We’re off…
down to the Valley of Death this morning, to settle in a bit before The Bee’s surgery tomorrow morning. I am feeling a bit of zen at the moment…zen before the storm, I guess. The surgery tomorrow is at 10, we have to be there at 8, then I’ll be staying overnight in the hospital on a cot, and then we leave for home again on Wednesday.
We are staying here. I think I had some silly notion of using the bar. Frequently. I suppose they have room service, no?
I promised to post a picture of The Bee’s arm splints (not really restraints, she won’t ever be tied down…the splints are used to immobilize her elbows, so she can’t bend her arms and poke her fingers through her new ceiling). I ordered Snuggle Wraps, which are supposed to be much better than the older kinds of arm splints that were big and puffy and hot and sweaty. These are light and have holes for air circulation and can fit under long sleeves. So, that’s what we went with.
Last night, I went around collecting all of The Bee’s long pointy toys–xylophone mallets; Mr. Potato Head arms; sand shovels; crayons; lincoln logs–that she can’t have for the next 10 days. We have recipes for all sorts of meat smoothies (now, doesn’t that sound yummy?), and a humidifier in her room (which helps with swollen tissues…), and Tylenol on hand. I think we are ready on the practical end of things.
Of course, it will be horrible for a few hours tomorrow (I hate anesthesia with a white-hot, fear-full passion), and then it will be hard for a few days after that, but there is also a strange sense of excitement mixed in…excitement for The Bee. Excitement for the opportunity to revise her cleft and allow her to make words with her mouth, as well as her hands.
And, in a weird coincidence…the first time I ever saw The Bee’s face was a year ago tomorrow. I woke up on Labor Day last year, decided I was Done (with a capital D) with not being a mommy, contacted a dozen agencies by email even though I knew they were on holiday that day, and got sent a list of waiting children with The Bee’s picture on it the next day. I am so glad I saw the writing on the proverbial CCAA wall and got fed up. I found my daughter that way, by aggressively trusting my instincts, by using anger to prompt me into action, and so I can only call it a nearly providential moment (a tricky word, that providential). Who knows why I got to be the lucky one? But I definitely did.
Oh! Good luck you guys! The operation is scary, but you’re right - what she’ll gain will be amazing. I will definitely be thinking of you all. Save me some of those meat smoothy recipes (gah!).
And what I think happened when you first saw Emme Lu was something like Grace.
Comment by: Maia - 09.03.2007 - 10.03 am
Wishing you the best of luck tomorrow! I have a special package that I will be sending your way that you and Emme should have by the end of the week.
Thanks for the info on the arm splints. Any tips on recipes would be appreciated, too! I have less than a month to prepare fo Oz’s surgery. Tomorrow is our pre-op appointment.
I also owe you an email…
all the best,
Melissa & Oz
Comment by: Melissa - 09.03.2007 - 2.31 pm
Good luck tomorrow, I will be thinking of you all day and night.
And We got fed up 1 year ago this weekend as well. And angry and switched agencies tomorrow.
And meat smoothies, YUM.
Comment by: Jenny - 09.03.2007 - 5.21 pm
Good luck and very best wishes to you all tomorrow. Thanks for the links - I’ve bookmarked them. Kisses to your little Bee.
Comment by: Brooklyn Mama - 09.03.2007 - 6.24 pm
Linda, you will be in my thoughts along with your daughter. I wish you all th e best and I hope she comes out perfectly. Take good care of yourselves and call if you need to yap.
Comment by: Nicole - 09.04.2007 - 1.42 am
Good luck to you all. Kisses to the Bee from E. and me. I’ll be thinking of you…
Comment by: Jessi - 09.04.2007 - 4.24 am
Sending the virtual magical,mystical mojo of speedy recovery to the Bee & to you. All my best,
Barbara
Comment by: barbara noblog - 09.04.2007 - 4.52 am
I’ve had this date on my calendar for a while now. Each glimpse has been an opportunity to (as Fritzy says) “speak the word” on the Bee’s behalf. I’ll be thinking of y’all and KNOWING all will be well. p.s. Thanks for illustrating the arm restraints. They sound much worse then they look.
Comment by: walternatives - 09.04.2007 - 5.26 am
Good luck to the Bee.
Comment by: Johnny - 09.04.2007 - 6.05 am
I’ll be thinking of you guys. Hope all goes well and that the Bee will experience the benefits really soon.
Comment by: M - 09.04.2007 - 6.45 am
Sending healing thoughts as the Bee heads into surgery this morning. Looking forward to an update as soon as is possible…
I stayed at that hotel for a conference a couple of years ago. I found that the design and restaurant location resulted in the smell of bacon wafting up past all of the guest rooms each morning.
Mmm, bacon.
Comment by: atomic mama - 09.04.2007 - 7.45 am
Huuuge hugs and love being projected out to you guys and the Bee today. XOXO
Comment by: wzgirl - 09.04.2007 - 7.46 am
Sending positive thoughts the Bee’s way - and for Momma and Daddy too.
Your in great hands at that hospital (even though it’s smack in the middle of hell this time of year). One of my children had surgery there, and it was the best of care!
Comment by: holly - 09.04.2007 - 8.52 am
Good thoughts for the Bee, and you & hubby. Here’s to a smooth surgery and a quick recovery.
And happy anniversary of seeing the Bee’s face for the first time.
Comment by: OmegaMom - 09.04.2007 - 9.33 am
Thinking of you all today…I just know that it will go well, and that the Bee will be her usual vibrant self before you know it.
Huge hugs.
Comment by: Amanda - 09.04.2007 - 9.35 am
I know I already commented once - but I just wanted to send more love and good thoughts to you guys since today is the big day! Thinking of you all!
Comment by: Maia - 09.04.2007 - 10.49 am
Thinking of you all today and sending good healing thoughts to The Bee.
Comment by: Anne Marie - 09.04.2007 - 10.58 am