A Stitch in Time

Dear Peep,

On Thursday your aforementioned surgery was performed. Things turned out good but Mommy must tell you the story because you will see just how much your Daddy loves you.

Luckily your time to be in Indianapolis was not until 11:15. It was nice to not be in a rush to get us all ready to leave during the early hours, however it meant that you didn't get to have a bottle until really late in the day. Mommy was afraid you'd be so hangry (so hungry that you're angry), as well as in pain, that you wouldn't be able to relax after your surgery. What a silly thought. I'm talking about you here! You swing with the situation so you were doing okay.

The night before your surgery Mommy handmade you a doll to hold as you went into surgery. I wanted it to look a little like you so I used blue and green threads for the eyes and cut the hair to have the little side curl that snakes its way into your bangs everyday. It turned out pretty wonky. The neck was REALLY long, the feet didn't match, and the arms stuck straight out and puckered as they came into the body. Other than those defects, for my first doll it came out fairly cute. When Mommy and Daddy laid you on the bed that morning and presented you with your doll buddy you gave a little chuckle and a huge smile came across your face. Totally worth the time spent making it just for that moment alone. So we load your doll buddy into the car with the rest of your gear and got moving.

We arrived a bit early. Daddy and Mommy could hardly breathe waiting for your name to be called. Oblivious to the pain and transformation you were about to undergo, you spent the wait crawling around on the floor wrestling doll buddy and trying to lick Daddy's tires. Daddy gave you his neck pillow to keep you comfortable.

"Henry Thompson? Henry Thompson?"

Mommy stood up and started to feel a little dizzy. We walked you back to the prep area. It had a rocking chair on a large rug, some toys, a TV and VCR, a bed and a wallpaper border of frolicking zoo animals. We were instructed to change you into a dinky little hospital gown and footies with non-skid bottoms. Non-skid? In that size?  Really? Seems a little useless but at this point I think you were starting to know that something was up. We held you for a while and a nurse came in and said, "Okay, ready to go?" I said, "Yeah, I guess." She kept standing there.  I'm squeezing you and realized she meant right now she was going to take you. Mommy took a deep breath and blinked quickly to hold it together. I took you near Daddy and he was all red and looked like I needed to punch him in the stomach to remind him to quit holding his breath or he was going to turn blue and pass out. Daddy and Mommy avoided eye contact and loved on you in until it was clear I must hand you over to the nurse along with dolly buddy and your sock monkey blanket J picked out for you when you were born.

Daddy and I sighed and decided that we would follow you around the corner until you were out of sight. Oh, how hard this was! You were smiling and flirting in that little dinky hospital gown and your wonky doll buddy was hanging out with you.  I couldn't let images seep in of you being put under. Daddy and Mommy gave each other a big hug and turned to leave as we were directed to the waiting room.

Passing time...Daddy and Mommy brought books to read but Daddy couldn't even begin one word. I put his Kindle on his lap but he never got beyond the screen saver. He was so worried for you Peep Peep. Daddy sat and stared at the wall the whole time with lips tense and shoulders fixed in one bunch of flexed muscles. Every time the door opened from the operating area we would jump to see if it was our turn to find out how our loved one was doing. Mommy on the other hand immersed herself in a book and the time passed quickly.

Then the door opened and Dr. R stepped over to us and for the 50th time that day we held our breath.  Daddy barely got out a "How is he?" Things went swimmingly and we would be able to go back to see you shortly in the recovery room. We got on our phones to call your anxious grandparents and J to give them the news that you were out of surgery and doing good.

Nearly on tip toes, we entered the recovery room to see you, fearful of the condition you might be in, to find you crying like a kitty cat that had its tail stepped on. You had an IV in your little foot, secured with a brown mummy-like wrapping. Your face had remnants of tape goo all across it. It had gathered black lint and junk making it look as if I don't bathe you. (It is now two days later and I still can't get it all off of your face. Your ear looks extra hairy.) You couldn't open your eyes just yet.  I held you tight and let Daddy kiss all over your little fuzz head. You started to thrash and cry from the confusion of being sedated.

Mommy was sure your belly was super hungry and a bottle would calm you but the nurse suggested we first give you some water to make sure you didn't get sick. You weren't having it and about 20 minutes later she gave the okay for you to eat. We moved you around holding you, laying you down, standing you up, and leaving you alone and you just couldn't get soothed. Daddy and Mommy even held you close and sang Row, Row, Row your Boat softly in your ear hoping you would merrily, merrily drift off to a restful sleep. It was the bottle that finally calmed you. Mommy knew it would. While you sucked on your bottle Daddy put his hand by your side and you reached out to hold his hand. OH MY! It was almost too much for Mommy! When you ate and didn't get sick the nurse decided it would be okay to remove your IV.  You got really excited because she let you wrestle with the tubing for as long as you wanted. In true Henry form you were torn between cries and smiles. Nothing can zap the cheer out of ol' Peep Peep. After receiving instructions from the doctor concerning your at home care we loaded you into the car seat and trekked back home.

You were wimpy for the afternoon and again went into kitty cat whines. Daddy thought it seemed like you were calmer when he rode you around on his lap so he was pacing back and forth with you in the house. He told me he was going to go outside with you for a bit. A few minutes later I looked out the window to see Papa riding you back and forth in front of the house and talking to you. I grabbed my camera and headed out.

You were calm and asleep displaying jazz hands. That night when we prepared you for bed Daddy was giving you love and he said one of the sweetest things I've ever heard anybody ever say. He said, "Peep Peep, it was an honor taking care of you today."   That is love.

Love, Mommy