7:15am on Monday...my surgery time!

Hi Vicki,

Congratulations!!! Your time is sooo near.

We will have similar issue with our daughter who is much older... She's 14..., but I have enlisted a family friend/neighbor to allow her to spend the night the night before surgery and the night after, so that I can be with Ben as much as possible. This way it won't matter what time I have to leave to take him for surgery. We'll spend the evening with her and she'll actually spend the night with our friends. You might see if she has a friend from school that she's close to that might ease things for her and see if the friend's parent can help out.

Wishing you a safe, uncomplicated surgery and smooth, gentle recovery.

Barb

Thank you Barbara!   Ben's date will be here before you know it!

I think we've decided to have Ed come down after the surgery.  Grace has never spent the night with anyone before (she's 6 years old) and I think I'd be thinking of her the whole time, hoping she's ok.  I think I'll feel more at peace knowing that Ed is taking care of them so they won't be overly shaken up about this whole thing.  We have a babysitter lined up for my 2 1/2 year old, so Ed will get Grace on the bus, Maggie off to the babysitter, and then he'll take a cab to come see me (since we can't drive 2 cars back).

I do have a question for you.  If I bring my stuff wth me (bag with robe, my purse, etc.) will they have a place for me to put it?  Do you know?

Thanks!  Vickie

Don't bring your purse. You won't need it. If you want to have it, ask ed to bring it. They put your personal belongings in a bag and it stays with you or can go to your family member, but since Ed won't be there... don't take anyting valuable with you to the hospital, just have Ed bring it for you.

Re: your daughter's fears. It's normal for children to be afraid. I know that Sarah was and Shauna said that her son was afraid as well. I think that the best you can do is to let her know that you are doing this so that you can be with her and safe for many years and that it isn't any  more dangerous than when you had Maggie and that turned out just fine. Maybe that will quell her concerns. Tell her that you'll even be home sooner after your surgery than you were when you had Maggie and that you'll want to have her come tell you all about her day and to snuggle you. You might ask her to do something special for you ... maybe there is something that you do for her when she's sick, that she can do for you ... be in charge of ... fill in the blank. Sometimes that helps little ones feel that they can do something for you to take care of you without burdening them.

Wishing you all the best,

Thanks Barb for the info.   I'll send everything with Ed. 

The only problem with your suggestion is that my kids are adopted.  We went to pick up Maggie and 2 hours later we were home with a baby!  She has decided that it was SO EASY, that she doesn't want a baby in her tummy...she just wants to "pick one up at the store" like I did (her own words!)   Unfortunately, she doesn't understand the time, paperwork and money it took to bring sister home.  Hee! Hee!  That was my labor!!!  :)

I love your idea of having her be a helper for me - she'll LOVE that!  She doesn't really know what the surgery is for.  I just said, you know how mommy is tired a lot.  This surgery is supposed to help me not be so tired all the time.   I think she would be more freaked out about someone else putting her on the bus than from the surgery.  You know how the universe revolves around them when they're small!  :)

What a wonderful problem!? You might have another parallel that you could draw for her that wouldn't be related to childbirth, but I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you can find something that she's familiar with and let her know that she has experience that tells her that 'it will be okay.'

I would see about working on project with her this weekend that she can then implement when you get home. She might make a chart for you to track your fluid intake and put stars on it when you get enough ounces of water each day. She could check with you each day to see how many bottles of water you had consumed ... and give you a star for each one. I'll bet she'd like to 'make sure Mommy is doing what the Dr said' and to be the chart keeper and one to issue the stars for your 'good behavior.' .... or something along those lines. If you don't already have the stuff you could make a run to the dollar store or Michaels and get some poster board, markers and stickers to make a chart and maybe get a special bottle you use to monitor your drinking... Just a thought!

Well today is your day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I know you're excited!  Best of luck to you, you'll be in my thoughts and prayers!  Time to buckle up, you're in for a wild ride!!!!!  Enjoy it!

Hugs,