It's over?!?!?!

Our day started really early, we left for the hospital at 4:30. Jack was pretty nervous last night, he was very worried about what the pin sites would look like and how they would be bandaged. He slept all the way to the hospital and woke up nervous and pretty edgy...understandably. Our check-in nurse was great. She is a swimmer, so she and Jack chatted swimming (he just started swimming in the deep-end by himself so was pretty excited to share that with her). We got him in his gown and headed up to the pre-op holding room. About that time, the tears started. By the time we were in pre-op he was pretty upset and he remaineed that way. He didn't want the fixator to come off. HUH?????? Dr. Kogan explained that this happens a lot, that kids adjust so well that it becomes their new normal and it's scary for them to think of another big change. Jon carried him back to the OR, Jack was so upset at this point. Long story short...they got him sedated, Jon and I went to the waiting room holding our little buzzer waiting for Dr. Kogan to call.

We waited all of 30 minutes before we got buzzed and he was done. Dr. Kogan said they were the best pin sites she's ever seen, so clean and small. She said they'll heal in no time. She bandaged them and casted him (for 2 weeks). They measured him for a brace that he'll wear once the cast comes off.

We met him in the post-op room. He woke up crying and I held up the fixator for him to see. He sat upright, whipped the blankets off of him, looks at his leg, grabs the fixator and starts turning screws and pins! He was SO excited that it was off and the ordeal is over! Can I just say.....OH MY GOODNESS....that fixator is SO heavy! Dr. Kogan knew of our plans to turn the fixator into something (a robot, chandalier, something...) so she cleaned off all screws and pins, and we have it all! It's very cool. He ate some popsicles, drank some water, and we were on our merry way. Dr. Kogan stopped by to see how he was doing. She started telling us when he's 9 she'd like to do a shortening procedure on his right leg to completely even his legs up. Jon and I looked at each other, thinking the same thing....that's 2 years from now, we'll worry about that then! Before we left he made sure to tell Dr. Kogan that his charity made it on tv. She wanted to see the footage, so Jon got his laptop out and showed her. She watched it and then got her residents and the nurses and watched it again. She also saw our vacation pictures on our blog and noticed the "Dr. Kogan said no handstands, but we let him do it anyway" pictures. She LOVED it, and said we have to bring her a blown up copy of it to hang in her office. And then she told us she loved him so much she wanted to take him home with her, and at that point we grabbed him and left :)

I know I talk about Dr. Kogan a lot, but here's the thing....we had to hand over Jack to Dr. Kogan and trust her to take care of him. At the scariest moments of his (and our) lives, we were powerless, fully trusting in her to keep him safe. Surgically, she did an amazing job. Emotionally, she took care of all of us through the last 4 months. We love her so much, and I think we're going to miss seeing her every other week! She gave me a big hug on our way out and told me, "you made it, you guys did it, it's over." I didn't really believe it until I heard her say it, but I believe it now!!!!!


Last picture with the fixator as we are checking in.



Holy cow...IT'S OFF!!!!



Popsicles for breakfast? Only in post-op.


Dr. Kogan autographing her work.



I have conquered the fixator!!!!!


Jon gave the boys the fixator and some tools. They took it all apart and played with the pieces. The BEST tinker toys ever!!!! Overheard while playing...."Max, this is the screws that were in my bones." "Really, did it hurt?" "Um, yeah." Things you never thought you'd hear.....



These are from yesterday. Handstands in the pool.


Jumping in!





We are definitely celebrating tonight with a yummy dinner...and an early bedtime. We are wiped out!