Spoiled

The hospital where Sarah had her surgery was amazing.  Really, the only complaint we really had was that her room wasn't ready when she woke up in recovery, but that was very minor and the only thing we could come up with if you made me tell you something that was wrong.  Otherwise, the facility ran very smoothly.

While she in her MRI and then surgery, they called us every hour to give us an update on how she was doing.  They had a "parents are part of the solution" philosophy, so would actually ask us if we thought she needed pain medicine or to give input on her care.  It was a little weird, because I'm not a doctor or a nurse and I would think that they know better, but they know that I know my child better than they do so my input counts.

They were constantly checking on us to see if we needed anything and they have so many activities for the kids it's unbelievable.  Sarah didn't get to do much because she couldn't leave her bed, but one day someone came in to play music with the kids and afterwards came to her room to see if she wanted to play instruments too.  The Child Life specialists came in several times to chat and give her art projects and things to keep her busy.  On the last day she spent two hours in the play room with the resident artist painting pictures, making bracelets and playing with clay.  Their resident artist wasn't any flunky off the streets either, she has a PhD in art education.

She was such a trooper through the entire visit, she even liked using a bed pan.  She thought it was very cool that she got to pee lying down in the bed.  When else would she be allowed to do that?  Of course I didn't like the bed pan as much, but it wasn't too bad.

She also received so many gifts.  By the time we left the hospital she had a teddy bear from the chaplain, a stuffed frog from one of Andy's teachers, gift baskets from a classmate and her school, a stuffed tiger and a book from one of my friends and she even scored a Halloween pillow on the way out the door.

There was even more at home.  Are projects galore from her aunts and uncles and neighbors and friends.  Nail polish and balloons and candy.  Everyone has been so generous, it's been better than her birthday. 

Her therapist warned me that the biggest problem we would have after the surgery was that Sarah would be spoiled.  She was right, but the rest of us have been as well.  I've been spoiled to have my mom and now my mother-in-law here to help cook and do dishes and wash our clothes while I hang out with Sarah.  Amanda has been spoiled to have Sarah home everyday to play with.  Andy has gotten a little more attention out of this as well, but probably the least of everyone.  Even my mom has been spoiled a little in that she gets to hang out here with us with no responsibilities other than helping us - except I think she's probably ready to get back to her normal life.

Next week Sarah will go back to school and we will, mostly, go back to our normal schedule.  One more way I've been spoiled it that a lot of our after school activities have been put on hold for the next couple of weeks until Sarah gets the okay to continue more physical activity.  So, other than Andy's football season, which is almost over, we don't have gymnastics or yoga or therapy to get to and we can slow down and relax.

So far that may be the biggest positive so far.