Post Surgery

Sorry about the late update.  Yesterday, we got up early to go to Mercy Hospital for Gracie's surgery at 7:30 am.  We changed her into her hospital pajamas, meet all the different nurses and doctors.  Gracie went very easily to the nurse, so she carried her down.  Once there, they gave her a gas mask and an iv.  She was done around 7:45 to 8 am.  The doctor said everything went well.  A lot of times when they do this surgery they will wait if the child has a bad infection or cold but she had no fever so she was fine.  But the doctor said her ears and the stuff in it was like peanut butter and her adenoids were very big, poor thing was so backed up.  When we went to see Gracie obviously she was not very happy.  She was having a very hard time breathing because of all of the mucus and swelling.  Here breathing is considered good when it is about 92 and anything below means her oxygen level is not good.  She of course did the opposite of most kids and her O2 level was fine while sleeping but then she would start coughing and wake up and not be breathing.  We would then have too put the O2 mask over her face to get her O2 levels back up.  At one point the nurse mentioned keeping her over night to keep an eye on her.  They ended up giving her a breathing treatment to loosen all the mucus in her chest and reduce the swelling in her throat, that helped a great deal.  Usually in PACU they only allow one person but thankfully they let us both stay and trade off holding and rocking her, while the other held up the O2 mask.  By 10:30 we were moved to a different recovery area since her breathing had become stable.  And, we were home about 11:15.  Yesterday, was a long day of fussing and crying for Gracie.  She finally fell off to sleep last night and slept thru most of the night.  She did have a good morning and seemed to be more herself.  I am hoping for a fast turn around and that she will feel like a whole new person.

I did take just a couple of pictures, just because I have similar photos of myself when I was little and so I can show her when she is older.

My baby girl all ready to go

Gracie & Mommy Before in her little bed

Daddy rocking Gracie in recovery

Gracie's Surgery

Saying that Gracie has had a lot of ear infections is an understatement. The poor thing has endured at least eight ear infections since late summer. If she was teething or would get a little runny noise this would cause drainage and then give her ear infections. She has been on a prescription at least 8 times and has had to have double shots given while on antibiotics just too finally get ride of one. As of now another is already starting. The pediatrician’s office said at this point we need to seriously consider tubes. So, Troy and I went to see a specialist last Thursday where they looked at her ears, performed a few test, including a hearing test. The result, she needs tubes. The average kid gets 8 colds a year and that is a normal health kid. Gracie would spend most of the year with infections or on antibiotics if we did not do tubes and this can cause some serous hearing damage, not mentioning what it can do to her speech or her balance. The choice was clear. Tomorrow we are going early in the morning to have tubes put in and they will also be taking at her adenoids. this should make her life so much better. We are praying for her safety and speedy recovery.

Here is a few pictures of what will be happening.

Pictures provided by WebMD

Surgery Outcome

First, Troy and I wanted to thank all of you for your prayers and support this week with my surgery.  We have both appreciated the encouragement and the continued love we have received.

The surgery went well.  Thankfully the cyst ended up outside of my ovary, which is what we were praying for, so they only had to take the cyst.  The cyst did not burst during removal so that is good.  The oncologist did take a look at the cyst and did not seem to think there was any risk that it may be cancer but the true biopsy report will come back sometime next week.  The incision is basically like I had a c-section, just minus the baby coming out.  So, getting out of bed and going to the bathroom have been the biggest and most painful challenges.  I am taking some medicine for the pain but the medication makes me very sleepy and nauseous.  Thankfully, Troy and my mom have been here.  Troy has been helping get off and back on the couch.  It is amazing how much you really use those stomach muscles for everything.  My mom has been babysitting me during the day and cooking meals for us, which has been really nice.  Also, I am not allowed to drive, which is fine since every small bump on the way home felt like someone was tearing my stomach open, painful. 

Unfortunately, right now I am not allowed to return to work until I see the doctor, which will be on Wednesday.  The doctor told us at the hospital to plan on being out of work 4 to 6 weeks which I was surprised by and I think my work is going to want to kill me.   Wednesday, I will have to plead my case and pray that I heal quickly so I will only be out 4 weeks but I will have to be patient and see.

Baby Schenk is doing well.  Directly after surgery I was taken to recovery and the doctors were all attaching me to monitors and the nurse came up to listen for the baby’s heart beat and to check the heart rate.  I was extremely groggy but I was relieved as my doctor told me the outcome of the surgery and hearing the heartbeat was just such a relief.  My doctor and the hospital staff were amazing and so nice.  Really, I could not have asked for more.  I have never been in a hospital where each staff member I came in contact with was more than kind.  Of course I was monitored thru the night while Troy tried to sleep here and there but an interruption every hour cannot mean good sleep.  We were in very good care.  I did get to know a few nurses that I am sure I will get to see later, which will be nice.

Thanks again for all the prayers

Exciting News!

Exciting News!

We had the 16 week ultra sound today. The baby was moving all over the place. The nurse was laughing because Baby Schenk would not sit still for her to take pictures and measure. The legs and arms were constantly busy moving around. Baby Schenk was all over the place in some of the most uncomfortable positions I have ever seen and of course would not allow us to get a look to find out if it was a boy or a girl.

Prayerful News!

Troy and I went to the doctors this morning for the 16 Week check up and to see how my cyst was doing which is really the reason for the continuous ultrasounds. Hoping the the cyst is a functional cyst and it will begin to shrink like it is suppose too. Unfortunately, for us this was not the case. We meet with the doctor who gave us our option to have surgery or not. The whole thing gets rather complicated. It turns out that the cyst does not want to go away and in this situation it is best to have the surgery now. It becomes harder if we wait and it could rupture or twist during the third trimester. Which can lead into large amounts of pain that can cause me to go into labor, way to early or even miscarriage. Because the cyst is considered a growth because it does nothing but grow in my ovary they would actually have to take out my right ovary that contains the cyst. They would then test the cyst once it has been removed for any cancer cells.

After meet with my doctors this morning we then were sent to Aultman Hospital to meet with a hi-risk pregnancy doctor that would be doing the surgery to see what he thought and get his full opinion of what we should do. He does not believe we should wait because it would only cause more harm later. One of those things where as a doctors he can not tell me 100% that everything will be fine. We just have to decide what we think is best and pray, pray, pray from there. So, after much consideration and listening to the concerns of the doctor if we do not do this, Troy and I decided to do the surgery. My surgery will be sometime next week. We will keep you posted!

Prayers:

1)That they baby remains safe and unharmed.

2)That we will be able to have kids in the future.

3)That the surgery goes will with no complications.