The Other Side

Well, we made it.

Every single day, my children amaze me.

Joey and I made the decision NOT to tell Lauren about her surgery until that morning, as we knew that the anticipation would be the worst part for her.

We woke her up early and sat on her bed in a serious manner. I explained that we were going to the hospital ( which was followed by her screaming NOOOOOOOO!) and I promised her no shots or needles. I explained she would change into a super special hospital uniform, drink a little cup of medicine and when she woke up, her throat would hurt a little. She made me PROMISE no shots, which I did, and she calmed down.

She willingly walked into the hospital and it was smooth sailing from there. I was SHOCKED. My stomach was in KNOTS for the three days leading up to this, as I just KNEW she was going to go into full on freak the fuck out mode.

She changed into her gown, drank her versed/codeine cocktail ( Thank GOD it was NOT a nasal spray) and within eight minutes was fall down drunk. Call us mean, but Joey and I were laughing our asses off. She was drunk as a sailor on leave. She was slurring her speech, babbling about space ships and Taco Bell and looked like a bobble head.

By the time the nurse came to wheel her bed into the OR, she was blowing kisses and waving goodbye. Nineteen minutes later, the Dr. came out and told us it was over.

She did wonderfully and the Dr. said if she drank a can of Gatorade, she could go home.

A few minutes later, the nurse came to get us and bring us to recovery. When we got there, Lauren was just starting to wake up. It was at THIS point that she went into F.O.F.T.F.O.M.

I guess anesthesia alters personalities slightly, as my child was possessed. She was trying to scream, but couldn't, and was thrashing around. I was seriously waiting for her head to spin. We spent the next thirty minutes trying to calm her down as she came off her Versed/Codeine/Anesthesia/Morphine high.

Watching her trying to gather her senses reminded me of a bad LSD trip I had in college and I truly felt sorry for her. She was completely disoriented and scared.

Once she was calm, she drank an entire can of juice and we were on our way home.

She is getting better everyday and should be back to normal in another 10 days or so.

Thanks for the emails and e-cards wishing her well!

Love,
Cici