We got the call on the Wed. before saying that surgery would be at 9am, so we had to be at the hospital at 7. Phew, I was so glad to hear that we didn't have to be there at 5:30. This was also a great time because Molly was used to eating at 8am, so we didn't have to hold off a hungry baby for that long. Also unfortunately they informed me that the hospital had banned all media that weekend due to standards committee being there ( basically people going around making sure that nurses, drs, etc are doing their jobs properly). Dr. Hermann's nurse Patricia said we could still have the news come if we wanted to wait until June, of course I was like "NO WAY" we had been waiting for this day for a long time, no news story is that important! I was also relieved to not have to try to keep it together and look cute for tv.
Thursday night we meet with my sister and my brother in law for dinner, they were watching Adam for us and then went home and put Molly to bed. I held her really tight that night and prayed over her and her sweet little spirit. Aaron and I also prayed for a good while that night, so I should have been at peace right, nope. Worst night of sleep ever, I think I maybe slept 3 hrs total. I knew deep in my heart that everything would be ok and that "God's got this" (as a dear friend reminded me), but I just couldn't fully rest. So I would wake up, check the clock and pray some more until I drifted off, this happened several times.
Friday morning I woke up my sweet angel and squeezed her so tight and we packed up and headed out. I must say everyone at Children's made our time there so much easier. Everyone, from the people at registration to the nurses, just gushed over our sweet girl. We went to the pre-op room and all the nurses and staff were so great. We put Molly in her cute little hospital gown and before we knew Dr. Hermann came in and told us we almost ready to go. I don't know how many of you are acquainted with him, but he's so nice and so calm, it makes it so easy for us to put our little girl in his hands. I truly praise God for bringing us to this man! Then in what seemed like only moments later Deana, his sweet surgical nurse came in and told our baby girl she loved her and it was time to go. Molly must have sensed that she was a wonderful person because she went with her and didn't even cry, Molly just waved her cute little goodbye and gave Deana a big squeeze. Deana later told us Molly didn't cry at all, but was just frustrated that Deana kept putting her mask up so Molly couldn't see her see her mouth. They updated us while we waited, and both calls were nothing but great reports. It truly helped to have not only Aaron, but my mother in law, mother and father with us. Also we had a wonderful nurse, who was definitely cut from the same cloth as me, to talk to and pass the time. I most definitely cried, but I was not the mess I thought I would be and I attribute that to all of your prayers/thoughts and having such a support system with me. Just under two hours later, she was out and in recovery. Dr. Hermann came in and said that it went as smoothly as it could and that everything was just perfect when he got in there. Then his audiology team came in and said all the tests went well too and the implant was working perfectly. They even brought in her processor to show us, Molly will be stylin with her pink and purple Neptune! Then we were whisked up to the post surgical floor and they wheeled in my little girl. She saw me and immediately began to cry, the first time she had all morning, and I picked her up and let her know it was all ok because Mommy was here now. I am so glad in that moment that God had carried her through and he was now giving me the opportunity to express his care and love through my arms and kisses. As long as she had me, she was mostly calm, though I could tell she was in a fair amount of pain. I know I have mentioned this before, but it is such a weird feeling wanting something for your baby that is both so helpful and hurtful at the same time, I was very aware of that feeling in the hours after surgery. We sent the crib away and I just held her in a hospital bed most of the day and saturday. If she wasn't already mama's girl, she is now. We bonded in such a deeper level that day, I didn't even think was possible. By Friday evening glimmers of our happy girl were beginning to show up, she was even being playful with her Grandmas.
Saturday she was doing really well and seemed to be in significantly less pain. She was trying to get her head wrap off every chance she could, so I knew she was starting to feel much better. They discharged us at 1:00pm and we went home exhausted, it very difficult to sleep well in a hospital anyway, let alone with Molly sleeping on me. It was almost like having a newborn again, but she's totally worth it and I have no qualms about doing it again in three or so months. So we got home rested a little and then my parents brought dinner and my sis and brother in law came over with Adam. It was really nice to have everyone together. We went to bed that night with Molly with us and when we woke up that morning, poor baby looked so swollen that her right eye was almost totally shut. So I called the Dr. on call and he said ok c'mon back up to Scottish Rite. They did some tests and it ended up just being fluid and her reaction to surgery, but no infection. Of course they kept us there just in case over night. So we spent Sunday and half of Monday in the room next the one we had just been discharged from. Thankfully it was nothing and Dr. Hermann even made a special trip over to us and he felt confident that it would all work itself out in a couple days.
The following thursday, Molly was 95% back to herself, just slightly clingy. We went to see Dr. Hermann and he was extremely happy with how she healed and the swelling was completely gone.
She's doing great and you'd never know she had surgery, even the scar is minimal. It's right behind her ear and maybe two inches big. Our doc is a rock star! Now we just have one more week until they hook her up to the computer and Molly's precious ear is born and her hearing begins! Thank you so much to all of you that prayed and sent good thoughts our way, you will never know how much we felt it! I feel so blessed that so many people care enough about Molly and our family to join us on her journey. I know that I would have not been able to get through all this without your support and love. I am just amazed how God has used so many of y'all to lift us up and comfort us. I have said throughout, but God has been SO good to us in this whole journey. I am just so thankful for all the people he has put in our life and the way he has used them to be our rock in this.
So next Friday is the big day and we can't wait to share it with all of you! Though I can't post it until Sunday because we are having an activation viewing party for our family on Sunday. I promise that as soon as we can Sunday I will post it through youtube on here!
