February 17th, 2014 is a day that will live in infamy……at least for us.
What a great weekend. You have no idea how awesome it was to have so many people with Bentley on their minds. Except for when we sang Happy Birthday to ken. Operation Lonely Girls was still the mission, but we had to make a few exceptions being it was Mercedes Marathon weekend. Saturday night was the spaghetti dinner. We met family and friends there, but I had to sanitize my hands after every person I shook hands with. Lindsay was still a little anxious going into the weekend. We experienced the same quarantine affect on Sunday morning during the marathon. We didn’t let anyone get near Bentley. It was kind of funny. Jessica, my sister ran the half-marathon for her, along with a few of her friends. They wore some super sweet “Team Bentley” shirts. I mentioned the two teams who were raising money for the Bell Center in Bentley’s name. They all did great. We really appreciate the effort and time so many people put into that event. I can’t believe so many people just offered to run really far up and down the streets of Bham. I love the Bell Center too, but….
What a great weekend. You have no idea how awesome it was to have so many people with Bentley on their minds. Except for when we sang Happy Birthday to ken. Operation Lonely Girls was still the mission, but we had to make a few exceptions being it was Mercedes Marathon weekend. Saturday night was the spaghetti dinner. We met family and friends there, but I had to sanitize my hands after every person I shook hands with. Lindsay was still a little anxious going into the weekend. We experienced the same quarantine affect on Sunday morning during the marathon. We didn’t let anyone get near Bentley. It was kind of funny. Jessica, my sister ran the half-marathon for her, along with a few of her friends. They wore some super sweet “Team Bentley” shirts. I mentioned the two teams who were raising money for the Bell Center in Bentley’s name. They all did great. We really appreciate the effort and time so many people put into that event. I can’t believe so many people just offered to run really far up and down the streets of Bham. I love the Bell Center too, but….
Morning-after. Back to her old self, sort of. Thank you so much for everyone who showed Bentley love this weekend. We really appreciate it.
Now, to the part everyone really wants to know, how was surgery?!!!!
It was kind of funny. If only you could have heard mine and Lindsay’s conversation on the way up to Bham on Friday. Our nerves were actually starting to get to us. We almost turned around and didn’t drive up until Sunday night, just because we didn’t want her getting a last second cold prior to surgery. We got a huge surprise on Sunday, and got some Facetime with Uncle Jarod. That was pretty special. We were pumped to see him before surgery.
Fortunately, we didn’t have to get to Children’s too early. We left the Villa de Shocka around 730am. Perfect timing. The surgery registration area was packed. We had to sit at a little kitty table as we waited to be called back. Our Outback pager finally went off around 945. We went back and got the usual questions. All 50 of them. I laugh, because Lindsay doesn’t like this part. Dr. Woolley came by, and many other people. I tried videoing as much as possible. Bentley must have known it was a big day, because she never cried or fussed a bit. Even though she hadn’t had anything to eat since Sunday night. They pried her from our arms around 1000am. Well, we knew at that point we had about 5 hours to wait. No worries, just 5 hours of my baby passed out with a tube shoved down her throat, her head cut open in two spots, two holes drilled in the base of her skull, and an insanely fragile electrode placed inside the most fragile seashell (her cochlea) I’ve ever known. No reason to worry, or get stressed, or sit there staring at the Outback pager hoping for an update.
Well, we tolerated it well. We were blessed to have both sets of parents around us. Quite a few friends stopped by as well. It was a great way to pass the time. However around the 5.5 hr mark, I was starting to get a little anxious. I decided that was the perfect time to shift to some actually work-work. That kept me occupied until Dr. Woolley appeared. He came bearing good news. The surgery went well. It was a huge success from their end. They just had to take things slow because of her size. It was great, we were so relieved. Unfortunately, he also said it would be another hour or two to wake her up. I’ve mentioned how rough anesthesia is on her before. She must have prepared for this, because although it took 2 hours for us to see her, she was almost completely awake.
When we walked through those doors and saw that bunny rabbit wrapped up on that gurney, I was just elated. “Thank you Lord!” I can’t begin to tell you the relief I had knowing I could see and touch her. She was a tad swollen, and had some big ole earmuff bandages on, but she was as precious as ever. The rest of the evening was basically Lindsay and me fighting over who got to hold her. We were obviously treating her head as if it contained two cracked eggs, but what do you expect? She was a little fussy for a while, but Lindsay was pooped. She crashed and I just couldn’t take my eyes off of B. She was so sweet laying there in the crib. Around 1130pm she started rubbing her feet on the blanket and smiling. All I could do was pray “Thank You! Thank you thank you thank you!” I watched her until she fell asleep around 1am. I think her big day finally hit her. I’m not sure it was long afterward when I passed out.
