golfing, eating Mack and Manco pizza, Johnson's caramel corn, George's ice cream and macaroons, Kohr Bros ice cream, rides, swimming at hotel pool, arcade, shuffle board, pizza again, ice cream again, and mini-golf again. We were fortunate and had Aunt JenJen and cousin Mandi join us for pizza, rides, and golf :)
After the beach, we had a visit from Aunt Ann, Uncle Jay, and cousin Abbey. Love spending time with them. They live too dang far away in Michigan. Together, we watched Jack play and win his allstar baseball game and watched the movie "Coco", Super cute, super emotional movie.
On Saturday, we had our 3rd annual Summer plunge/ Willlingboro Lifeguard reunion to raise money for Special Olympics NJ.
What better way to spend your time than with extended Ohana?! We continued our Saturday with the Gausz family up in Raritan, NJ. We finally made it to the annual Daiquiri party at John and Mary Pat's house. We all participated in the popular and competitive Egg Toss. The boys, Jeffrey and Jack, won one of three rounds. It was fun, funny, messy, and disappointing all at the same time. These two were the hit of the toss and all the big kids were rooting for my boys.
Toward the end of the daiquiri party, Jeff and Jack could be found tending bar. That's right, tapping the keg, wiping the bar clean, opening bottles, and eventually collecting tips. Oh my! I wasn't sure whether to be proud or ashamed. haha They loved every minute! On the drive back to the hotel, the boys were already checking to make sure we were booked to go next year.
Sunday morning ,they rose around 7:30 to go golfing with dad and "Uncle Chris", who is my husband's brother's wife's brother-in-law. Got all that?!
We returned Sunday late afternoon to have my parents over for dinner and our friends, the Pappalardo's, over for a visit before the "Big Day".
Monday morning, we headed out for Baltimore!
We started the summer by surprising the boys with an early pick up from school on their last day. Jamie and I picked up the boys and headed straight to Ocean City, NJ. They were confused as to why we were picking them up, since we NEVER do. They always stay at the after school care program. Not today!
We enjoyed 24 hours down the shore doing this...
sitting on the beach, body surfing the waves, playing paddle ball, making drip castles, walking the boardwalk, mini-golfing, eating Mack and Manco pizza, Johnson's caramel corn, George's ice cream and macaroons, Kohr Bros ice cream, rides, swimming at hotel pool, arcade, shuffle board, pizza again, ice cream again, and mini-golf again. We were fortunate and had Aunt JenJen and cousin Mandi join us for pizza, rides, and golf :)
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| Discovering a Chinese Finger Trap for the first time. It was hilarious! |
After the beach, we had a visit from Aunt Ann, Uncle Jay, and cousin Abbey. Love spending time with them. They live too dang far away in Michigan. Together, we watched Jack play and win his allstar baseball game and watched the movie "Coco", Super cute, super emotional movie.
On Saturday, we had our 3rd annual Summer plunge/ Willlingboro Lifeguard reunion to raise money for Special Olympics NJ.
What better way to spend your time than with extended Ohana?! We continued our Saturday with the Gausz family up in Raritan, NJ. We finally made it to the annual Daiquiri party at John and Mary Pat's house. We all participated in the popular and competitive Egg Toss. The boys, Jeffrey and Jack, won one of three rounds. It was fun, funny, messy, and disappointing all at the same time. These two were the hit of the toss and all the big kids were rooting for my boys.
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| Little bro, Jack's, Allstar baseball game |
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| Golfing |
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| Tending bar |
Toward the end of the daiquiri party, Jeff and Jack could be found tending bar. That's right, tapping the keg, wiping the bar clean, opening bottles, and eventually collecting tips. Oh my! I wasn't sure whether to be proud or ashamed. haha They loved every minute! On the drive back to the hotel, the boys were already checking to make sure we were booked to go next year.
Sunday morning ,they rose around 7:30 to go golfing with dad and "Uncle Chris", who is my husband's brother's wife's brother-in-law. Got all that?!
We returned Sunday late afternoon to have my parents over for dinner and our friends, the Pappalardo's, over for a visit before the "Big Day".
Monday morning, we headed out for Baltimore!
Thursday, July 7, 2016
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.
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| 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!!"
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.)
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!!"
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| This is the crease between his belly and his right left (groin area) |
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.)
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