Surgery Day

Today has gone better than I could have even imagined! I know it is truly an answer to prayer, so I want to send out a big thank you to all my family and friends who prayed for me!

I got up at 4am this morning since I was supposed to be at the hospital at 5. I pumped (breast milk) one last time and showered using the special germ killing soap; I blew kissing to my sleeping girls, brushed my teeth and we were off (we got there a tad bit late, 5:10 I think, oops). I felt quite nervous as I waited to register. A jazzy tune from The Jungle Book was going through my mind as well as one of the Sandra Bointon songs - can't remember which one (such a mom thing, of course it made me smile).

They sent us upstairs and I was taken back to be prepped for surgery. The nurses were so kind and chatty, not to mention all the questions they went through, my mind was occupied and my nervousness went away. I was so amazed with how calm I felt and things moved along quickly. One of the surgical nurses visited me and we discovered we were from the same hometown. We talked about the High School we both went to and other details from "home" all the while my other nurse was working away at placing my IV and getting other details ready. It was just so easy going. I talked with the anesthesiologist and my surgeon came in to say hello and mark the hip (gotta make sure you do the right one). The anesthesiologist came back and had me sit on the side of the bed to get my spinal ready while a nurse gave me some IV sedation. I put my chin to my chest to be ready for the spinal and that's the last thing I remember.

I woke up in the post-op room thinking, "wow I just had a great nap". That was really my first reaction; I felt so refreshed, yet a little sleepy, then realized I was actually done. I didn't have any pain and was feeling great. It was a little crazy in the post-op, other patients were having trouble, so it was a little noisy. My husband was able to come in and I saw my surgeon briefly, who encouraged me that everything went well.

Eventually, another anesthesiologist and assistant came to give me my nerve block that goes right into my joint. It has a button that I push about every half hour; this combination of medicine is working really well for me. I was taken to my private room around 1 pm and have been alert enough to talk and have even listened to a book on CD. It's a children's book called The Landry News by Andrew Clements. I simply close my eyes, listen, and am taken to a different place.

I turned on the tv around 3 and watched a little of Ellen, for some comic relief. I used my breast pump (of course dumping the milk now) with my husband's help but felt a bit of pressure in my hip since I had to sit up so much.

I'm thankful for the good pain management and the quiet relaxed atmosphere here. I'm a bit stiff feeling and wish I could get up and stretch, but I hear that will happen tomorrow.