day 2 update

It's early Friday afternoon.  I am just home from the hospital after a long two day stretch away from home and my other four children.  Hospitals have a way of just taking the wind out of your sails, and leaving your exhausted, don't they?  And our hospital is really great, really a sweet encouraging friendly place, but it's still a hospital, and I can't wait to get in the shower and wash off the smell of antiseptic and plastic and bloody drool :)

But I am here with a quick update first!

John Paul is doing okay.  He is better than yesterday, but still a pretty sad little boy.  He did perk up quite remarkably when his big siblings visited earlier this morning, but mostly he is in pain and grumpy, clingy, tear-y.

Dr. Stone (the surgeon) feels very confident in his work and John Paul's response, but only time will tell how successful the surgery was, these first few days are important - especially that he would avoid infection and get the nutrition he needs.  He is eating some soft foods (yogurt, applesauce, soup) and has a bit of an appetite, but not nearly as much as he normally eats.  He has a big gauze pack in the roof of his mouth and we hope he'll tolerate it for another day or two as it really helps protect the surgical site.

He is still on intermittent iv fluids, but the nurses are good about taking him off the iv and giving him some time untethered to the iv pole.  He doesn't have a lot of energy and isn't really asking to get down anyways.

A friend brought Julianna Lydia and Isaac to visit this morning and then the four of us went to pick up Luke and come home together.  I need some serious rest (not much sleep last night) and am looking forward to a quieter afternoon here and a long night of sleep.  Tomorrow Matt and I will switch spots and he'll take the home shift while I head back to the hospital.  Best case scenario we get out on Sunday, Monday is probably more likely at this point.  It'll make for a good Christmas Eve to have us all seven in the same place again, that's for sure!!

Thank you for praying!  This surgery is a life-changer for my little guy!  So so thankful!