We got home from Salt Lake City yesterday afternoon. We got out of the hospital on Saturday afternoon. We stayed because we thought it would be too much to try and drive home (7 hours) so soon. We were still trying to get her pain management under control.

Surgery went well. She was supposed to go in at 9am, but the Anesthesiologist was running late from his first surgery of the morning. They ended up taking her in at 10am. The nurse called us in the waiting room at 10:30 and said she was under and they had just started surgery.

They called us several times to let us know how she was doing. In fact one nurse came out to talk to us (She was really nice. She even stopped by her room on Thursday to see how Gabrielle was doing).

Our Neurosurgeon came out at 1:30 to tell us he was finished and they were bringing her out of the Anesthesia. He said she did well. He was not able to get the Lipoma. He got a part of it, but not all of it (its behind her Spinal Cord), which he was hoping to get it all. He said it was in a bad spot and he couldn’t risk it and cause more nerve damage. She was tightly tethered not to the Lipoma, but to scar tissue. So he un-tethered her spinal cord. Her incision is about 7 inches long (haven’t measured it yet). He told us before surgery he would clean up her scars, which looked terrible. He did an awesome job! The scars are gone! I am anxious to see how her back looks when we get these stitches out. Her scars were so bad, we were going to have to take her to a Plastic Surgeon. But now, I am not so sure that will be necessary.

Recovery in the Recovery Room was a little rough this time. She was having a hard time coming out of it and was in a lot of pain with back spasms. They gave her Valium intravenously (hmm or maybe it was her epidural line) that made her blood pressure drop significantly. Luckily it only happened twice and for just a few seconds. Another nurse came running over to make sure she was doing okay and to assist the other Recovery Room nurse if something went wrong. This did continue to cause us alarm up in her room, because she wouldn’t wake up. Our nurse upstairs thought it was just too much for her with the Anesthesia still in her system and then the Valium. I guess there is another form of Valium that is available and he said to try that if her pain kept up.

She did have an epidural in her back for pain management. They took that out on Friday as well as her urinary catheter. The idea with the epidural was just giving her local pain management rather than completely knocking her out.

Once they took the catheter she wasn’t peeing on her own, so we were cathing her every 4 hours around the clock. I am still a little confused on this part. This morning she did wake up with a wet diaper. But I am confused as to if we should continue cathing more frequently or go back to three times a day.

Okay, now the fun part. NOT! While she was in the hospital she became impacted and wasn’t pooping at all. First we tried Mira lax, didn’t work. Then we tried a regular enema, didn’t work. Then we tried an enema of Chocolate Milk and Molasses. Yes you heard me right! They unstopped her. However, I don’t know if it’s all the way unplugged yet. She hasn’t had a BM since before noon on Saturday. Which is right before we left the hospital. I am getting concerned about this.

The other thing is she isn’t eating much. I got her to eat part of an egg this morning and one bite of whole wheat toast. She then went over and ate part of Conner’s dry Cheerios he left on the table.

So I don’t know if the lack of BM is from being stopped up or from not eating.

We are having a terrible time with her clinging to my husband. Which is upsetting me greatly. She is seating next to me right now, but its been a constant battle. All she wants is Daddy to hold her. Not me. 

The other thing is still doesn’t want to walk. I don’t know if her back is still hurting (which I am sure it is) or if it did hurt and now she is afraid its going to hurt again. I am going to call our Physical Therapist this morning and talk to her.

The hospital was great. Every nurse we had was wonderful. Especially Amy our nurse on Friday. Oh my gosh she was so awesome. Her shift ended at 7 and she stayed till 9:30 to help us. She is the one that did the enemas and talked to us about her bladder and helped get us started on a Bowel Program for her.

So today, we are trying to get back into our routines. I have several phone calls to make. The Physical Therapist, Our Neurosurgeons Nurse and our Pediatrician. Busy, busy day!

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Anne
Mama to Conner 2/27/04 & Gabrielle 2/6/06 & Delaney 5/12/08

O bless her little heart. She has been through it! I will pray for her to recover quickly! *HUGS*

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Dh Jason
My babies...
Katherine Elizabeth 6/04/04
Samuel Lee 5/04/05 (our son with God)
Griffin Michael 04/13/06
Harrison Gabriel 04/27/08


BabyLinq.com ~ Preemie Store - Hospital NICU
SAFE to going home.

