Back to normal

If you were to ask Jake how he is feeling, he would tell you, "not better."

However, he simply just wants to keep eating ice cream for every meal.

But it's true, he is finally back to normal! At our 9 day post-op appointment the doctors told us that we could begin to give him Ibuprofen. The back of his throat was still highly swollen due to him yanking out the tube during the surgery. Well the Ibuprofen did wonders! But he was not allowed back to daycare for 10 more days so we packed up everyone and headed to my parents (and their pool!) for the next week. Swim Camp 2011 picture to come in another post.

For those of you who know Jake, you know that he has a pretty unique voice. The surgery seemed to change it - it's been much higher pitched and less hoarse sounding. But finally, just today, he's starting to sound like himself again.

Here he is tonight at his first ever soccer game - he even scored three goals!!

The Recovery Continues

It's been 5 days since Jake's surgery and yesterday was the roughest of them all. Until last night Jake had been doing amazingly well! He sat outside with me for neighborhood garage sale on Saturday and he even made it to church on Sunday. He's taking it slow, talking kinda weird, but overall keeping up pretty well. But last night the poor thing was in so much pain. It was a long night but today he was back to probably 50% of his normal recovering self. I'm praying that his sleep is pain free tonight!

Cell phone pic right before surgery

In the recovery room getting ready to leave. Can you tell what sticker he is picking out? None other than JB.

Opening a package in the mail from friends of ours from church and a DQ gift card from his cousins

Balloons from Swack & Shaina

Ice cream for breakfast? Yes, please.

It's over

What a day.

Here's a quick version of how it went down.

The surgery was supposed to take 30-40 minutes. An hour later I was starting to get nervous. My friend, Shaina, watched Wade & Park for us so it was just me & Colby in Family Waiting Room #1.

Finally the doctor knocked on the door. The surgery was done. But apparently Jake woke up from the anesthesia more quickly than expected and freaked and yanked out the tube that was down his throat. They had to quickly put him under again and recauterize one of his wounds that started bleeding.

When we finally got to see him in the Recovery Room he was still sleeping. The nurses were giving us instructions when he woke up. But there was no gradual waking up... all of a sudden he was awake, screaming, coughing, snotty, with huge terror filled eyes. It was one of the saddest things I've ever seen. Lots of tears.

But by 1 pm we were home. There's been a constant stream of popsicles, slushies, juice and movies. He just lays on the couch and doesn't say much. But every now & then he'll yell at Wade or Park ~ some things never change!!

The recovery room at the hospital? 100x worse than expected.

The recovery so far at home? 100x better than expected.

We'll see what tomorrow brings!

Tomorrow

My sweet Jake.

Tomorrow he is having surgery.

Three years ago he another surgery to insert tubes into his ears. Tubes usually stay in children's ears 8-12 months before they fall out. But one of Jake's tubes never came out and once you hit the 3 year mark it must be surgically removed. The hole will be patched but there is a chance that it won't heal properly leading to other problems. Please pray that it heals!!

While he's under anesthesia we decided to get his tonsils and adenoids removed as well. His tonsils are large but the main reason we're doing it is because the removal of the tonsils has been known to permanently cure the Periodic Fever Syndrome that he suffers from. We've already stopped his twice daily medication and are praying that the episodes don't return after the surgery!!

We've been warned that the recovery from this operation is not fun. Jake knows all about what's going to happen we just didn't tell him what day. This weekend we went to the store and he got to pick out ice cream, popsicles, pudding, juice... he was in heaven :)

Please pray for Jake when you think about him in the days ahead. Thanks friends!!