John Paul Update

Guest blogger Ashlei updating for Laura while she's at the hospital:

John Paul's surgery starts at ten this morning (9 p.m EST Wednesday evening.) We hope to have him back in our arms within five hours. Matt is taking our kids to a Friends and will be here at the hospital soon. So far John Paul is doing great! He has explored every last nook and cranny of the 13th floor and charmed all the nurses.

I hope to update again later when he is out of surgery.

Christmas cookies in the cleft ward lobby, night before his surgery

the first nurse had plenty of trouble getting his iv in and eventually gave up and deferred to another nurse.  by the time it was all over John Paul had worn himself out and settled down for a little pre-surgery snooze.

we got him!  left us at 11:45, transitioned to icu at 2:30 and with us in recovery by 4.  (his o2 sats weren't really that low but the monitor was acting finicky.  I eventually just unplugged it to get rid of all the beeping alarms!)

morning after surgery visit from the big sibs.  he was excited to see them but fell asleep in my arms shortly after they arrived. 

one of his better moments Friday afternoon.  Friday was his absolute worst day, but he did manage to have a bit of good time and ham it up for the camera too.