You do the math.
Time The Bee was collected by the anesthesiologist in her arms (!) to go back to the surgery room to be put under: 10:11 AM
Time that R., myself, and The Bee were walking back to the car in the parking lot, ready to go to lunch: 10:44 AM
That’s correct, folks: the administering of gas, the ear tubes surgery itself, and the recovery period in toto took all of 33 minutes.
Boooooinnnnggg! Amazing.
When we went back to the recovery area, The Bee was laid out on her surgery table*–which is really a scary-ass-looking, metal crib. Now R. wants one. The anesthesiologist was shaking her head–but in a good way.
(Please now allow me to brag…)
She said in all her years of working with children, she’s never seen a 2-year-old as smart as The Bee. Apparently, they had some interaction pre-mask. The Bee showed the assembled surgical team how to use the stethoscope (unaided), was pointing to the correct colored button on the monitors when one of the staff named one of the colors, and was planting pieces of surgical tape where they wanted her to on her own body. And, so, apparently, the anesthesiologist says, “I think she’s going to be an anesthesiologist when she grows up…” And the surgeon retorts, “I think she’s going to be a rocket scientist.” Ahem.
(End of annoying parental pride part.)
And then, upon leaving, The Bee signed “restaurant” because one of her favorite restaurants is nearby the hospital–and she knew it through some infallible gourmet-french-fry internal sensing device that she must possess…
And, so, there we were, a mere hour after she had been completely out on a table having surgery, munching on french fries and creme brulee. Warnings about vomit and clear fluids be damned. The woman at the next table praised The Bee’s good behavior at the end of our meal, and I had to bite my tongue not to say, “yeah, and she was in surgery an hour ago…” Probably not making me look like mother of the year, eh?
*By the way, it is never a good thing to see your child laid out on a table, under a mask. It’s scary as shit. Much later that evening, R. said what I had been thinking when we first went back to the recovery room, and she wasn’t yet awake (I had asked them to make sure and get us back there ASAP because of abandonment issues, etc.)…you have this flash when you see your child like that…as if you’re staring at them in the morgue. It’s godawful scary. It’s strange. It’s beyond the pale. You have to seriously shake it off. Enuf said…
Wow! So great that she came through it all so easily! What a brilliant child, and what sophisticated taste in restaurants she has! (If I linked to Spike’s favorite restaurant you would have seen any random place with a Ms. Pac Man in the lobby…). This certainly bodes well for further surgeries!
Comment by: Maia - 08.18.2007 - 5.16 pm
I’m glad everything went so well. She sounds like such a strong and clever girl!
Comment by: Brooklyn Mama - 08.18.2007 - 5.40 pm
I’m so happy everything went so quickly! Rocket scientist, huh? Go Bee!!!
Comment by: Mary - 08.18.2007 - 6.51 pm
Way to go, Bee! Glad the surgery went so well, so quickly, and that Bee impressed everyone. I knew she was a smart cookie!
Comment by: OmegaMom - 08.18.2007 - 8.45 pm
Awesome Emme - what a little trouper…of course, she’d probably say it was all for the fries…
And yes, it never gets easier. They just find scarier ways to scare you. You just keep your fingers and toes crossed and hope the Gods of Luck are with them.
You’re a good mom with a great little daughter.
Comment by: FDChief - 08.18.2007 - 11.45 pm
I’ve been saying all along…. I can sense something through this screen about The Bee. She’s extraordinary. So glad everything went so well!
Comment by: Jacquie - 08.19.2007 - 5.41 am
Wow! When I saw “do the math” I thought I was in for a tale of an all day nightmare!! Thank goodness they did it so fast. The Bee *is* something else — your parental pride is well-deserved!! and honestly, I’m not sure I could have held my tongue with the lady in the restaurant.
Comment by: Anne Marie - 08.19.2007 - 6.09 am
Could this have gone any better? I suppose if you hadn’t had to see Ms. ELu with The Mask. I can only imagine - wow! But, 33 minutes? That is incredible. Sounds like you have a superb team that obviously are in-love with Ms. Lu - THAT rocks! It is great to hear your news this morning. Makes me hopeful for the next go in September (it is Sept, isn’t it?)……
Comment by: wzgirl - 08.19.2007 - 8.04 am
So glad everything went so well!
Comment by: Aimee - 08.19.2007 - 12.22 pm
Thank you thank you for sharing this with us - she’s Ms. Smartypants (in the best of ways), that Bee. You’re allowed unlimited bragging rights.
I, too, am impressed with her choice of restaurants. I’m believing/knowing that this is a very positive sign for next month - she’s gonna come through ALL her surgeries with flying colors, I’m certain.
Comment by: walternatives - 08.19.2007 - 3.04 pm
Honestly? CCAA may have its issues and problems…but they would never place a dumb child with such intelligent parents. I’m so glad that the procedure wasn’t too scary and relatively quick. Its all relative when you’re baby’s on the table!
Comment by: christie - 08.19.2007 - 3.50 pm
French fries and creme brulee - together? I’m glad it went so well, but I needed no surgeon to tell of her brilliance. I saw it when she signed “cheese” to me when I took her picture! That child is smart. However, I think, with her faces, she’ll be doing some acting, but maybe on the side. Perhaps something to do with communications - I see her as a communicator. Politics perhaps? Will she bring balance to the Force?
Comment by: Cavatica - 08.19.2007 - 4.05 pm
So glad everything went well!!! You have such an amazing daughter. Am really happy for your all.
Comment by: M - 08.19.2007 - 5.51 pm
Phew and yay!! Atta girl!! Now, adding a pediatric surgery table to R.’s collection might be a little more difficult…
Comment by: atomic mama - 08.20.2007 - 7.27 am
Oh! I’m so glad it went so well! She is a smart one, that Bee.
Comment by: Jessi - 08.20.2007 - 7.36 pm
So happy to hear the Bee did so well with the surgery. You definitely have every right to brag about what an amazing little girl you have!
Comment by: Melissa - 08.20.2007 - 10.29 pm