Pre-Op Appointment Went Great!

Yesterday we took the kids and Grandma with us for Audrena's pre-op appointment. We left early and went to the Omaha Children's Museum first. What a fun place! They had a special Wizard of Oz exhibit, so we checked that out. Reyana made a beaded necklace. Kelton sifted through the sand for "gemstones." Audrena played with wind chimes. We moved back downstairs to the main floor where Audrena played in the Wiggle Room, and Reyana and Kelton explored. Then we found an area where there was a climbing "ladder" made of woven straps so that there were square areas for hands and feet to grab on. Audrena climbed up and down that like she was a pro! I had the camcorder along, so I was able to record it. She constantly amazes us!

At the downtown Boys Town hospital, there is a "Kids Waiting Room" where they have a large slide, books, and other things for kids to do. Parents can check their kids into the room and check them out when it's time to leave. Reyana and Kelton played in there while we waited. We all had the opportunity to chat with a couple of families. One was a man about my age who was there with his mom and his children. He has meningitis-related hearing loss, and with some luck where insurance is concerned, he will be getting a cochlear implant. The other family has a 14 month old daughter who just received her first CI. She was there for her post-op appointment. All went well. They showed us her x-ray of the internal implant and also her incision site. The incision had healed well and was already pretty discreet. They were off to the activation appointment! I thought of them all afternoon and how great they must be feeling!

We met with Dr. L., and he answered the few remaining questions we had before surgery. Audrena's ears were clear of infection, and she is all set for surgery! He pulled up her CT scan again to take another look. Yes, he said she will definitely be a challenge for him. He discussed the abnormalities with her anatomy again. Then he said he would get this done "without complications." He prepared us for a longer-than-average surgery, but he said the nurses would keep us updated throughout. I have to say we just love his personality. He is so soft-spoken. He clearly knows what he's doing, but he's not boastful. Even as he said he was used to dealing with abnormalities like Audrena's and would get through the surgery without complications, it was in a quiet, reassuring manner, not a self-promoting one.

We did have a funny moment. As he was telling us that they treat pain with a high dose of Tylenol, Audrena looked at him and nodded her head. We all laughed as he said, "Yes please. I don't like pain!" It was just the right comic relief.

And now we just hope the next two weeks pass quickly!