Bob the Builder has surgery

We have a "brave, polite, well-behaved and funny little boy." Or so we're told. Not that we can take the credit. Bob the Builder's parents will have to do that. Ethan was in the hospital on Monday for day surgery. It was nothing serious, but something that needed to get taken care of so it wouldn't become serious. Ethan took a "Teddy Bear Tour" the Friday before to prepare him somewhat for what was to come. The pep talk took place in the children's playroom in the pediatric room at the hospital (incidently not anywhere where he would be for the surgery), so he was pretty excited about going back on Monday. When the alarm went off at 4:20 am Monday morning, Tom and I were not so excited. Neither of us are morning people, so this was not our favourite time of the day. We plucked the kids out of bed and, leaving them in their jammies, headed off to the hospital. Ethan was still waking up and Kaitlyn was hungry, so maybe it was ok that we found out when we got there that they had us scheduled for the 6:00 surgery group, not the 5:30 surgery group that they had previously told us. I wouldn't have minded the extra 30 minutes of sleep. When it was time for us to go back to the pre-op room, Ethan was bouncing along like we were in for some fun. Since he was the only child in for surgery at that time, he got lots of attention. He was impressed with the tiger PJ's they had him put on, he loved the toy and pillow waiting for him on his bed and he was interested in all the gadgets that they hooked up to him and checked him with. "So," the nurse asked, "What's your name?" "Bob the Builder!" Ethan replied. This got a chuckle and he continued to give every other nurse, anesthesiologist, and doctor this same answer as the morning progressed. "Hmm," the doctor said, "that's going to make it pretty hard to get a consent form signed!" After all the pre-op stuff and formalities were done, they wheeled Ethan off to the OR. Ethan thought he was going for a ride on a magic carpet (the meds were working by now) and Mommy was wiping away tears.

Ethan was a brave little guy and the surgery went well. They called us from the operating room to tell us that the surgery was underway and that Bob the Builder had everyone in the OR laughing. We finally got to go in and see him in recovery and it was only then that he cried. "I want my Mommy!" He perked up a bit when he got a present from us and a popsicle from the nurses. If you ask him about it all now, he'll tell you he went to the hospital and got apple juice, popsicles and a puzzle. Apparantly he doesn't remember much else. Well, at 11:30 we finally got to take Bob the Builder home. On the way home, Ethan said he wanted to see the blue crane. We had no idea at the time what he was talking about (we thought maybe he was still feeling a little loopy or tired), but I later realized he meant the blue crane that was in the children's playroom at the hosital (which he never did get to see that day). He doesn't forget much. The nurses in recovery warned us not to let him walk as his legs might not hold him yet. They also said he'd probably be pretty sleepy from the general anesthesia. We were looking forward to going home and having a good nap times four. Apparently Bob the Builder didn't get the memo, because he was all revved up when we got home. When we could not contain him any longer, he was racing around the house doing everything he shouldn't have been. Guess there was nothing wrong with his legs or his energy level! I was feeling tired and drained ... what's wrong with this picture?? He still doesn't seem to have any pain ... I really don't understand how this kid can go through surgery and not have any problems and then cry when his food falls off his fork! He is one funny kid!

PS Shannon, I was thinking of you often yesterday and wondering how many hours you've spent in OR waiting rooms worrying about your little guys while they're in surgery! You are a great mom and have a pair of little troopers!