It's official. I am the world's worse guesser. Really, I deserve a title and a crown (and probably a Starbucks card). Maybe one of those satiny sashes embroidered with "The Queen of Guessing Wrong."
Noah went in Friday as planned to get his new central line.
I expected him to get something different and not made of silicone, but the only FDA-approved lines that are different don't have cuffs. (The cuff is what adheres to his body and keeps the line from falling out.)
I expected tears and distress because I was told I couldn't go back to the O.R. with Noah, but the anesthesiologist put him to sleep right in the pre-op room so he would be with me. (and Daddy and Hannah and Jake!)
I expected the line to go "someplace completely different" because that's what the surgeon said, but he was able to put it in Noah's right subclavian. This was a HUGE surprise (a great one) and it was definitely and "out of the box" approach. A subclavian line usually has an insertion incision right up by the collar bone but this one is way down low and only a couple of inches away from where the line exits the chest. Very different, but much better than a femoral, trans-hepatic, or even jugular line!!
I expected to continue to feel the weight of wondering if this was the correct choice, but the surgeon told us later that the cuff on the old line was all of the way at the skin level and replacing the line was inevitable and unavoidable!
I expected Noah to tolerate the anesthesia beautifully as usual but we were up late into the night dealing with pain, an elevated heart rate, a very sore throat from the intubation, and nausea/vomiting. Poor baby.
I expected that sailing would be smooth once he got settled in at last, but his nurse woke me up a little before 6 AM to tell me that somehow his supra-pubic catheter had come out (apparently in the middle of the night, but not discovered until a couple of hours had passed). This resulted in quite a bit of drama and a repeat visit to the O.R.
I expected that his second surgery being done on an emergency basis would mean having to meet/deal with all new people, but Noah's surgeon came in and we ended up with the same anesthesiologist and even PACU nurses we'd had the day before!!
I expected that it might be a bit of a challenge to deal with Jake's first overnight hospital stay but he was Ah-Maze-Ing. (And Emily his trainer is probably reading this and saying "told ya so!!! She knew he was ready when - you guessed it - I didn't think he was!) He literally did not attempt to leave the foot of Noah's bed unless we removed him for surgeries, potty breaks, feeding, and one very short walk when I wanted him out of Noah's room for the dressing change. He simply kept cuddled up with Noah the entire time. He was just absolutely perfect and charmed the socks off of everyone who met him. Sunday he played harder than I've ever seen him play - little sweetie had a lot of pent-up energy to burn off!!
I expected that the doctors might insist on keeping him another night because of that second surgery, but they let us go home on Saturday - hooray!!!!
So, yeah, if you are looking for someone to pick a Superbowl winner, the perfect lottery numbers, or predict the weather . . . I'd suggest looking elsewhere. I only got it right one single time - I guessed that God would show up in a big way . . . and He did! Thank you all for your prayers! Please continue to pray that this new line will heal properly and stay healed.
Blessings,
Kate
