Madison

Madison woke up and decided she wanted to go to dance...so we took her. What a trooper! She keeps her arm against her chest and she says it doesn't hurt but we can tell it bothers her a little.

Stitches

This isn't a good picture but the best I could do quickly since she was upset...not sure why it isn't clearer.

Update

Madison didn't think or complain about her arm until we went to change her bandage at 6:30pm. She kind of freaked out because she didn't expect the bandage to not be clean and she didn't understand how the stitches appeared. But, once we changed it and after holding her arm still and milking it she was back to not thinking about it again. She did say she didn't want to go to dance tomorrow and we weren't very sure we were going to take her anyway.

How Surgery Went

Things went pretty much as expected. When we arrived we checked Madison in, answered more questions, and signed more paperwork. After waiting in the waiting room for a little bit they called Madison in. We changed her from her pjs to her hospital gown and she climbed into bed. They hooked her up to the machines to monitor her and took her temperature. We answered more questions over and over again. She was given the Tylenol with Valium but refused to take it so we tried a different way to give it to her. After half of it she was done.....she held it all in her mouth and would not swallow. Eventually she spit it all out. She didn't like the taste. After several different attempts we all gave up. So we had to try and calm her down since she was upset. Than it was time to kiss and hug Madison good-bye and off to surgery she went. She was so brave.

Mommy and Daddy were than taken to the waiting room to wait. After about 10-15 minutes the doctor came out and let us know that things went well and filled us in on everything. She was given a mask since the Valium was a no go and they put her under with the iv. The incision ended up being an inch long and will take at least 5 days to heal. Instead of 2 stitches on the outside she has 4. After the doctor left it seemed like ages before they came back out to get us. Once they did they informed us that she was just waking up and was watching...cartoons. We hugged and kissed her and told her how much we loved her and how brave she was. She said..."I didn't even fall asleep and they cut my bump off and I didn't even cry..I didn't even feel it" and we left it at that. They did say it was hard to wake her and she must be a sound sleeper...and yes, that is true. They let her take the stickers from being monitored off herself which she thought was cool.

We got her dressed and she rounded up her friends.

All in all, Madison's surgery went well...we weren't too worried. After arriving home she was way lying on the couch and singing. She doesn't feel any pain so that is good. She would not take the Valium at the hospital and spit it out..that was the only ordeal. They took such amazing care of her. Her favorite parts: the wagon full of new toys and books that she could choose from (she ended up with 3 things rather than the 1 they initially said she could have), Nurse Sarah because she put round stickers on her chest and tummy with wires in them, Doctor John (not really a doctor but we let her call him that) who was so nice and let her take the stickers off herself and because he pushed her out of the hospital in a wheelchair. When we went to see her after surgery she said she never went to sleep and she didn't cry when they cut her bump off. She remembers nothing except before and after. She now has to lay around all day and that isn't so fun. Thank you all for your warm thoughts and welcomed prayers. It was minor but whenever you put a child or anyone under it is a big deal. She has a few more stitches than originally planned but most are internal. She goes back in one week and than again in two weeks. Tomorrow will be more fun.........

Taking It Easy

Here are a few pictures of Maddie after arriving back at home after her surgery.

She has some "friends" to keep her company. The penguin is one she took to the hospital with her. However, the other three (a lamb, bear, and monkey puppet) were friends she picked out of the wagon they brought to her room. All of them stayed with her from the beginning until the end.

Special delivery: a balloon bouquet from her Godparents and their children. Thanks Brian, Heather, Adam, and Emily!

Madison's Surgery Schedule

6:00am drive to Oshkosh
6:30am arrive at Aurora Hospital - change into gown, etc
7:00am given relaxer (Tylenol and Valium works after 15 mins)
7:30am anesthesia and surgery
8:00am taken to recovery
8:15am will be woken up and Kevin and I will be sent for
9:30am earliest she will be released depending on how she is eating, drinking, etc
10:00am home at the earliest

Ultrasound

I had to call my doctor to change the appointment for my ultrasound as Kevin wouldn't be able to go with me that day. I thought for sure I would end up going in January if the couldn't get me in on December 21st (ultrasound was originally December 20th). Well, I was wrong...my ultrasound will now be on December 15th at 10:30am. Yay!

Madison's Pre-Op

Today Madison had her pre-op. Doctor Jansen had to check her heart, etc before she has her surgery this Friday.

We had to sign consent forms mainly and Madison enjoyed receiving fun stickers but otherwise it was a short appointment. We were also given her prescription for pain so that we can go ahead and get it. One good thing is that when they put her under they won't be using a tube and she will still breathe on her own. The doctor said it will only take him like 10 minutes even though we will be there for hours. He said that children wake up fast after surgery and so they will bring her right out to us so that she doesn't become so freaked out. She will have stitches but you will only see where they start and end since they will be internal. That will all be covered with butterfly bandages. Due to her hair and skin color the healing won't be as great as it will be at 3 or 4 months. But, like he said..it is better to have the end better than the beginning. So, it will look bad initially but the outcome will be much better. He said that it may not necessarily be a dermatofibroma....as they are usually benign. When he came in and looked at her bump this time his words were.."I don't even know what that is" and Kevin and I were confused. And that is when I said.."isn't it a dermatofibroma" and he said "yes and no." So, who knows. He says bumps like that can surprise them. He still says it must be removed and mainly so that we know it is benign and nothing cancerous. I didn't dare mention to the doctor that Kevin touched every breast implant on the shelf before he entered the room.

So, we will be at the hospital at 6:30 am on Friday. Her surgery is at 7:30am. Please keep Madison in your prayers.

Madison has to go back next Wednesday so that doctor can check everything out and she will go back a week after that to have her stitches removed.