Yesterday and today I was on the phone with the hospital. Everything is a "go" for Leah's surgery. We have preauthorization from our insurance for her surgery. We are preregistered at the hospital. And today we heard from hospital billing and another call to give us our pre-op instructions. Billing was calling us to let us know how much we had left to pay of our deductible and that after that we are responsible for 20% (which we knew). We will be receiving a bill a couple weeks after the surgery and they said we could make payments.
Pre-op instructions are as follows: No breastmilk after 3:30am Monday morning. Leah can have water or pedialyte between 3:30-5:30 if we need to and nothing after 5:30am. We have to be at the hospital at 5:45am to check in. At this point we don't know if they will be doing bloodwork that morning before the surgery but there were no instructions from the surgeons for that. She said a lot of times with healthy babies they just draw that during "prep." I guess that makes better sense because by then they will be under and not feel the stick of the needles. I am thankful so far that she has not had to have any pre-op visits for labs/bloodwork.
We will be in a "holding" area with her. We will be able to stay with her until surgery time at 7:30am. Nurses will be available for questions and right before the surgery at 7:30 the surgeons and anesthesiologist will come in for any questions we may have. I am thankful Leah is the first surgery Monday morning....we won't have too long to wait with her being hungry...and we may be able to keep her asleep. She sleeps well that time of morning.
Our surgeons will be fresh off of a weekend and our plastic surgeon just came back from vacation. That is kind of nice.
So we'll drive down Sunday afternoon...get settled in the Conine Clubhouse....grab some dinner and try to get to bed EARLY!! I am not sure how much sleep we will get but Leah usually sleeps well between 9-1 or 2 so I should take advantage of that time frame though I am not normally able to go to sleep that early. I will wake to feed her her last feeding around 3pm and hopefully she will go back to sleep right away like she normally does (though she hasn't the past 2 nights!!). I am praying she will sleep well these next 3 nights so that I can get caught up on some sleep before next week.
We also found out today that though the PICU rooms are private that the regular pediatric rooms are NOT! They said sometimes if they are not busy they will keep the babies in the PICU for the rest of their stay. They put a request in for me for a private room since I am nursing but there are no guarantees. Pray that we are able to stay in a private room for the duration because this thing is stressful enough without worrying about Leah's crying keeping another family awake or them keeping us awake. We've always had private hospital rooms for all my births and when I've stayed in the hospital with Rebecca for a week when she was 2 months old. I really can't imagine how hard it would be caring for Leah and not having privacy...privacy to nurse, pump, sleep etc.
Tomorrow we have a lot of loose ends to tie up...cleaning, laundry, packing, paying bills, etc. I pray Leah takes better naps so we get it all done.
Remember to leave your comments for us....we LOVE hearing from you and will be printing these out for Leah's scrapbook! Or drop us an email. THANKS again for all your love and support.
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15 comments:
Tony and I will be praying and fasting on Monday morning. We know Leah is in God's hands and the Peace of God will see her through to a safe, healthy recovery! Dawn
You are in our thoughts and prayers. Leah is in the best of hands and will have many loving wishes with her during the surgery. Let us know if we can doing anything.
Lovingly, Kathy and Michael McHale
Don't spend your energy worrying about your room situation. We got moved to a "semi-private" room for our last night. It would've been nice to stay in the PICU, but I decided to focus on being happy that Florence didn't need that kind of care anymore. Our experience in the other room, while annoying, was not that bad. Florence slept through everything, and wasn't that bad herself. Trust in God to take care of even the tiniest details and stay positive. As far as nursing goes, be prepared to pump just in case, and if you have to, there is a curtain to pull for privacy. It is all going to work out just fine. I'll be praying for you!!! Monica and Florence
I'm so glad that you are as resourceful as you are. You have researched this so much that there is nothing left to question or not understand -- what comfort. Through that research you have even found other moms that have faced this to give you support and encouragement -- what a gift. And, you've begun this blog to keep everyone informed and document all of the events and feelings -- how therapeutic. There is no doubt that Leah will come through this perfectly and be more beautiful than she is now. Even knowing that it doesn't make the process any easier. So, we will be praying for safe travel, Leah to sleep through the prep., peace and strength for you to hand her over and wait during surgery and for a quick and comfortable recovery in the hospital. God bless, you will be in our thoughts all day.
Love, Jennifer, Ray and the boys
Your family in Arkansas are with you in spirit and prayer. Don't sweat the small stuff, rooms etc. God has the smallest details taken care of, there will be purpose in everything. Like anything else, you think you plan for everything, then things change or come up unexpected, but they turn out for the best. Monday, we will be able to turn from prayers to praise!
Denise, from one mothers heart to another, know I am thinking of you and understand your fears. I will be praying the day goes quickly for you and Ken. I know it will feel like a huge weight has been taken from you. Soon it will all be a distant memory. I can't wait to meet my new little niece, helmut and all! Much love, Kathy
I am a friend of Beth Blackburn and she forwarded me a link to your blog. I did not get the letter until this weekend or I would have contacted you sooner. Please know that your beautiful daughter and your family are in our prayers. My son Colton (28 months) was born with cranio-synostosis (saggital type) and he had the surgery to correct it when he was 3 months old. It was so difficult to go through at the time but all went well and no one who meets him now even imagines that he ever had or needed surgery in the past. You will be amazed at how different the skull looks immediately. If you ever have any questions or would like to write or speak to someone who went through it, please feel free to contact me. I will be thinking or you and praying for you tomorrow and I will follow her progress.
Warmly,
Susan Griffin susnjude@aol.com
Denise, we're praying for you tonight, and in the morning too! By the time I wake up here in Nebraska, you'll be on your way to the other side! You've got my numbers, so don't be afraid to call! I'm here for you tears and all!!!!! Leah will do wonderful, and God's hands will be with her, and her surgeons all the way! I can't wait to read your blog, to hear all went well...
So for now, here's a "cheers" to the other side! Take a deep breath, and for the first time in 4 months relax! :) :) :) BIG HUGS :) :) :)
Amanda Cast - & - Kaitlynn
I am praying!
We are with you...in constant prayer. Mom and Kathy
You are in our thoughts and prayers. Love, Melissa & Joseph
Denise, I have prayed for Leah several times since the original post on the FIAR message board. I am now praying that the surgery is over and that the surgeons were able to accomplish their job perfectly, introducing no infection in the process. I also pray that the Lord will take care of all the little details of the post-op period and give you peace, while also giving you the opportunity to be a blessing and witness to others, even if that means you have to miss out on some privacy. God bless you, your dh, and that precious little girl of yours. Hugs! ~ Angela
Praying for you guys today!
Robin, Katie, and Alex
Thinking of and praying for you all today Denise! Praying that your beautiful Leah has a perfect surgery and recovery!
Love, Tea
Wow, I just found out through a friend about Leah. Congratulations Ken and Denise on yet another beautiful girl. Medicine is so advanced these days and with god's presence there is nothing that can't be done. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers. Susan and David Jennings.
Please know that Madison and I will be remembering your family in prayer today. Eric and I so vividly remember Madison's surgeries. I know that you will continue to experience God's peace and protection.
Amy and the Casteel family
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