Did you say I'm having SURGERY tomorrow??

know I've been absent. I KNOW I've been neglectful...and I'm SORRY! I've been busy. Mostly busy chasing babies and cleaning up messes as we make them, which essentially leaves me cleaning up ALL DAY LONG...Still waiting for that darn fairy to show up. :)


But here's the thing. I have SO many blogs to do! Someday i'll get to them. But not tonight. Tonight's will be short and sweet because I need to get to bed. Big day tomorrow...


My first born son, Colton, Baby A, Bruiser, Squishy Boy, Bubba is having surgery. And I think part of me is delaying going to bed as if by avoiding the comforts and peace of my pillow, I can avoid tomorrow's arrival and the surgery that comes with it.

Triplet Solidarity. :)

Just doesn't seem fair. He's only 13 months old and he's having his second surgery. There's a tiny, little part of me that feels guilty that somehow my genetics are the cause of his cleft lip and palate and then another part of me knows that there was nothing I could've done differently. Sigh...And then I think to myself how lucky we are that this IS the extent of any of our babies' health issues. Some people would give anything for just 2 surgeries. So I will remember that. I will be grateful for the skilled surgeon, Dr. Hurst and his team who will take such good care of my baby.

But uugh...it doesn't make me feel much better. I just can't bear the thought of Colton being in pain or even the slightest discomfort. My heart aches already, remembering what we went through the first time. (If you want to read the entry from his cleft lip surgery, click here.) My heart hurts at the thought of him being apart from his brother and sister and wondering again where they went. And it hurts for Ethan and Hunter who will not understand why Colton is not with them, no matter how many times Gramma tells them. (Granted, they will enjoy 1/3 less competition for toys, but still, the few times they've ever been apart, they always seem kind of forlorn. That's the beauty of triplets....I know most people would rather stick sharp forks in their eyes before they would have triplets, but I'm telling you, there is a love there like no other...I am blessed. It's amazing how you can have so much love for 3 babies...

So tomorrow, we go back to UMC, birthplace of the Bunch Triplets, home of the NICU we called home for a month, and site of surgery #1. Surgery is at 9:00 and we will be there at 7:30 to get checked in and ready to go. I'm already dreading the moment I have to pass my little boy off to the doctors. My eyes are welling up with tears even as I write this...gulp. There's that damn lump in my throat again. This time I predict will be so much worse because Colton is so much more aware and alert. That kid is smart. And full of love, and giggles and smiles.

And I remind myself that this surgery will improve his quality of life so much. He needs this surgery and I'm so thankful that I live in world where it can happen. So for those who don't already know, this surgery will correct his cleft palate. (Basically, the roof of his mouth is open down the middle) There is no separation between his mouth and his nasal cavity which is why food shoots out of his nose so easily. Dr. Hurst will close up the roof of the mouth and then attach it to the back of the nasal cavity. He will not be able to eat any solid food for 2 weeks as his new palate will be "as delicate as wet tissue" as described by Dr. Hurst...yikes. We do not want it to get punctured or we will have to do this again.....

If you click on the button on my sidebar to "Access DNA" you can find anything you'd ever want to know about cleft lips and palates, but here is sort of what we can expect...

After the surgery for cleft palate:

This surgery is usually more involved and can cause more discomfort and pain for the child than cleft lip surgery. Your child's physician may order pain medicine to help with this. As a result of the pain and the location of the surgery, your child may not eat and drink as usual. An intravenous (IV) catheter will be used to help give your child fluids until he/she can drink adequately.

Your child will have stitches on the palate where the cleft was repaired. The stitches will dissolve after several days and they do not have to be taken out by the physician. In some cases, packing will be placed on the palate. Do not take the packing out unless you are told to do so by your child's physician.

There may be some bloody drainage coming from the nose and mouth that will lessen over the first day.
There will be some swelling at the surgery site, which will diminish substantially in a week.

For two to three days, your child will feel mild pain that can be relieved by a non-aspirin pain medication. A prescription medication may also be given for use at home.

Many infants show signs of nasal congestion after surgery. These signs may include nasal snorting, mouth breathing, and decreased appetite. Your child's physician may prescribe medication to relieve the nasal congestion.
Your child will be on antibiotics to prevent infection while in the hospital. Your child's physician may want you to continue this at home.

Your child may be in the hospital for one to three days, depending on your child's physician's recommendation.
A small amount of water should be offered after every bottle or meal to cleanse the incision. You can continue to rinse this area gently with water several times a day, if necessary.

Diet after surgery Your child's physician may allow breastfeeding, bottle-feedings, or cup-feedings after surgery. Your child should be placed on a soft diet for seven to 10 days after surgery. For older infants and children, age-appropriate soft foods may include strained baby foods, popsicles, yogurt, mashed potatoes, and gelatin. Note: your child should not use a straw or pacifier, as both could damage the surgical repair.

Activity after surgery Your child can walk or play calmly after surgery. He/she should not run or engage in rough play (i.e., wrestling, climbing) or play with "mouth toys" for one to two weeks after surgery. Your child's physician will advise you when your child can safely return to regular play.

So anyhoo....that's that. Thank you to everyone for your prayers and well wishes. It means so much. I will be doing updates hopefully from the hospital if I can.

Colton thanks you too...