Monday, January 18, 2010

In Stitches

Gracie went to Umass Medical Center for her first surgery this past Thursday. What the doctors thought was a simple epigastric hernia turned out to be a lot more complicated. Once they started the surgery, they found that she actually had two separate hernias - one very large epigastric hernia, and a smaller umbilical hernia. The surgery took just over two hours, and of course, I was a nervous wreck the entire time.

We arrived at 8am and we were promptly checked in and sent back to a pre-op room. We met with the surgeon and the anesthesia team. Gracie was given some medicine to make her relax and help her to not remember what happened before the surgery so that she wouldn't be scared when she woke up.

Here she is before taking off to the OR - she was so excited that Fancy Nancy was allowed to come into the operating room to get her belly fixed too (and she even got her very own hospital bracelet, just like Gracie.



I was able to go in and see her about 20 minutes after the anesthesia wore off. She was very groggy, and she kept crying and saying "I'm all done", "I'm all done mommy". Finally, the nurse gave her a dose of morphine and she went back to sleep for a while in my arms, and when she woke up she didn't cry any more.




We were able to go home about an hour later, and she spent the next two days in bed or on the couch just watching tv and chilling out. The third day, she started sitting up a little bit and by Sunday, she was walking around. Today she is doing really well, she is still having pain when sitting and she is unable to bend down at all but she is hanging in. She's a fighter this one... she has been from the start. Her bandage came off on Sunday, and the stitches should be healed by the end of next week. We'll go for a followup in two weeks and then we should be all set. No more hernias (unless we're in the 5% that spontaneously return).


Friday, January 1, 2010

2009 Year in Pictures

It's been a tradition since 2007 that I do a "year in pictures" on New Year's Day. 2009 was an eventful year for us. It was our first full year as a family of four, we watched our children grow and accomplish milestones, attended several weddings, reuinted with some old friends, and welcomed a new "nephew" to the world. We are looking forward to another wonderful year with our family and friends. I hope that 2010 brings nothing but joy and happiness to all of you!

January 2009:

Gracie is finally potty trained




Carter comes off his apnea monitor and can move around freely





February 2009:


The kids made me lifesized Valentines



March 2009:

We welcomed a new "nephew", Quinn to the world




April 2009:

We participated in our 3rd annual March for Babies



May 2009:

Trip to NYC with my best girlies



Last day at Hanover Insurance, moving on to a new career and celebrating with the best "twin brother" and some other friends




June:

Gracie gets bit by a black fly in the eye and we learn the hard way that she is massively allergic to black fly bites



July:

Gracie says goodbye to the toddler bed and hello to a big girl bed



August:

The binky fairy comes to take the binkies away and leaves Gracie a new bike



We reunite with an old friend for a trip to the zoo





September:

Gracie Turns 3



Family Hike in Keene, NH



October:

Trick or Treat!



Daddy cuts Carter's Hair


November:

Carter turns 1 (party is cancelled b/c he has the flu)



December:

Christmas Portraits (done by my mom)



Christmas celebration with college friends

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"Miracles, in the sense of phenomena we cannot explain, surround us on every hand: life itself is the miracle of miracles" ~ George Bernard Shaw

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