This has been quite.a.week.
The day after out infamous zoo trip, I had to do to the dr to have my IUD checked (had it put in a month ago). It should have been an easy in and out visit, just make sure that it's in the proper place. But.....he couldn't find it. So he pulled in the ultrasound machine, and couldn't find it with that either. So he sent me down to the ultrasound techs who have better machines...the couldn't find it. He was pretty concerned that I hadn't seen it fall out, so off to the MRI we went.
Now let me give some background on IUD's. An IUD is an intrauternine device that is used to prevent pregnancy, generally only used for women who have already had children. It is inserted once and stays in for 4-5 years (can come out sooner but must come out after 5 years). It is 99.9% effective which pretty much makes it the perfect BC for a woman with 2 young kids to chase after! They can fall out, although it happens rarely, and they can perforate the uterus and wander out into the abdominal cavity, which is very rare (1 in 1000).
Well the MRI found the little booger floating around in lala land. The dr's best guess is that it managed to make it's way through the fallopain tube and out. What that means is that 1. it is not preventing pregnancy and 2. it has to come Out.
So. I spent my whole Monday afternoon trying to find the little booger. Wednesday afternoon was spent in pre-op, and making sure I wasn't pregnant (thank GOD I'm not...I would love more children, but Not Now). I knew my surgery would be Friday, but we didn't know what time Friday until Thursday...way to leave it to the last minute!
We finally found out we had to be there at 5:15am. Which is very early. We didn't want to take Toby and had a friend generously offer to watch him, but who wants to have a dropoff at 5? We finally decided to take him with us in the morning, then Curtis would drop Toby off once they took me off for surgery.
We got to the hospital at 5:15. about on the nose, which is a miracle in itself since I never get anywhere on time anymore. They took me to a curtained room to change into my gown, took my blood pressure, etc. From there they took me to the prep area and I said goodbye to Curtis, Toby, and Lucy (who was still blissfully sleeping). It was just after 6, so Curtis left to drop off Toby.
They took me to a long narrow room, separated by curtains. It was pretty quiet since it was so early. I had nothing to look at but the wall in front of me...not the greatest distraction for someone who was Very nervous about surgery. The dr came by, the nurses came by, and the anesthesiologist came by. All in all it was about 45 minutes until they were ready to take me in. The numbed my wrist before inserting the iv (LOVED that numbing!), then started me on the good stuff that makes you sleep :) I remember being wheeled into the operating room...and I remember scooting myself over to the other bed, but after that most is pretty fuzzy. I do remember thinking that I always pictured operating rooms as pretty clean and sparse, but this room had a lot of stuff in it! LOL!
The next thing I knew I was waking up in the recovery area - a big room partitioned off with curtains. I could see the nurses station which at least gave me something to watch. Thigns were pretty fuzzy for awhile - especially given I wasn't wearing my glasses. The doctor came by to let me know all went well...they found the IUD easily and removed it, and then gave me a new one (this new one had BETTER stay put!). He also showed me the pics they took of my uterus but I couldnt' see them! I think that stuff is pretty cool so I'm going to ask to see them again when I go back in. Then he went off to see Curtis and talk to him. He showed Curtis the pics, which apparently grosses my husband out...funny how I am fascinated by that stuff and Curtis most definitely is not. I stayed in the recovery area for another hour or so before they wheeled me back to the Outpatient area.
This time I had a room with a door and a bathroom - and all to myself! I couldn't believe that - I was expecting a curtained room again. I walked from the bed in the hall to the bed in the room - I was so full of air though! For Laproscopy, they pump you with air so they can move your organs around easier. I had two incisions, one in my belly button (WEIRD!) and one lower.
Once I was settled in with some Sprite, they called Curtis that he could come down so pretty soon he and Lucy showed up. Now as some of you know, Lucy does NOT take a bottle. And I didn't have time to pump enough for her so she was getting bottles of formula. And she was not happy about it. Curtis may have forced 2 ounces in her all day yesterday? It wasn't much, anyway. She wasn't happy and she sure let us know!
I wasn't allowed to leave until I could go to the bathroom since I had a catheter for the surgery. And you would think that after a Sprite, 2 Cokes, and a huge bottle of water that that wouldn't take long, but apparently the anesthesia can mess with that...We sat in that room from 9am until 2pm waiting for me to need to go! It took FOREVER. My discharge papers were drawn up well before, so when I finally did go, they had me dressed and out the door in less than 5 minutes!
We picked up Toby, then picked up some lunch for me and Curtis. I couldn't nurse Lucy for 8 hours after my surgery, so she was pretty miserable until 4. But then she nursed and things got a LOT quieter! My throad was scratchy from the tube they had down it. And my collarbone hurt from them pumping me with air - weird, huh? But really, other than my belly being sore, I was ok - a little woozy, but ok.
The kids both went down fine last night, but Lucy is still getting up to eat about half the time so I expected to need to feed her at some point. Apparently she wore herself out though, because she didn't get up at all! We didn't have problems with Toby either, so I got 9 HOURS of sleep last night. I think that's the most I've had since giving birth! And I feel much better this morning - still sore incisions, and I'm tired - I don't want to do anything more than lounge on the couch and drink tea - but I can't believe I feel as good as I do.
So that's our week. Curtis has been a real trooper - I know yesterday was really hard on him. I go back in 2 weeks to have everything checked out and that IUD had better be where it's supposed to be. I won't be giving it a 3rd shot! I'm going to try to sit and knit today - don't think I should be doing a lot more than that.
Next week has got to be better, right?
A family picture!
Toby with his basket of goods...
Lucy's close up
This morning, first thing...Toby thinks Lex should share his bed...
Lucy with tummy time this morning
And the kids Easter picture!
We had a wonderful day. Toby was a champion egg hunter - and he was quick too! He had a blast! He played with bubbles out back awhile and has learned how to blow them on his own - and now won't let anyone else help him!