This morning, everyone was feeling better. We were discharged around 1pm, and headed straight south. Bentley was awesome. She never whined or complained. She made some sweet little coos, but that’s about it. Back home we realized how stinky and smelly we all are. I didn’t take my shoes off for 36 hours. Right now we are all debating where the hospital stink is coming from. Is it from Bentley’s headband and dressing change, or is it from me? Lindsay, as a source of the stench, isn’t an option. Bentley has to wear these funny headbands to hold on the dressings. The incisions are right behind her ears, and her ears are draining pretty good. All in all, the surgery couldn’t have gone any better.
Thank you to everyone who threw up some prayers. I can’t thank you enough. Bentley has a couple of new knots on her head, where the implants sit, but otherwise seems back to her old self. We’ll head back up for a post-op appointment next week, and we’ll try turning them on February 27th! It is so hard to believe she’s got them. This has been such a milestone to achieve. A milestone that holds so much potential. Thanks again for all of the support and prayers. I’ll let you know how the turn-on day goes.
Now, to the part everyone really wants to know, how was surgery?!!!!
It was kind of funny. If only you could have heard mine and Lindsay’s conversation on the way up to Bham on Friday. Our nerves were actually starting to get to us. We almost turned around and didn’t drive up until Sunday night, just because we didn’t want her getting a last second cold prior to surgery. We got a huge surprise on Sunday, and got some Facetime with Uncle Jarod. That was pretty special. We were pumped to see him before surgery.
Fortunately, we didn’t have to get to Children’s too early. We left the Villa de Shocka around 730am. Perfect timing. The surgery registration area was packed. We had to sit at a little kitty table as we waited to be called back. Our Outback pager finally went off around 945. We went back and got the usual questions. All 50 of them. I laugh, because Lindsay doesn’t like this part. Dr. Woolley came by, and many other people. I tried videoing as much as possible. Bentley must have known it was a big day, because she never cried or fussed a bit. Even though she hadn’t had anything to eat since Sunday night. They pried her from our arms around 1000am. Well, we knew at that point we had about 5 hours to wait. No worries, just 5 hours of my baby passed out with a tube shoved down her throat, her head cut open in two spots, two holes drilled in the base of her skull, and an insanely fragile electrode placed inside the most fragile seashell (her cochlea) I’ve ever known. No reason to worry, or get stressed, or sit there staring at the Outback pager hoping for an update.
Well, we tolerated it well. We were blessed to have both sets of parents around us. Quite a few friends stopped by as well. It was a great way to pass the time. However around the 5.5 hr mark, I was starting to get a little anxious. I decided that was the perfect time to shift to some actually work-work. That kept me occupied until Dr. Woolley appeared. He came bearing good news. The surgery went well. It was a huge success from their end. They just had to take things slow because of her size. It was great, we were so relieved. Unfortunately, he also said it would be another hour or two to wake her up. I’ve mentioned how rough anesthesia is on her before. She must have prepared for this, because although it took 2 hours for us to see her, she was almost completely awake.
When we walked through those doors and saw that bunny rabbit wrapped up on that gurney, I was just elated. “Thank you Lord!” I can’t begin to tell you the relief I had knowing I could see and touch her. She was a tad swollen, and had some big ole earmuff bandages on, but she was as precious as ever. The rest of the evening was basically Lindsay and me fighting over who got to hold her. We were obviously treating her head as if it contained two cracked eggs, but what do you expect? She was a little fussy for a while, but Lindsay was pooped. She crashed and I just couldn’t take my eyes off of B. She was so sweet laying there in the crib. Around 1130pm she started rubbing her feet on the blanket and smiling. All I could do was pray “Thank You! Thank you thank you thank you!” I watched her until she fell asleep around 1am. I think her big day finally hit her. I’m not sure it was long afterward when I passed out.
This morning, everyone was feeling better. We were discharged around 1pm, and headed straight south. Bentley was awesome. She never whined or complained. She made some sweet little coos, but that’s about it. Back home we realized how stinky and smelly we all are. I didn’t take my shoes off for 36 hours. Right now we are all debating where the hospital stink is coming from. Is it from Bentley’s headband and dressing change, or is it from me? Lindsay, as a source of the stench, isn’t an option. Bentley has to wear these funny headbands to hold on the dressings. The incisions are right behind her ears, and her ears are draining pretty good. All in all, the surgery couldn’t have gone any better.
Thank you to everyone who threw up some prayers. I can’t thank you enough. Bentley has a couple of new knots on her head, where the implants sit, but otherwise seems back to her old self. We’ll head back up for a post-op appointment next week, and we’ll try turning them on February 27th! It is so hard to believe she’s got them. This has been such a milestone to achieve. A milestone that holds so much potential. Thanks again for all of the support and prayers. I’ll let you know how the turn-on day goes.
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