When he came to, Charlie was hungry and thirsty. He had popsicles, juice, and lots of crackers. He watched a Buzz Lightyear cartoon on a tiny DVD player. He wrapped all the nurses around his finger, particularly a couple of them who had four-year-old boys of their own at home.
We slept in the post-op pod because they had no room available for us. I slept on a stretcher with pillows and blankets. Charlie woke up at 5:00 a.m. and I took him to the bathroom. More popsicles, more cartoons, then back to sleep until 7:30 or so, when approximately 18 doctors came to look at him. One of them told me to leave the plastic cup over his ear (secured around his crazy bed-head hair with a velcro strap) for three or four days. Another said, "Feh."
Jeff came in around 9:00 and we got Charlie dressed and out the door. Jeff went to back to work and I took Charlie home in the rain. He fell back asleep in the car. Once home he played with the Play-Doh burger factory my mom brought him. I took of his ear cup and he promised not to bang his ear. His ear looks fine.
Last night I put the cup back on his ear, explaining that I did not want him to lie on his ear in a weird position and rip the stitches. He complied. He's on Z-pack. I gave him Tylenol with codeine before bed, but this morning he said he didn't want any medicine. He's a hero!
Thanks again everyone for your awesome moral support!
Oh--one more thing. Last night after I logged off to go be with Charlie, I saw Army Dad (Private Dad?) at the elevators. "Hey," I said softly, "How's your baby?" Army Dad gave me a huge smile and said "He's doing great! He's kicking his legs and pulling out all his lines!" He's a fighter, that little dude! He'll be fine, and so will Charlie.
Hey-I 'm so glad everything went so well with Charlie. I hope I'll be able to see you guys before you head south for turkey.
Posted by: kerry | November 21, 2009 at 01:08 PM
Yay for being home! Glad everything went so well. And I'm glad to hear army baby is fighting too.
Happy Thanksgiving, indeed.
Posted by: cate | November 21, 2009 at 02:02 PM
hooray i'm so glad everything went well!
any chance you'll be around thanksgiving weekend? i has a bday present for oskie. <3
Posted by: Shaina | November 21, 2009 at 05:36 PM
So happy to hear all went well. We were quietly but fervently pulling for him on this side of the globe as well.
Posted by: evelyn | November 22, 2009 at 09:44 AM
I read your amazing blog from time to time. I checked it today because Heather told us that you will all spend Thankgiving together. I am thankful that they have great friends in your fmily and that Charlie has had a sucessful surgery! Love, Barb Grady
Posted by: Barb Grady | November 22, 2009 at 11:42 AM
Yay for Charlie! I've been praying for ya'll! So glad everything went good. Glad you were able to get the chance to check on army baby. It is difficult to know if you should say something or not. You are right, being in a hospital and seeing everyone else's situation puts everything into perspective. Miss chatting with you!
Posted by: Amber | November 22, 2009 at 03:49 PM
Good for him and you guys. Looking forward to seeing you this weekend. xo
Posted by: Lauren | November 22, 2009 at 07:09 PM
Double hooray! So pleased for our little Spidey-batman champ, but also so impressed and touched by your generosity and love for all the other little beans in the hospital.
Can't wait to see you all later this week!
Posted by: Maggie | November 23, 2009 at 10:02 PM