That was the MOST fun I've ever had!

"Ok, maybe it wasn't the most fun I have ever had. But I am very happy to home now." - Wesley

It really wasn't too bad. Jason and I went to bed around 11:45pm last night after packing the bag and preparing everything for each of the kids for the next day. I got up shortly before 3:30am to nurse Wesley one last time before his fast began. And then Jason and I couldn't go back to sleep. Finally we got up and read and showered and everything else to prepare. Leah came this morning instead of spending the night. Wesley woke up around 6:30am so we grabbed him and immediately loaded him in the truck and left. His surgery was at UNMH. They have a brand new building there that is beautiful and very inviting. Wesley was distracted from the fact he was getting hungry by all the toys and new places to crawl around and under (lots of chairs in the waiting room). They called us back and we got him undressed and they took his vital signs. By this point he was starting to get cranky that no one was feeding him. They let him push buttons on the monitors for a little while and then Jason pulled him around in a little red wagon to help occupy him and forget his rumbling tummy. Soon after they gave Wesley a sedative to calm him down and help him prepare to be seperated from us. It wasn't long before he was reclined back, legs sprawled, arms and hands hanging over the edge of the wagon and saying "Dada da da da" over and over again. He looked very relaxed and quite happy (read intoxicated). I walked along side him holding his little hand and his thumbs and kissing them over and over again. I couldn't help it. I just love them so much. Finally it was time for him to go back to surgery. The sedative made the separation very easy. Jason and I gave him one last kiss and then they pulled the little red wagon through the doors. I did fine (read cried) and then we went to get a bite to eat and wait. Roughly 2 hours later they were finished and we got to speak with the doctor about how it went. He said it was perfect and everything went beautifully. They removed the radial side or the outer thumb. That was the one that did not bend much and the doctor said it was common when there are two thumbs that the outer radial thumb won't have the flexor tendon so it doesn't bend. That was Wesley's case. They ended up putting a pin in his remaining thumb to help straighten it out since it was become somewhat crooked. In two weeks we will have the cast removed, x-rays, and then maybe another cast for two weeks after that.

We got to see Wesley after that in recovery. He started to flop around and I mean literally flop. The cast is so big and heavy that every time he tried to move his arm the rest of his body would follow. They let me pick him up and hold him until he awoke. He had some IV tubes, an oxygen tube that we had to keep blowing in his face (it wasn't strapped to him), and oxygen meter strapped to his toe, and then clothes and blankets that were half on since now nothing fits over the cast. I think we will be cutting some shirts here soon. Wesley took his time to wake up. They used general anesthesia for the operation and it takes time to shake it off. Now that I held him in my arms, I was able to take a little nap too. Wesley would try to wake up, try to open his eyes and then fall right back to sleep.

Around 1:30pm or so he finally woke up, looked around and said "Da?" He seemed confused with the unfamiliar faces of the nurses but mostly confused why his arm weighed so much and why he couldn't get the big white thing off. A few more papers and to sign and instructions and finally we got to go home. No special meds other than over the counter Motrin for a few days. Kids are amazing that way- they said if you give them stronger pain killers they usually wind up more cranky from the side effects than they would otherwise be with simple OTC pain reducers.

No clothes yet but we have already started to decorate the cast. Allie was the first to leave her mark.
(Jason: Thanks to all for including our little boy in your thoughts and prayers...)