Our day started way to early as we were filling out paperwork in the L&D waiting area at 5:15 am. (mind you, this was the same paperwork Kristin had filled out the day before) Before being called back to our room, we were blessed to have our dear friend and retired Christ's Church Minister Dennis Bratton meet with us and share some time in prayer. Thank you Dennis for you authentic friendship and leadership in my life.
Once in our room, it took a little while to get the party started, possibly because everyone was still sleeping... but I have to say, with all the jokes we cracked on the way to the hospital about having to buy the doctors some coffee, it was refreshing to be greeted by a nursing staff who were already waiting for us. It was almost shift change but you would have never known. At about 6:20 - 6:30ish, the party started picking up. An IV, some pre-op meds and some last minute instructions and we were off... so we thought. The following is how the day unfolded...
8:10 am
A bit late but Kris is now in the OR. The first 45 minutes or so is getting the meds right and her comfortable. Lori, Sarah and I are now pacing the hallway and recovery room. 11:40 ish (CST) is the expected end to the surgery... God has his mighty hands working...
9:33 am
Just got a call from Mary D. (Nurse coordinator) Surgery started about 10 minutes ago and everything is moving smoothly. Mary said she would call me when Dr. Tulipan comes in to repair the SB defect. Updates at once...
9:58 am
Call #2 from Mary D. Dr. Tulipan is moving in to do his part. He will be "tucking" the spinal cord into its proper place and then closing the baby's back. I would like to say HAPPY BUTT DAY to my baby boy. Mary said she has taken a picture of the bum and the defect before closing. This baby is soo lucky to have two special days to celebrate each year.
Updates at once...
10:17 am
Call # 3 from Mary D. Dr. Tulipan just finished closing Baby Boys back. Took only 19 minutes, WOW! A plastic surgeon will now move in to close the uterus and close Kristin. Mary and Dr. Carrol will be out in about 30 to 45 minutes to talk with us and give us more information...
Updates at once...
10:45 am
Mary D. and Dr. Carrol just came out and said that Kristin and Baby Diehl finished with surgery and that they were closing Kristin. Doctos noted the defect was about the size of a nickel and the Baby closed up just perfectly with NO stretching. Dr.'s giving mad props to Kristin for carrying the twins as long as she did because it made for a well behaved uterus. Kris should be in the recovery room with us with in the next 30 minutes and so beging the long slow road to recovery.
11:40 am
She's Out She's Out!!! Kris is out of surgery and is resting comfortably. ALL the Dr.'s and Nurses said she did a GREAT job and everything went according to plan. Both Mommy and Baby are resting well.
Updates at once...
Kristin spent the first few hours after surgery in and out of sleep. more sleep than not which is a good thing. She was awake for most of the afternoon and just about an hour ago, around 9:20 finally said she needs to go to sleep. She is in no pain as she has an epidural for the first 24 hours after surgery. The plan is for tomorrow around noon is to take the epidural out while transitioning to alternate pain meds.
I joked a bit with Kris today about her needing a full day to go through her phone to look at emails and FB messages... and that is where you ALL come in. I speak for the both of us when I say thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all the love, support, thoughts and prayers you have sent our way. By ourselves we are weak but with you all and the strength of our God we are STRONG. I wish we could thank each and every one of you personally but to do so in a blog would take forever. Please know that we will, in some way shape or form, do our best to personally thank you.
I feel as if I could type forever but want to close this post by saying a HUGE thank you to the entire team team here at The Vanderbilt University Medical Center. From the random nurses and or doctors that go out of their way to help a lost visitor in the hall was (thats me) to the team of specialist who I have grown to love over the past week, to the sweet angel that spent all day with us, Rosha. From the deepest part of me, as the spouse of the two patients, thank you for your respect and kindness. Your work and professionalism have not gone un-noticed. I LOVE the place and would be lying if I said I wasn't a small bit of a Vandy fan.
Ok wait, one more... (as I'm crying) Thank you Sarah (my sister) for being here for me. Your love and support means more to me than you will ever know. I enjoyed the witty banter, aimless conversations and especially the cinder blocks. Benny boy, my bro-chacho, I know you wanted to be here and i love you just the same. Thank you too for your wisdom and prayer.
Good night everyone...