Addy’s Cleft Lip Surgery Update

Well we got to the hospital around 7:00am to pre-admit since she would be staying overnight. It's usually a out-patient procedure but since she was preemie and has a history of apnea and bradycardias they wanted to keep her overnight. Anesthesia has a side affect of both apnea and Brady's and pain meds can lower heartrate and slow breathing so there was a chance that she could wake up and have to be on the vent after. So it all depended on how she did after the surgery whether she went to the PICU or her own hospital room. We got into the Pre-Op room and she was very calm and content throughout the whole thing. She weighed in at 10lb. 4 oz. fully clothed. Well she got in her gown and we got to her "area" with a curtain and bed and answered all of their questions and they swabbed her for MRSA. The Dr. and Anesthesiologist talked to us and got us to sign papers.

Finally after being in Pre-Op for about 3 1/2 hours we sadly and nervously handed her over to the nurse for her surgery. They called us in the waiting room at 11:20am to let us know that they had her under and had her IV in place and they were starting her surgery. It would take about an hour so I played my psp to take my mind off the time which actually worked LOL An hour passed by and I started getting nervous. Everytime someone came through the surgery doors I would look up to try and find a familiar face that would grace us with good news.

Finally about 1/2 an hour later Dr. Wang, her pediatric craniofacial plastic surgeon, came to tell us that she did great with the surgery and that since her gumline cleft was so small (just a notch) he fixed that as well so that was great news. He told us they would get us in about 20 min to bring us to her in Post Op so I took off to go to the bathroom since I waited the whole time so I wouldn't miss the Dr. talking with us. When I came back Wendall was gone and I was freaking out! I had no clue where he was. Some people told me that they came and in a got him to go to Post Op. So I got all of her stuff and went down the hall till I finally found the Post Op room. A guy had went in and I just followed him and looked around for Wendall. He was right in the first area and was holding Addy. She still hadn't really woken up yet and was out of it. He handed her over to me and I held and just stared at her. She looked nothing like my little girl. She was all swollen and looked helpless. She kept letting out these helpless whimpers that broke my heart. She was doing great though. She had no trouble coming off of the vent after surgery so she would be getting a room and not going to the PICU!

She finally woke up and just sort of stared at me with helpless eyes. We were in Post-Op for 4 hours!! Stupid people told us they didn't have a room. Plus they didn't put that padded thing on her arm over her IV and it ended up coming out and getting blood all over her blankets which freaked me out!! I felt something wet and looked down to find her blood all over the blankets. Wendall got the nurse and she roughly pulled off the tape on her hand. Crazy people!! When we finally got in our room we were roomed with a lady that I had seen early with a small baby as well. Her little one was a former 30 week twin preemie. She was getting her umbilical hernia fixed. But it was very nice to be roomed with someone with similar circumstances. Addy finally got her first dose of pain meds when we got in her room which was 4 hrs after surgery!! Poor baby was in pain. I know next time to ask for something as soon as she wakes up in Post Op.

Addy slept so much but I woke up everytime she made a sound. She woke up at about 3am in pain so I called the nurse for her feeding and then she got her pain meds. She didn't eat very well for the first couple of days. Her first two feeds she didn't do too bad since she took 2 1/2 and then 3 ounces but after that I could only get her to take between an ounce and 2 ounces. She usually takes 4 ounces but she just didn't want to eat. And that was only eating every like 4-8 hrs.

Once we got home she started taking 4 ounces but just awhile ago she only took like an ounce and a half so I'm not too sure about her feedings and just hope that she starts eating a little better.

Her lip seems to be healing so fast! The stitches on her lip are already starting to come off since they are the dissolving stitches. The cut above her lip looks like it was never apart to begin with!! Instead of stitches they put dermaband(sp) on her upperlip so it looks perfect. She has a nose plug that will stay in for 6 weeks. Usually the skin between the lip and the nose shrinks pulling the nose down. So the nose plug keeps her nose open and from pulling downward so her nose will look normal and not have to have another lip surgery later.

All in all she looks and is doing great!! She is still on antibiotics and pain meds but will come off of those in a few days. She started talking on the way home Sunday and it was so cute!! She started smiling too!! Its just so cute I love it! She stands up with help which she's been doing for about a month now and just started bouncing last week!

Well I'll keep you guys updated with pictures! Thanks for your thoughts, prayers, and comments!! It has helped us so much through all that she has gone through!!