The Morning After...

Considering the long day we had, Zachary had a great night.  He slept really good and we even got some smiles and singing....well, nurse Sandy got smiles and singing (between you and me I think there was even a little flirting going on there).  What you see in the picture poking out of his back is called a 'drain'.  Anytime a foreign object is put under the skin or in Zac's case where skin was also excised, it is the body's natural reaction to send fluid.  These 'drains' are basically test tube type bottles just like the ones you see them use when they take your blood.  There is a very narrow tube (think spaghetti) placed at the site of the stitching, the tube is hooked to a butterfly type needle which is inserted into the tube and the yuck drains into it.  So, one of the very gross parts of Zac's care right now is changing out the test tubes every so many hours.  I'll admit, if you have a weak stomach, you sort of have to just leave your body and pretend it is not your child and that you are just watching something on the Surgery Channel.  With the changing of the tubes also comes the Bacitracin, changing of gauze and bandages...and a lot of stuff that I can't believe I can remember to do, even changing a diaper is a challenge right now since he has stitches from hip to hip right above his tushie coming down into a V right into the crack from his 'butt-lift'.  (yes, we pray for very little #2)  Bruce and I have already developed a pretty good system - ultimate teamwork.  Thank God he was able to come with me because this cannot be done alone.  Here is Zac getting his first dressing change...he was not too happy about it but he perked up right after they were done.

Here he is rockin' his new gauze shirt made by PA-Kenzie...she even tied a cool little knot at the top.  You can also see another one of the drains sticking out of the left side of his cool shirt.  I do have to tell you, in this picture I think he looks like one of the Lollypop Kids from the Wizard of Oz.  He'a a little swollen from all of the fluids.

We were visited by Dr. Bauer and Nurse Mim this morning as well as two of Dr. Bauer's PA's.  Dr. Bauer is the most amazing person ever....he even gave us his cell phone number just in case we had any questions over the weekend.  If there was ever any question why we had to come all the way to Chicago to have these surgeries, that alone should answer it.  Dr. Bauer is Top Notch!  I mean, when is the last time YOUR Dr. gave you his cell phone number?  Even the nurses think Dr. Bauer is fantastic.  What an incredible feeling it must be to know that you are touching and changing so many lives.

What was most difficult these past hours was being afraid to touch my little guy.  I just want so bad to pick him up and squeeze him when he cries but for a while I was petrified I would cause him more pain.  Between the three drains, the  incisions and the large flap of skin that was lifted to put the expander beneath, I just didn't know where I could touch him so it wouldn't hurt him.  I pretty much just moved him from side-to-side and slept half hanging off the bed.

We were a little nervous about the car ride and how much pain he would be in having to sit in the car seat but he did awesome!  When we got back to the hotel he was so happy and immediately rolled onto his stomach and began to try crawling around!!  What an amazing kid!  There was a light snowfall today and after two days of being trapped in hospital and hotel rooms, we were able to meet up with Brooklyn's family tonight in our hotel dining room to share a little Chicago-style pizza!  I am praying for another good night of sleep (for both of us).