Post-Op check with Dr. Jaffurs

This morning was our post-op check at CHOC with Dr. Jaffurs.
All is well and Jack is healing great. We were reassured that the incision looks just the way it's supposed to and that his normal sleeping habits should return in a couple of weeks. (What a relief)

happy boy going to the doctor

we're here for our check-up

with Tari (Dr. Jaffurs nurse) - She has been helping us through this entire process. Thank you Tari!!

the swelling continues to go down

Well, we are now a full week post-op and I think that the swelling is really going down. We can see more and more of our boy's face when we look at him.

with Dad

Jack is stil not sleeping that well - waking up a lot during the night. During the day, he takes many short naps and wants to be held mostly.


When we were being discharged, we were told it's ok to do normal things with Jack and take him out. For some reason I had thought that he would be so fragile and we would want to keep him in all the time. With this in mind, I thought it would be a nice treat for Peyton to go to the pumpkin patch by our home. We do this every year - there is a petting zoo, crafts, a tractor ride, etc. This was Jack's first time at a petting zoo.

at the petting zoo

Overall though, I have really seen a change in the last few days. Here are some comparison pictures.

Saturday the 26th

Tuesday the 29th

First days at home

Bryan and I didn't really know what to expect from Jack when we went home. Would he bounce right back and have the same sweet personality? Would he cry all the time? Would he sleep good? (He was just starting to sleep through the night prior to surgery).

For the most part, he still smiles at the things that he used to smile at and giggle too. He still loves to watch his sister play. He is very irritable though  and we aren't sure if it was his head, his teething or maybe an upset tummy (he is still on an anti-biotic). He is not sleeping well and waking up every 1.5-3 hours during the night.

The swelling has gone down a lot - even in two days! We can see more and more of his sweet face everyday. His eyes are very dry though and flaky, probably from being so swollen in those first few days.

We are all very happy to be home together.

On the 25th Jack was officially 4 months old

Jack and sissy

We're going home!

When I woke up in the morning, he had his eyes completely open and was smiling. Day 4 post-op brought even more good news. Jack needed less pain meds, was eating well and his personality returned.

Good morning mommy

So happy to see sissy

We learned in the morning that we would be going home soon and our discharge papers were being prepared. His IV was taken out, we packed up our belongings and dressed Jacky.

no more IVs

I'm free of cords and wires

let's get dressed

thank you Choc!

We appreciate all of the love and support from all of our doctors and nurses. We received such wonderful care. It will be so nice though to have us all home again together.

back to his normal self

At home - happy.

Day 3 Post-Op

Jack slept very well last night. I stayed on a cot in his room, but didn't sleep very well myself. There are so many noises in hospitals, other patients, custodians, nurses...
I noticed a little less swelling around his cheeks and chin when I woke up. When Dr. Jaffurs came in for rounds, he took the alst bandage off and said that he looked good. This was our first look at his noggin.

Our first look at his incision

a little less swelling

We went to Radiology for x-rays to determine if his catheter could come out today (which he was not fond of...). Dr. Muhonen came in for rounds and also a Urologist. Both doctors said he was doing vey well.

happy boy

with Auntie

he feels so much better

Jack turned a corner in the afternoon when he started to open his eyes a little. He even smiled at me when I was talking to him and giggled when Bryan played with him.

happy mommy

looking SO much better on day 3

I can't express my relief when I saw my boy smile for the first time in four days. He was in a great mood, hardly needing pain meds and eating well. By the end of the day he had been disconnected to all IVs and monitors. He was even able to have the catheter taken out and have a bath.

bath time!

Jack will be discharged tomorrow and he will continue to heal at home. The swelling will take a few weeks to go down and he will start to look more and more like our boy Jacky.

Our home away from home this week

night night Jack!

Day 2 Post-Op

Yesterday is a bit of a blur looking back.. I myself had a trip to the ER for complications from my appendectomy. Poor Bryan, he was sitting with Jacky at Choc and I was across the street at St. Joseph's. Everything was fine with me, they couln't find a reason for the pain I'm having in my abdomen.

