3rd Surgery Down-Palate Closure

I am exhausted. Originally, Tony and I were planning on Riley's surgery being next Tuesday. Tony called on our authorization yesterday to check if we had approval for Riley's palate surgery and was told it was approved and that they were going to do it today if possible.

After talking everything over given our work schedules and the fact my parents are leaving next week for vacation, we scheduled the surgery for today. Not much time for preperation but we scheduled it for 1 pm.

7:22 this morning the phone rings. Tony answered it as we were still trying to sleep. A lot of tossing and turning for both of us last night so we were trying to sleep in a bit. Our surgeon's schedule was being rearranged and they wanted us there immediately so they could operate on Riley earlier. We live an hour a way and that's if traffic is good. We got ready as fast as humanly possible and drove to the hospital.

We got call checked in and watched Cars from our pre-op room waiting to speak with the surgeon and the anasthesiologist. After all that was completed, they took him away and I think that was around 10:30 am. Of course I cried. Backing up a little bit, I've been a big ball of emotions. The poor guy just had surgery a week ago from today and it's just been stressful. A lot of mixed emotions running through me. A lot of tears and trying to be strong but feeling like I"m failing. A sense of feeling like i have no control over things. Anger has popped up because I hate having to put Riley through this and damn......can't help to wonder what it would be like to have a baby that doesn't have to visit drs on almost a weekly basis and have several surgeries. Anger at those people who take for granted that they have healthy kids and get upset when they can't have more. And thankful....thankful that he has nothing deadly or any severe mental issues. Thankful that I was even able to have a child in the first place and that he has such a wonderful personality.
For anyone reading this blog whose about to have a baby with any kind of birth defect or are just starting the process, it is one of the hardest but most rewarding thing that you will ever do. I was watching Oprah (i know laugh all you want) and she had talked about finding your calling. I'm thinking a calling is trying to find a profession or some way of helping others. But then she said that being a parent is one of the highest callings. And this is so true. I would agree from the bottom of my heart that God gave Riley to Tony and I because he is our calling. And hopefully someday we can take what we have learned from him to help others.
Anyways, the operation took 3 hours. In some cleft palate cases, the palate needs to be repaired in phases. Luckally for us, Riley was able to have his repaired in one shot. The plastic surgeon said 30% of his palate repairs go home that same day. We were prepared to stay at the hospital overnight but because Tony being an ER RN and feels comfortable with taking him home, the surgeon let us go home. Of course we had to make sure his pain was under control and that he drank fluids which we gave him through a syringe.
We are home now and he has been sleeping since we left the hospital at aroun 4:30 pm. We stayed a considerable amount of time in the PACU (post op area) to make sure we felt comfortable. So far, Riley is doing well and resting soundly. Tony is out picking up Riley's pain prescription and I think all will be well.