Oh wow ye've been through the ringer alright! Hopefully that's the worst of it over and everything goes great from here on in
Saying prayers for your little sweetie that she starts feeling better soon, and hope you're taking care of urself 2!
Hugs

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Aoife 28
Joe 29
Evan born April 29 2008. 6lb 5oz 19 inches
May 16 2008. 7lb 15oz 20 inches
May 30 2008. 9lb 7oz 21 inches
June 23 2008. 11lb 8oz
June 27 2008. 11lb 14oz 23 inches
Aug 29 2008. 16lb 13oz 25 1/4 inches

I must have missed an earlier post? Hope for a quick and full recovery...

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Bless her heart and yours too

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I've been thinking anout you guys. I hope the surgery does the trick and she is on the road to recovery, and all the other things are just minor issues that go away.

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Wow. Gabrielle has been through a lot these past few days, as well as you. Keeping Gabrielle and your family in my thoughts & prayers.

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Poor little baby! I hope her recovery gets better!

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Im glad to hear that the surgery went well. Hope her recovery goes smooth and the rest of the other issues dissolve quickly.

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Rachel
Proud Mother of 2 Boys and a Girl
Isaac David - February 2004
Carson Eli - January 2006
Kianna Rachelle - May 2008





***Just Add Baby ACD***

***Host of Baby Dust Grads***

Gosh, what a couple of stressful days. Bless your little hearts. I remember after Kaden's appendix rupture it seemed like it took forever for him to get back to "normal" I remember stressing about him eating,weight loss, BM's and etc. So, I can relate to you on those issues. Also, I know it is painful for her to just want Daddy right now, but I promise it is nothing you have done and she will come around. It's just that Momma instinct we have that we always wish we could take pain and hurt away from our children and it hurts at times that we can not make the situation better or make the pain go again. There have been so many times that I have wished I was the one in pain and not my babies. Hang in there Momma. I pray that her recovery gets easier and that she gets feeling better soon. Glad you guys are home!!

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Wow, what a lot she's been through. I'm sending big feel better wishes! Hope things get back to roitune for you all soon.
I feel for you & Gabrielle on the constipation issues - I highly recommend Fiber One Honey Clusters cereal......

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What a long hard experience. I hope she recovers quickly. HUGS

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Amanda, James & Sweet Mackenzie

7/17 -3rd Laparoscopic Surgery for Endometriosis
8/07 femara & ovidrel First Cy..... 8/24/07
(After trying for 6 years on and off)

How scary. I'm so sorry you all had to go through that. I hope she has a very speedy recovery and that you all have some peace soon! Glad you are home too!

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Ann-Marie

I am sorry to hear that she has had such a rough time. I hope she feels better soon.

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Oh hon, many P&PT, sounds like she has had her fill of everything, poor lil doll, I hope she feels better soon and things settle to where she can get comfy and y'all can have a more "normal" routine to fall into.. I bet she is just so out of whack, poor lil thing, hopefully all her systems will be on autopilot soon! KUP!

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Your little girl is in my prayers!!!

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Celina

First off, I will certainly keep you and Gabrielle in my prayers, second - don't stress on the Daddy thing, it's a daughter thing. When I had my spinal fusion at 16 all I wanted was my Dad. Modesty be damned, DADDY. As far as the BM's she has to eat to go. Try bribing her with ice cream or milkshake or anything you can get into her, or it's gonna get ugly. The narcotics depress the digestive system, so she will naturally constipate. Applesauce...and start a stool softener asap so when she does go it will be easier on her. God Bless.

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Sarah & Natalie

I got two poops out of her today! I gave her Mira Lax in her OJ. Tee Hee! They told us to be careful with the dair (eventhough thats an awesome bribe!) because that in itelf can cause constipation. Bananas too.

I made tapioca pudding this afternoon. I might bribe her with that after dinner with a couple of spoonfuls.

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Anne
Mama to Conner 2/27/04 & Gabrielle 2/6/06 & Delaney 5/12/08

Hoping for a smooth recovery for your sweet pea!

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awww i amd hoping you all have a speedy recovery! Take it easy ans hope she feels better soon.

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