Pumpkin's Surgery

Pumpkin one day after surgery.

Wow last month was a busy month.  

Like usual Pumpkin got sick and we spent time in the ER where he hyperventilated because

he couldn't breathe and they were busy with a trauma

and have only one respiratory worker.

One?

I think they need to hire more.

Anyways they then sent us home after one treatment even though

I couldn't get his breathing under control with two albuterol

treatments and steroids.  I really think he needed to stay

but after the long night and the next long day he 

began to improve.  

One good thing is this ER visit got me a referral to 

an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor that put Pumpkin on some antibiotics for the 

next four weeks and then he'll have a CAT scan of his sinuses 

to see what's up with them.

Since he's been on this medicine he's cleared up a lot.

I went to the eye doctor where we scheduled Pumpkins eye surgery and just before the 

surgery we took him in to his regular doctor who was

surprised to see that Pumpkin was in the 

best health he's seen him in 

yet.

Pumpkin one day after surgery

The surgery happened on the 28th of December with me being quite nervous 

but comforted with the knowledge that so many were praying for him.  The Doctor
moved his eye muscles back so they would stop
swinging his eye up into the corner when he looked
to either side.  He also
straightened his lazy eye so when his glasses are one his eye is looking straight.

Pumpkin came out of the operating room screaming bloody

murder.

I got in the hospital bed and they passed him to me.

It took awhile for him to get control of

himself enough to

want to rub his eyes.

He wanted to rub them on everything it was like watching an animal

who has an itch they can't satisfy but

won't stop until they do.

I held his arms as I cuddle him and then he began

rubbing his eyes on my chest and arms so 

I had to turn him over and he 

tried rubbing in the switch

meanwhile he was still screaming.

I had my husband get my mom and sister from the waiting room

as they were coming he finally got enough

control that he yelled out, 'MY EYES', before trying to rub again.

My mom came in then and held him.

He ended up throwing up once and almost an hour after surgery 

he wasn't ready yet but we were pretty much kicked out sent home.

The next few days were filled with swollen eyes, literally blood red eyes, light purple under the eyes,

ointment for the eyes four times a day which made him cry he said they hurt,

and cold washcloths when they hurt.

He really did take it well though.

Pumpkin day two after surgery

Yesterday we went back to see the eye doctor who liked what he saw and we have to finish

out the eye ointment through tomorrow and then he's released from those.

I'll be so glad to stop putting them in and having him cry at me.

Pumpkin's favorite animal, Hooey, got ready for the surgery.

Today so shortly after surgery he's going in for another appointment so that he can get his shots and

we can set up his allergy shots and talk about getting some eczema cream.  

I feel like his health is finally getting somewhere. 

Maybe he'll finally be a healthy child.

Either way I love him.

I'm here for him.

I'm holding him when he can't breathe, when he's getting more shots, when he's on all

his meds even the ones that make him a bit crazy,

when he's throwing up,

when he's screaming,

when he needs me to hold his hand because he's afraid when the doctors

talking to him, I'm here until my times up

and that's not going to change.

I tell him I love him and he asked me why.  

"I love you because your you."

"Why?"

"Just because your Pumpkin and I love Pumpkin."

He gets a shy grin and hugs me, 

"I love you mom."

We go through these same words a lot.

He wants to know if I love him when he's in trouble.

Of course I love him when he's in trouble because he's still Pumpkin.

"Why?"

"Because your still you that's why Pumpkin."

It's a tender moment as I watch him feel the love.

It's interesting how much

he feels it every time we have this talk.

He never feels it less.

He soaks it in and I soak in the look on his face.

Pumpkin today.

Having a sickly child is a strain

it's not easy it's hard 

and it's hard a lot of the time.

I wouldn't trade him

in for all 

the 

peace 

a healthy child could bring.

He's special

and he's being prepped for bigger things in his life.

He's growing me along the way.

A teacher to his mother.

All children are.

Mr. A and Monkey see him differently too.

They are more patient with him.

They laugh when the meds make him crazy even though he may be 

making them crazy and they cry and cringe when he's hurting.

We are all on this ride together.

We are all

learning together.

Pumpkin today.

Hug your child(ren) today and remind them that you love them

not because they are good,

or healthy, 

 or good at something

and not only when they are all that and more,

but you love them always even in the muck.

You may think they know

and you may

just think you say it without words

but they need the words.

They need the reminders.

They'll soak it in 

even if you can't tell they are.

Mommaraff