July 5th, 2013 - 2nd Surgery Discharge!!!

And finally... we are Discharged!!!

Since we have a LONG car ride and B'Elanna IS NOT supposed to be putting pressure on her new anus for extended periods of time, I did something I NEVER thought I would do.  I adjusted B'Elanna's carseat into the Recline Position and put it into the Forward position... which the instructions say NOT to do!!   But this way the pressure is on her back and tailbone, so she was Comfortable (as long as she has her cushion too!!)

July 4th, 2013 - B'Elanna's 1st Fourth of July... and she is in the hospital.

ANOTHER 1ST...... HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!!

Today was a BIG day.  The doctors came in and said she is healing VERY well and her rash is finally Starting to clear up!!  They took out her catheter, capped off her IV lines and we were able to take a couple of nice long walks around the hospital.

And we started loading some of our things into our car... we are hoping to go home tomorrow!!

And after ALL this hard work we had to have another Starbucks, of course!!

July 3rd, 2013 - B'Elanna's 2nd Seattle Children's Hospital Stay

On B'Elanna's 2nd day in the hospital... her rash showed back up again.   The difference is THIS Time is that there was a very specific Line on her abdomen and back.   As soon as Dr. Avansino saw it he said it HAD to be a reaction to the cleaning agent they use to prep the skin in the OR.... Chlorhexidine Topical.  Her pain medication was also changed from Just Morphine to a Morphine and Toredol.  This is the MIRACLE Combination!!!!   After that, I was also able to get B'Elanna up for a little bit to hold her.

And when she went back to bed... what did she do.... exactly what she wasn't supposed to.   She WOULDN'T keep her legs Together!!!

And she was itchy, itchy, itchy... took awhile for the Benadryl to kick in.  I think this "itchy butt" action is adorable!!!

Later this day, she received a great gift from her NaiNai, Tante Noonie and Uncle Daryl.

Later in the afternoon, we were able to go for a wagon ride and get a coffee from the hospital Starbucks.

June 30th, Farmers Market and.... July 1st - 2nd, 2013 - B'Elanna's 2nd Surgery....PSARP!!

Well... that time is here... time for B'Elanna's corrective PSARP & rectal tapering surgery!!!   PSARP stands for Posterior Sagittal Anorectoplasty.   Her surgery is scheduled for Monday July 1st, so we drove over to my Mom's house early to spend the weekend prior to surgery with her.

My Mom is part of the Farmer's Market circuit this summer... she makes fleece pillowcases, bandana dresses for toddlers or bandanna shirts for girls, hairbows and other jewelry.  So on Sunday June 30th, B'Elanna and I joined her.  Needless to say, B'Elanna got a bit bored and entertained herself quite well and ended up entertaining us and the other vendors too.

Of course, as a typical toddler, she also had her moments of getting in trouble.   At one point, I told her to sit and stay in her chair... this was her interpretation of "following the rules".  That's right!!  My child stayed with her chair, but picked it up and ran back and forth and back and forth.... CARRYING HER CHAIR WITH HER!!!

And then she got some Loves from Mommy and Grammy!!

B'Elanna and I have been talking about her surgery for about a month.  At first we talked about how she needed to have another surgery and she would be in the hospital for a little bit.   This last week, we talked about a few more specifics... that she was having surgery to make her a butt... so when she her colostomy goes away... she will be able to poop like Mommy and Grammy.  I told her that when she woke up after surgery, it was going to hurt between her legs, but Mommy would be with her the entire time.   The night before the surgery, I was reading the Pre-OP Home Prep information to B'Elanna and we colored on a doll (provided in the kit), where her surgery was going to be located.  She had a fleeting interest... mostly she just liked playing with the mask.

On July 1st... we got up VERY early to drive from Yakima to Seattle Children's Hospital.  The doctor is having to go in and correct B'Elanna's anoplasty (they screwed it up in China and put it too close to her Vagina) and do a partial rectal tapering to reduce it's size.  Once we are discharged, Dr. Avansino doesn't want her sitting (either in her carseat or on the sofa) for more than an hour at a time... which makes for a LONG car ride home.    If you are interested in getting an idea of a portion of B'Elanna's surgery.... here is one that is similar... except she is a girl, much older and this is her 2nd surgery... so scar tissue.  The video is in the upper right hand corner.  <<WARNING VERY GRAPHIC>>

http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/service/c/colorectal/treatments/psarp/

We were told to be at the hospital by 10am and in surgery by noon, but the surgery before B'Elanna went long, so we were in the Pre-OP for a LONG time... almost 2 hours!!  Do you know how LONG that is when you have to entertain a toddler who isn't allowed to eat or drink anything!!

The nurse took her height and weight and then it was wait, wait, wait!!
Height = 89cm (35in)... on Gotcha 83cm (33.5in)... Total growth:  1.5 in.
Weight = 11.7kg (26 lbs)... on Gotcha 10.2kg (22.5 lbs)... Total growth: 3.5 lbs.

Here is a quick video of exactly how energized (through stress and her PTSD) B'Elanna was while waiting to go in....

By the time they started and finished B'Elanna's surgery, Mom and I were the last one's left in the Surgery waiting room.  When B'Elanna was moved to Recovery, the Desk Clerk let us move back to the PreOp rooms to wait.  We had only been there for about 10 minutes when the nurse came back and told me I could go back into recovery with B'Elanna.  They didn't let me do this last time... so I was THRILLED to be able to be with her.   I got back to recovery and she was sleepy and fussy, but happy to see me in the normal toddler way... she cried and whined for me to hold her and she wanted a drink.   This is a WONDERFUL Thing for an adoptive parent... it means that B'Elanna recognizes that I am the person that will give her comfort and meet her needs... Even when still sedated!!!   It also affirms that B'Elanna and I are Bonding, Bonding, BONDING!!!!!

When she got back to her room, she slept... of course!!  

Now... to get her pain under control with the RIGHT combination of medicines!  This is how she woke up throughout the night and the next morning.  Having her Charlie Dog helps a little bit!!