Aiden Obadiah...or Aiden "Obii"...You have blessed me and your Daddy beyond ability to describe.
When I took you home for the first time, I noticed that you were a very LOUD sleeper, and by loud, I mean you snored like crazy! I thought it was the typical stuffy baby syndrome...you needed to work the remaining amniotic fluid out of your little airway...but it continued...
and continued...
and continued...
Your snoring got louder, and your ear and sinus infections plagued you like a beast the year after your sweet baby brother passed away. You were once on antibiotics for a full months time because the normal 7-10 day courses, over and over again, wouldn't cure your illness. It was then that you were sent for CT's of your head as well.
Shortly after all of this began, we watched you, as one night, you ran out of your room screaming in horror. We couldn't wake you, we couldn't console you, and everything we did to comfort you made things worse. It was tragic for us to watch over and over again. In the morning, you would wake and laugh as we would tell you of your nighttime adventures.
These night terrors have continued since...
Last year, you were sent for a sleep study which showed sleep apnea, in which your oxygen sats (which should never drop below 90%) were dropping to the low 80% and high 70%. My poor baby...
So, on 12/12/12...you had a surgery to remove your tonsils and adenoids...as well as a procedure that would shrink your turbinate.
We arrived at UNMH right on time...
okay, we were 15 minutes late!
BUT...Mommy successfully packed Connor up and sent him off to school, got the girls ready for aunt Sunny, bypassed a shower and slapped on some make-up, all within a few short minutes. We were supposed to leave at 7:15...I woke at 7:20, we left at 7:50..oops!!!
But there was still time to cuddle!
And there was definitely time to show the world...one more time...your tonsils!!!
I think you were nervous...I noticed your heart rate was 116...a little tachy for a boy your age! You weighed 28.2 kg, with all of your clothes and shoes on!
When we got to the pre-op holding area, you were nervous, and hesitant about taking all of your clothes off for some cool blue scrubs! But when I told you I would tie them in the back...and you could keep your socks on...you were happy!
We were given a few toys...and of course, the only thing I could think to do was SHOW you that I LOVE YOU!!!
The doctors listened to you...and then you curled into fetal position as the reality of the unknown came over you quickly. You were afraid.
BUT...the cool doctors and nurses offered you a hat to look just like them, you gave Daddy one more high five....
...and you were off!
I remember walking down the hall to see you, and room 13 in the PACU was straight ahead. You were barely waking from surgery and I could see you trying so hard to get into a sitting position. You were looking down the hallway at me while I was walking as fast as I could, but it wasn't fast enough! I didn't want you to open a single eye without me or your Daddy there.
You immediately began telling us about the surgery...as I have stated on the pictures...
You were so vivid in your descriptions!
You drank some juice and then asked for ice water...you couldn't stop drinking!!!
You made the same face you made with Daddy in the third picture above...
I had no idea what you were doing!
You then layed back down in a dreary state...
You did it again, and I finally understood what you were doing when you asked, "Are my tonsils out Mom?" With all you remembered, you didn't remember them taking your tonsils out...or placing an IV in you! You were so precious, telling us over and over about how much your throat was hurting you! It was partially due to the airway they had to place for you to breath during the surgery, and then of course, part due to the surgery itself!
We went back to your room...and Mommy received the honor of staying with you all day! I finally traded off with Daddy at around 2000!
I was so honored to nurse you to health! You were ordered mandatory IV fluids to rid your body of the anesthesia before discharge, and that combined with the water you were guzzling caused you to use the bathroom constantly! I layed in bed with you and found myself getting up every 15-20 minutes to assist you in using the urinal! I ordered food for you, threw a Mommy/nurse fit when the food I ordered was wrong...and called Daddy with very specific requests for Aiden so he could have the happiest experience in the world while at the hospital. The nurse was fabulous...she let you sog up some lucky charms...you had 2 bowls of that, a jelly sandwich, and tons of water before Daddy came up at 2000. He brought you even more food, and a Dr. Pepper at your request!
We were then visited by superheros! I was asleep when they walked in, but as soon as they were all standing at the foot of the bed, my eyes popped open and I exclaimed, "Oh WOW! Oh my gosh...look at how cool Aiden!!!" He was literally in shock!
We decided to go over to the play area for the last remaining hours that it was open! We played angry birds, a toy story boxing game, don't break the ice, and foosball! Aiden and I were the only visitors in this play center that was twice the size of my home! We had a blast!
And then Daddy took over while I took over with your siblings at home! He slept with you all night, and when I saw you the next morning you told me it was so fun to sleep with Daddy! You felt so special when the nurse and tech came in to do vitals and give medicine!
Then....Day 2 came along!
Your brother, Connor, was flabbergasted when I asked him if he would like to sleep in my bed with me for the night! He was beyond words!!! He did, and he curled up to me so tight...it was heaven! He was so jealous that the girls were going to visit you the following morning, so I took his education into my hands and told him that he could have the day off because family is THAT important, and this is a once in a lifetime experience!
I practically begged the staff to let all my children play in the play room before leaving...
they had such a good time that they decided that they, especially Lydia, want to come and sleep at the hospital just like Aiden!
We had so much fun!
Aiden's bright and shining spirit made this a good experience! I am a nurse and have nursed children to health who don't want it to be a good experience, and I have NEVER seen a patient so happy, humble and optimistic as my dear Aiden. He was a nurses dream, a parents dream, and when we were leaving he said, "That was fun Mommy!"
For the first time in you life, my dear, you slept an entire night with your oxygen saturation above 90%. I'd say that's a miracle!
On Day 3...
the fatigue and pain set in. You had asked me on the night of Day 2 to make it feel just like the hospital when you went to bed! I did! I brought you ice cold water in the night, with your pain medicine but you were so tired that you refused to take it! You see, HOME= deep SLEEP, and you needed it so bad!
You woke on Day 3 in so much pain, and in tears! You refused pain medicine, refused food, and only accepted a small amount of water. Finally, by days end, we enticed you with chocolate ice cream and oatmeal...and Tylenol!
You were so tired that you fell asleep on the couch, even after the long nap you took with me during the day time.
Dearest Aiden, I will always look up to you! I am so proud to call you my son!
I love you little Angel Aiden!
P.S. we received gifts from Santa's elves on the 13th! There were 4 ornaments for the 4 of you kiddos! One of them was an angel that you hung! You told me, "That's me mom, cause I'm an angel!" I have always called you Angel Aiden, since birth...you are an Angel, my dear, ALWAYS my angel!
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