Tough Toddler Times Two

5 a.m. comes quickly, especially when you don't want it to. It was time to starve our kid again, but first she was allowed a clear fluid for a few minutes. Of course, for the first time in her life, this child did NOT want to drink Sprite. It was so frustrating. Lucky for us, time flies when you're having fun, so we were on the road and on our way.

It really wasn't as bad this time. I mean, it was kind of bad, but for different reasons this time. We had to wait FOREVER. Again. Looking for a nightmare? Picture this: You are stuck in a small area with a lot of very boring toys, two toddlers who apparently mix as well as oil and water, and two other fairly nervous parents. And, lets not forget, these kids are STARVING!!! So, my kid beats up the other kid every time he picks up a toy, and the other parent just keeps telling her son to give her what she wants. Great. No number of no's can beat one yes when you are two. It's a fact of life.

(Cue Heavenly Music) They bring the happy juice!!! We think, surely the rest of the wait will be a blissful and silly time like last time. Not so. Now my kid has turned into an angry drunk. That was a blast. The not-so happy juice took effect and wore off without any sign of someone coming to get us. We were soon informed that the doctor was called away for some meeting, and he would be back whenever that was over. Did I mention you do a lot of waiting on this journey? Might be smart to bring a book.

The nurse offered more happy juice, which I thought I said yes to, but we never got more. So. Whatever that means. It made her evil, but it took her mind off of her empty belly. Eventually, "they" came once again and took her away. We were starving, because we felt guilty eating anything, so we got a pager at the waiting room desk and went to the cafe. The food seemed like it tasted better this time, but it was probably just because we were more comfortable. We trust Dr. Nath so much; she couldn't be in better hands, and we knew what to expect when she woke up.

We knew it would be bad, but the waking up this time was a lot worse. She was really upset, and much more aware of what was happening this time, yet unable to voice her concerns that she wasn't able to move her left arm anymore. We tried to hold her for awhile, but found that it was most comfortable for her if she were on the bed. She mumbled deliriously about her need for stickers and drank some juice and fell asleep.

There was a long wait for a bed at Memorial Hermann Children's, so we waited in recovery forever, too. She woke up and ate some banana, and finally we were moved upstairs. It was all basically the same, but it didn't seem as...organized where we were roomed. There wasn't a pull out chair bed for one parent to sleep in, there weren't any baby supplies laying out nicely. It was clean, just not as welcoming. I think we were spoiled with the staff that took care of us the first night of the first surgery and we maybe had unrealistic expectations about the accommodations. In any case, it wasn't the same.

They did find us a bed to sleep in, six hours later. Our daughter was up more and interested in playing the same day as her surgery. We weren't prepared for that, and she was terribly bored for awhile. We grabbed some toys from the playroom and carjacked the little tikes car she loved the last time and played until dinner. Having learned our lesson, we left while she slept to get something to eat. We did not feel a need to be by her bedside every second this time. How often do you get the chance to leave your sleeping child in the hands of some of the best medical staff in the country so you can have dinner?

The rest is kind of a blur. It goes so quickly, and you spend so much of yourself worrying about everything that you don't really live in the moment. We slept and watched tv, I think we played cards? We loved our baby and met her every need and tried to act like we were having the time of our lives for her.