Let the Sugar High Commence

Hannah was such a trooper for her surgery today. The nurses were all amazed at her calmness and she did great without eating all day. We arrived at the hospital about noon for her 3pm surgery. Of course, there was lots of waiting, but they wheeled her into surgery right on time. Kevin and I had to leave one they took her back, but she'd had a medication to calm her and she was pretty relaxed already. She doesn't remember anything after that until she woke up in recovery.

The dark spot on her neck is the cyst that was removed. In this picture it is the smallest it has been in months as 3 weeks of antibiotics helped it shrink. The cyst was larger under her skin than expected, but it was not infected, so that helped with it's removal. They took the cyst and the "tail" these types of cysts have with them. There is only a 5% chance it will return and it would return in the next 4-6 weeks if it is going to.

Here she is beginning to get prepped for surgery.

Gwen, Hannah's American Girl, went along for the day's excitement. Hannah chose a new American Girl activity book as her after surgery toy, so Gwen had to be there. Before I left the hospital Hannah said, "Gwen, it is time for you to start school."

Hannah is all changed into her hospital garb which she said has "clowns on it and makes me look like a clown."

Surgery was over in just about the hour and a quarter the doctor had predicted. When Kevin and I got up to recovery, we found an awake and very upset Hannah. She was in a lot of pain and was mad at the nurse. "SHE wouldn't let me drink the whole thing." She was very thirsty and didn't understand why she couldn't drink water more quickly. They got her pain managed very quickly and we spooned water into her mouth and calmed her down. The HS Musical 2 DVD probably did the best job of taking her mind off her woes.

At one point I almost fainted and had to sit down. That is not typical for me as I don't usually get squeamish. She has a large bandage on her neck and was irritated by the IV. By the time we left recovery and got up to her room (about 6pm) Hannah was doing much better. Ordering her dinner made her very happy. I stepped out to make a couple phone calls and returned to see Hannah eating her "appetizer."

Hannah's "appetizer, chocolate pudding.

After a day of eating Hannah's eyes lit up at the mention of a toasted cheese sandwich. It proved to be too harsh for her throat, still. But, by 9pm she had managed to also eat 3 orange sherberts and drink an orange soda and had the apple juice and chocolate milk waiting. So, as long as she doesn't give herself diabetes, she should be fine.

Hannah should be discharged in the morning. The cyst was draining quite a bit, so if it is still draining in the morning, it might be a bit later before she is released to come home. Kevin is spending the night with her as I need to be home to feed Melody.

We are especially grateful that Carla came to spend the day with the rest of our family. They had a wonderful time and Carla was a real trooper and took care of all Melody's needs. Rob joined her part of the time and I heard there was swimming and eating out as part of the day, so they were very spoiled. I didn't make it back home until about 8:15pm.

While I was telling Carla about Hannah's surgery, Elizabeth asked me not to talk about it and then went to sit down. She proceeded to pass out and then wonder why I was standing over her all worried when she came to. This is the second time she has passes out when medical things are going on. Guess none of our daughters will be nurses. :)