The Urologist came in the check on Jack - he let Bryan know that they would be performing a procedure on him the next day invloving contrast dye to see if his cathetor could be removed.

Jack had some trouble keeping food down, he threw up a few times and was given Zofran for nausea. There was no other big news of the day - except that the swelling let up a little by the end of the day.

getting a bath and getting cleaned up

Comparison Photos

The day before the surgery

Right after surgery

Day two

Day three without the head wrap

Day 2: I Just Want My Boy Back!

As day one came to a close, Kate made the choice to stay at the hospital with Jack and I went home with Peyton.  Day 2 was extremely difficult and our emotions were hitting a peak.  All I could think about was getting my boy back...I just want my boy back!  It is so hard to see your child, know that it is your child, know it is Jack - But he doesn't sound like my Jack.  He doesn't look like my Jack.  He doesn't even smell like my Jack.  The only sign that it really is my boy is his super-long toes that he got from me (and my Dad, Doug) and that when we held him, he would stop crying immediately.  As if he was meant to be right there in our arms.
The swelling in his face only got worse, which we are continually told is normal and expect it to be even more swollen tomorrow.  Everything else though was good news.  He is big and strong and all signs indicate that he is recovering very well.  He started to eat a little and was able to take his meds orally.  He did throw up a couple times (all on Mommy, crossing my fingers) but it seems like he is getting used to eating and taking his meds and that is a very good sign.

Jack day 2:  A bit more swelling, especially around the eys and now into the cheeks and chin.  He hasn't been able to open his eyes since just after he got out of his surgery.

Gotta eat sometime.  The food wasn't that bad...but it wasn't that good either.

Friends and family have been coming by on occasion and making things easier for us.  Thank you!

Jack needs some time before he will be as photogenic as his beautiful big sister.

She even poses with icecream.

He must be about 20 pounds with all those wires hanging and the extra fluids in his body.  I can hardly hold him.  

Ok, finally...an ugly picture of Peyton.

We were moved about 4 differnt times throughout the day but finally settled in to a private room close to the nurses station so Kate and I could both go home and feel comforted that the nurses were right there to help.  Our nurse promised that she would't let him cry and picked up our little baby to comfort him when we left for the night.  These people are miracle workers.

Surgery Day

Today was the day. Bryan and I arrived at Choc at 5:30 am for surgery at 7:30 am. I couldn't sleep anyway - so I was wide awake.

getting checked in

We were taken to Pre-Op where the anethesiologist, Dr. Muhonen and Dr. Jaffurs came to talk to us about the procedure and ask if we had any questions. We said goodbye and good luck to Jacky as he was wheeled away into surgery. That was one of the hardest parts of today.

Dr. Jaffurs going over the procedure one last time

Dr. Muhonen measuring Jack's head

There he goes - into surgery

Dr. Muhonen came out to give us an update at the end of his part. He said that everything was going well though they had some blood loss at the beginning and gave Jack half of the blood supplied by Bryan.

At 12:30 pm or so Dr. Jaffurs came out and let us know that Jack was on his way to PACU (Post Anethesia Care Unit) where he would recover and we could see him soon. He also let us know that "there was some excitement" at the end of the case. Jack's cathetor had not gone in correctly and they had to call in a Urologist to help with the foley. Everything was fine though. Jack was going to be fine. I was overcome with emotion speaking with the doctor. We shook hands but I started to get choked up and asked if I could hug him. I was so relived in that moment and was filled with so much gratitude. Evrything that I had been holding back all morning kind of came out - and I won't say that I broke down in tears - ok, yes I will say that.

Bryan and I felt such relief - but now it was time to go see our little boy all wrapped up and coming off of all the meds. This was something that all of the doctors and nurses had been preparing us for. He was not going to look the same. We would be swollen. Bryan and I stood in the PACU with Jack holding tightly onto our index fingrs.

Jack in PACU for Recovery

Still has a strong grip

After about a half hour we were moved to NICU where we will stay until tomorrow afternoon. He is resting comfortably most of the time but wakes up and fusses/cries for a little bit. He is on Morphine right now and I am hoping it will be reduced to just Tylenol with Codene tomorrow.

He just wants to be held

First bottle after surgery