Post-Op and Recovery

Dr. Aiken could not have been more pleased with the technical aspects of the operation yesterday. He thanked us for our prayers in his behalf and said he was sure that had a lot to do with how well things went. We pass that on to all of you that have been so diligently keeping vigil in your own ways for our little angel.

Recovery is going okay. As good as it can considering Malachi is an active baby that loves his food and is now completely restricted as far as both of those things go. He is comforted by holding a finger, being sung and talked to, and by his swing and walks in his stroller. I was there to get Sam some rest during the day yesterday and then he took over. The children and I will head back after piano lessons today so he can hear their voices and see their faces.

He has been pretty good about not getting fed. As good as you can be when you are 4 1/2 months old and have just been cut open. His mouth is really dry and pasty so I started dipping his binki in water to wet his whistle. This practice got me kudos from one nurse and looks of death daggers from another. It's okay I have mom armor which I am confident is strong enough to ward off the sharpest of death daggers from well-meaning nurses.

It's hard to snuggle him very well because his catheter and iv are coming out in opposite directions and there is of course the abdominal incision. I have never even thought about how much involvement the belly plays in picking up, holding, and snuggling a baby. I am now keenly aware. Some things I wish I could wish away.

At this point we are waiting for poop. Once he poops he can eat again. So we are once again back to the place of praying for poop. We also pray that our little smiley guy will be able to find his smile again and be happy despite his miserable circumstances.

You know what I am most excited for? Tickling him again. He is our first baby to be ticklish and it's so fun. You can't even undress him without getting a big old belly laugh show. It's just the greatest! I can't wait to tickle him again. The simple things in life bring the most joy. A tickle, a smile, a belly laugh. I find myself looking for different things these days and it's wonderful; wonderfully simple.