The Waiting Room
So, here I am (with R.) in the room in the hospital filled with waiting families where they have free wi-fi but no coffee trying hard not to think about the accordion-like device a few rooms away, going up and down, up and down, with my daughter’s breathing.
The nurse just came in the waiting room to ask us (from the doctor) whether we wanted him to pull her top right incisor. It is rotten (this is usually, by the way, NOT a cleft thing, but rather a poor dental care in China thing), which I knew, having seen it, but we were waiting to go to the dentist until after the surgery. So, there we were, making our first semi-big decision…we had him pull it. It was gray, which indicates a dead tooth, so I am assuming that the dentist would have pulled it. It’s a baby tooth anyway, right?
We met with the head nurse, the assisting surgeon, and the anesthesiologist pre-surgery, but NOT the all-herald-his-lordship-he’s-expensive-but-oh-so-good plastic surgeon, who didn’t show up. The nurse came out of the operating room to apologize for that too–she’s made two trips out to see us so far. Well, Dr. Lordship DID just return from his month of vacation yesterday, so perhaps he was…er…running late. R. said he’s just hoping he wasn’t hung over. I’m not sure whether being the first surgery post-holiday is a good thing or a bad thing…he might be refreshed and raring to go, or he could have gone rusty while lying in the sands of some idyllic resort, his surgery hands being splashed gently by a turquoise tide.
I don’t usually employ sarcasm as a response to stress. I usually just order a dirty martini and pop a xanax. Or blog. If y’all found any comments from me this morning, it’s because I’m reading everything you’ve written for the past week and then some. I can’t always seem to see pictures, however. Must be some homeland security invisi-wall in this here hospital.
The Bee is dressed in a tiger hospital gown, BTW. She signed tiger a lot, as they were injecting cherry Versed down her throat. Then she got all loopy and happy-like. Giggled a lot. Versed is supposed to erase her memory of the surgery completely, the nurses told us, thus allowing her to continue her groovy feelings for the hospital experience. Um, yeah. Good luck with that happy pill.
Here is our view from our hotel window:
That would be the hospital itself, a shining beacon on the hill. Oooops, more sarcasm.
Okay, try again: that’s the hospital, a mere 0.3 miles away from the hotel, according to the Google search I did on ‘hospital hotels’ a few weeks ago. We were golden. R. even did a dry run last night, just to time the drive.
Except for the fact that we couldn’t find our way out of the hotel parking garage this morning. Think: Seinfeld episode. Think: SBird getting short and snippy. In sore need of a Starbucks, which is about the only decent thing in the lobby of this hospital. Have I mentioned there’s a lot of waiting involved in your child having surgery? Um, yeah. And pagers. They give you a pager for everything, like you’re waiting for a table at The Cheesecake Factory. That was The Bee’s favorite toy this morning, pre-Versed. After Versed, she liked the blinking toy that played “Rockin’ Robin.” She swayed.
Okay, in all seriousness and genuineity, thank you to my peeps for sending loving thoughts along to us and The Bee. Me’s appreciates it more than you know. More later.
Short and snippy is definitely acceptable right now!!! Waiting is the worst.
Ish…..I was born at that “shining beacon on the hill”. The place is so friggin big now. Hubby worked ICU and Trauma there for years. Never could find my way around when in there.
They have a Starbucks now? They should have a margarita bar….
Comment by: holly - 09.04.2007 - 11.49 am
Hang in there. As for the loopiness on Versed: I recall the dotter on Valium (for a crown), and it was funny as all get out. I’m glad the Bee liked the tiger gown. I’m sure His Lordship is in the “rarin’ to go” mode.
Comment by: OmegaMom - 09.04.2007 - 11.52 am
I’ve had Versed for a 1-day procedure. One minute you are there, the next minute it’s over and you wondered where the time went.
Best wishes.
