Our wee, curly-headed girl went under the knife on Thursday, leaving us in the waiting room…and me with a few thoughts. Nothing too deep…just a mother’s ramblings.
1) Why did I think this surgery was a good idea? Can’t Lucy live with giant tonsils, enormous adenoids and a strange thumb?
2) Remember those consent forms? The one that said death is possible with any surgery? Yeah. I remember that.
3) Child-sized scrubs with cute tigers on them do not make me feel any better. In fact, they brought back all the horrible feelings of when her brother got his tonsils/adenoids out 3 years ago. They are guilt-inducing pajamas.
4) If I think about it too much I’ll start to cry. Good thing I’m not wearing mascara. Good thing, too, that my husband is so calm.
5) How much money are we paying these doctors? Maybe this will be the year for that elective surgery I’ve wanted, since we’ve already met our deductible. Just kidding. I don’t want any surgery. They might make we wear cute tiger jammies.
6) Did I buy enough ice cream? Can one ever have enough ice cream? (Note upon returning home: she wouldn’t eat it anyway. Not the pudding. Not the jello. Not the applesauce. She just wants stuff she can’t have, the contrary child.)
7) Popsicles…check. Juice…check. Yogurt…check. My fears at the door…check.
8) Those donuts in the family waiting room look disgusting, dry and unattractive. Sure would like one.
9) I love her so much. Does she really need to be able to move her thumb all the way? Maybe we could just snag her quick from the operating room, before they slice her open…
10) Oops. Just picked up my fears again…see #7.
11) They need a larger waiting room. I’m breathing my neighbor’s air. Looks like she’s got an interesting book, though. Maybe if I just sneak a glance as I pretend to tie my shoe…
12) My son, Ian, claims that he can’t scream anymore since his tonsils came out. Sure would be a quieter house if that proves to be true for Lucy.
13) Across the room, some people just discovered a mutual friend. In a city of 150,000, these 2 families just connected and neither of them are even from here. (Lots of people come to this city from the surrounding countryside…ourselves included. And, I might add, it’s really impossible not to hear their conversation!) It’s a small world, afterall. SHE JUST SAID THAT AT THE EXACT SAME TIME THAT I WROTE IT! Great. Now it’s stuck in my head. Sorry.
13) “Family with Lucy” – Uff da! That’s us!
14) Back again. Thumb good. On to the tonsils/adenoids.
15) There are lots of kleenex boxes around…and tiny garbage cans. So glad I don’t need them. (See #7)
16) The Price is Right is on the TV…of course. Is anything else ever playing in waiting rooms?
17) “Family with Lucy”…again…all’s well…again with the waiting. This time for her to wake up.
18) Ice chips. The very phrase smacks of hospitals and illness.
19) Coming out of anesthesia stinks. Coming back to such a reality is rarely fun.
20) Who knew Jello could be rejected by a 4 year old? Why is it that potato chips and popcorn sound so delicious when you’re not supposed to eat them?
21) I am thankful that this is merely a brief stop-over in the world of doctors and hospitals and waiting rooms. I have so much to be thankful for. “Soli Deo Gloria.” To God alone be the glory.
22) Remember to get a picture from Colin’s phone before he leaves on his trip to include with this post. (Ooops.)
23) I can’t think of anything else to write…but 23 is a weird number to stop at.
24) 5 days later, and she’s back to changing her clothes 5 times a day…yes, she’s feeling better. Still grumpy, though.
25) More book-writing thoughts next week! There. A nice, round 25…
ps – If I knew how to remove that space between #20 and 21 and 21 and 22, I would. Bother.
Making the mundane entertaining.
A fine day for an epiphany 
I had to read and share this with my co-workers. We had a good laugh… oh the joys of aneshesia breath! As for the Price is Right on TV, maybe there is a message there!
There is a definate difference on which side of the “bed” you are on. But, having been on both sides, I think I prefer the professional side. Although, there are some surgeries that are really nice afterwards!
Yes, it will be good for her in the long run, that’s for sure! But yes, certainly the professional side of the bed is less painful! And yes…her breath is not too pleasant, that’s for sure!
A book I read a couple of years ago remarked on the amazing capacity of Americans to endure physical pain for the sake of their long-term health. The contrast was drawn to the Balkans, where they don’t plan so far ahead and only would undergo painful medical procedures in an emergency. The example given in the book was so many children wearing braces on their teeth, but the same would apply to having elective or semi-elective surgery. Maybe strictly speaking she didn’t need her thumb corrected or her tonsils removed, but both of these interventions will bring about significant improvement in the quality of her life.
But this is not to minimize the physical pain and mental anguish involved in choosing these surgeries!
Interesting! Yes, America – the land of elective surgery. I hadn’t thought about braces in that same light, but it fits. And yes, she was ALWAYS stuffed up…and the Dr. said her adenoids were HUGE…so we’re sure hoping for good results!
Glad to hear Lucy is doing better. No fun, I remember…