Well, THAT'S Great News!!!

Yesterday, the doctor(s) visited the room and checked in on Presleigh. Their comment surprised us for two reasons 1) we thought her surgery was fairly simple and 2) recovery would be 2 to 3 days. Reality check - on a 2 year old child having four ureters snipped from their places in the bladder and reinserted in new places is not so simple. It's actually quite extensive. We would assume the next statement is only true as a response to all the many prayers in multiple countries lifted up on Presleigh's behalf: "Presleigh can be discharged immediately."

Woo-hoo!!!

So, last night, Papa got to make one more trip down to Scottish Rite (with a quick stop off at Northside for a surprise visit on some friends that just had their first baby!!!) and pick up Mommy, Presleigh, and all their belongings! The trip home was a bit extensive, since the pharmacy did not have the bladder spasm meds we needed on hand and we had to play some rapid-fire phone tag to find another pharmacy (that was still open at 8:45PM) that did have the much needed meds. After some searching around and some tedious waiting, Papa emerged from the store, victoriously clutching a bag of dark chocolate peanut M&M's and the vital prescriptions that will be a regular part of Presleigh's diet for the next week or two.

Presleigh, however, was not as amused by this visit, as it was wayyyy past her bedtime and we still needed to do a diaper change and feed her three meds before she could enjoy repose in her own bed again. This may sound simple to some parents and to most non-parents out there, but let me tell you: wrestling an octopus on their own home turf can be an easier proposal than keeping flailing arms and legs down on the changing table while an injured toddler screams "No WIKE it!!!" and you have to change not one, but two diapers.

Side note on the diaper thing - to guard and protect Presleigh's ouchie bladder, the docs made the following call: they'd insert an "indwelling" [as in Holy Spirit, right?] catheter. Not to get too graphic here, but this catheter has a balloon on the end that holds the bladder's shape as it heals, preventing Presleigh from having to use her bladder muscles as the surrounding tissues heal. This requires us to put one (size 4) diaper on, cut a hole in it to pass the catheter end through, and bring the catheter to a steady resting place inside a second, larger diaper.

Okay, staying away from TMI, it's quite a rigamaroll to have to change her diapers right now, especially when you add the flailing and fussiness on top of it. Hey, you'd be fussy, too if you had a hoobajoo in your doodlie-doo, wouldn't you?

Needless to say, Presleigh's got a week or two of limitations ahead of her - no rough play or straddle toys. What?! This means, no playground, no riding horsie toys, no climbing over the bedroom gate, no fun! BOR-ING!!! But, in her best interest, right? Yep. This also means she doesn't get to enjoy the last week the neighborhood pool is open, either... MAJOR BUMMER, you know? I mean, it's 90s here and complain, complain, Daddy, but your two year old just got safely out of the hospital after extensive surgery and you could start off with a little gratitude!!!

Glory to God, thank you for your prayers, and all honor and praise to the Lord Most High, who brought our little girl home early!

in Christ,

Happy Papa!

P.S. As you can see from this photo, Presleigh is back to her old, sly tricks. Don't you just love that grin?!