Comment by: Johnny - 09.04.2007 - 11.55 am
I’ve been thinking about you guys all day. Sending goods thoughts and love your way…
Comment by: Jessi - 09.04.2007 - 12.30 pm
Wishing you your own personal turquoise tide right about now… xxx
Comment by: atomic mama - 09.04.2007 - 1.07 pm
Thinking of you all, visualizing a sky full of positive thoughts and wishes to blanket Phoenix and your fears. And you thought that was sunshine, eh?
Comment by: walternatives - 09.04.2007 - 1.41 pm
Big hugs to all of you…
Comment by: Project Ni Hao - 09.04.2007 - 1.50 pm
Definitely the right choice on the tooth - get it out while she’s under. Spike had some dental work done when he was 2 and it was a NIGHTMARE.
I know it’s a little inappropriate - but Emme Lu looped up on drugs sounds pretty amusing…
Hoping for a great surgery and a quick recovery!
Comment by: Maia - 09.04.2007 - 3.04 pm
Still thinking & praying. Hugs, you. XO
Comment by: wzgirl - 09.04.2007 - 3.04 pm
I was thinking of you today as I was visiting a new friend in the hospital… her daughter has been in to visit her only 1 time in the last 10 days (they just got home from China 5 weeks ago) as it’s so hard to bring children to hospitals without the worries of long long memories.
So I say if the Versed works, wonderful.
Comment by: lisa - 09.04.2007 - 3.52 pm
Just checking back in….
Comment by: walternatives - 09.04.2007 - 4.54 pm
Oh Linda, just logged on for the first time today. Totally sending every good thought I have your way. And of course, also The Bee’s way. Hang in there mom. Update us when you can.
Comment by: Jacquie - 09.04.2007 - 5.26 pm
Just checking in. Hope all is going well and you’re all resting comfortably. I can’t wait to hear about The Bee’s first mouth words!
Comment by: Cavatica - 09.04.2007 - 5.49 pm
Just wanted you to know I am with you guys. Waiting for an update.
Also, wishing for some of that versed and wishing it could make me forget about this adoption waiting process.
Comment by: M - 09.04.2007 - 9.14 pm
Much as I’m not a great fan of docs and their Attitudes (those who have them) they usually do good work. We’re thinking of you and hoping your little Bee is feeling better tomorrow.
Comment by: FDChief - 09.04.2007 - 10.37 pm
Just checking in……
Comment by: Jacquie - 09.05.2007 - 3.16 am
You make me laugh even under the seriousness of the situation. The hotel parking lot would have been us without a doubt.
Glad that the Bee seemed good with the pager and the tiger gown and a little versed to make it all better.
Sending you good thoughts,and big hugs for the Bee. We will be waiting to hear the good news once she is out and on the road to recovery.
While you know it is a good thing, it must feel insanely scary to turn your baby girl over to the medical team. It will be a good thing in the end.
A dirty martini and a xanax would have me not worrying about a thing as I would be laid out cold and drooling:) which the other hospital waiting families would appreciate. Maybe that is the answer to all of this waiting we are doing:)
Comment by: jules - 09.05.2007 - 7.10 am
Thinking of all of you & thinking that sometimes “the waiting” is the hardest part
Comment by: barbara Noblog - 09.05.2007 - 7.35 am
I hope The Bee is recovering well. Your description of the plastic surgeon cracked me up. They must be the same across the country. Ours did see my daughter pre-surgery but she did not bow properly: she wouldn’t open her mouth and he told her she was pissing him off. Just the way you want to go into surgery, but everything turned out fine. And I’m sure it will for you too.
Comment by: Donna - 09.05.2007 - 11.07 am
I hope everything went better than smoothly.
Comment by: Brooklyn Mama - 09.05.2007 - 3.12 pm
I’ve been checking all day to see how things went. I hope The Bee is recovering well. Now I can imagine better how anxious and stressful it is to have your child go into surgery. We are still 3 weeks away from Oz’s surgery and I’m really beginning to freak out! I’m at least relieved they will let me stay in the room with him as he recovers.
You and The Bee are in our thoughts….
Melissa & Oz
Comment by: Melissa - 09.05.2007 - 3.44 pm