Happy to be home

First of all, thank you so much to each and every one of you for your emails, texts, calls and posts. Your support is appreciated beyond words.

I am happy to report that Miss Gracie came home just as her fabulous surgeon, Dr. Mainwaring, anticipated! She was discharged almost exactly 48 hours after coming out of the OR! This was, by far (and including the surgery, believe it or not) the easiest hospitalization she's ever had. She only needed Tylenol to manage the pain and we came home with Tylenol w/ codeine just in case she was sore from being more active. TROOPER!

She went into the OR smiling - - this was not "goofy juice" induced, either - - the fact that she was happy and calm actually made me very nervous as it has never happened before. I literally started to panic as we walked away from her with her arms and legs happily flitting about on the gurney and we could hear her laughing over her trach. Thank goodness John was there to calm me down and assure me that she was going to be fine. As she woke, we were frantically trying to figure out if she was trying to sign "hurt" or "medicine" (she was pointing her finger and trying to touch her other hand... both arms with IVs in, so it was hard for her to move and hard for us to tell) but I quickly realized that her pulse ox probe was taped to her finger (she is used to it being on her toe) and I promptly moved it for her. She immediately relaxed and went back to sleep. She woke later, smiling, signed "happy" and was in a pretty good mood. She napped periodically and then had a wonderful night's sleep (as hospital stays go) on Thursday night. Friday was Gracie's more "typical" hospital behavior... despondent, non-communicative, staring into space. The only actual response I got out of her were a few smiles in the morning as I gave her a sponge bath and she gave nurse Nicole (not her nurse that day, but who has cared for her before and she came in to say "hi" to her) a big grin. Otherwise, with the exception of telling me "all done" a couple of times, she just wasn't "there." And, boy did I miss her. She slept a total of maybe three hours between 8pm and 8am... we were both exhausted.

Saturday morning was busy with discharge activity and included the most difficult part of the stay for Gracie - - removing the IVs so excessively taped on each arm. It felt as though it took hours as nurse Sarah so gently tried to remove the adhesive and get the tape off of her skin. This was not pleasant... the most unpleasant it's ever been actually, and I made a note to myself to discuss with each anesthesiologist in the future... use more cotton or gauze under the tape so as to save my little peanut's skin and arm hair... OUCH.

Then, we were sprung. Gracie's been happy, fairly busy and pretty much her normal self... just a little slower and more hesitant with Preston - - you can actually see her brace herself when he is near. We kept her ankle bracelet on (Nana's brilliant suggestion!) because Preston is very aware that it's there and he says ouch whenever he sees it. It seems to be helping remind him that he needs to be careful.

A big thank you to the staff sergeants at the Academy who generously and compassionately gave John liberty from Wednesday night until after surgery on Thursday. I knew I could get through it without him if necessary, but was so incredibly grateful to have "my rock" and my "PIC" (Partner in "Crime", Partner in Children, Partner in Craziness, Partner in Chores, etc.) by my side. He is the reason that Miss Gracie was so calm as we waited for surgery.

And a super big thank you to Nana who took such good care of Preston while I was with Gracie. It gave me such peace of mind knowing he was in the best hands in the world.

(More to follow on the pacemaker itself...)