Mommy's Little Patient

On Wednesday, October 10, 2012 right around 5:50 a.m., I picked you from the comfort of your warm bed and pulled you close into my arms. Instantaneously two beautiful little eyes fluttered awake and two embracing arms wrapped around my neck. Your heart beating against mine. You, my every breath! One little visit to the bathroom-----and then Mommy tucked you into your car seat in the truck right at six a.m.---minutes before Daddy drove us out of the driveway. No breakfast. Stinky morning breath. No pretty nail polish. Pajamas. Toms shoes. Ipad. Anxious thoughts. Prayers. "It's still night night time, Mommy!" you'd say as you'd look up from your ipad. Mommy sat next to you in the back seat. Sips of Sprite until 6:27. Around Covington, you realized that you were still wearing pajamas and you laughed about it. One little restroom break and to our destination in Memphis. Le Bonheur Children's Hospital downtown....elevators, tunnels, corridors, check in, browsing of artwork, activity books and the two of us, Mommy & Daddy took you back to the surgery unit after they called your name, Sophia Jackson. Through the toy tunnel. "Mommy, for Christmas can I have a little purple bunny like this one?" Granted----way in advance! It was yours. The nurse met us to take your temperature and prep you for surgery at 8:45 a.m. No food. No drinks. Entertainment by Daddy and Mommy. We colored. Laughed. Talked. Listened. Played doctor. Enjoyed the playroom. Watched cartoons. Daddy even sang to you, "Doctor, Doctor...I have a bad case of lovin' you no pills gonna cure my ill, I got a bad case of loving you!" (1979 song). Time moved in slow motion as we watched the clock, reflected silently on the prayers of friends and family, waited........

Sophia and her purple bunny

When Daddy took a break from the waiting game to make a few phone calls to his construction crew, the anesthesiologist came and listened to your heart. He briefly stated that you have a heart murmur but that you would more than likely outgrow it! Really!?! After all our pediatrician visits, I've never heard this news. I'll definitely have your pediatrician, Dr. P, listen for it each time that we see her to keep a record of it. Another anesthesiologist that visited with us at Le Bonheur said she could not hear it but the other doctor has an acute hearing for them. She explained the scale of heart murmurs to me so that I could rest assured that it wasn't something to worry about while we were at the hospital for a biopsy on your lymph node. I told Daddy that I would make myself a note to leave a note in your school files that said, "Call Dad, when you fall off of something at the playground and break an arm or leg!" I'm not so sure that I can handle these situations alone. They take my breath away. (P.S. Be careful. Stay well. Always little one....I know you're BRAVE but let's not play patient/doctor in reality!)

Oh! How I love You!!!

Silly Little Patient

Oh! And while Daddy was gone, I was given this "attire" to put on so that I could follow you into surgery (remember you had selected me). I thought that when Daddy came back you'd change your mind but this was it. You wanted us both to come back there with you. Daddy snapped these few silly shots of the two of us before hungry and thirst pains started a little whine..."Mommy, I'm thirsty!" Off to watch cartoons....I laid down on your patient bed and plop, you laid right on top of me. We nestled together like two peas in pod and watched cartoons. You relaxed. The nurses came and before we knew it, we were walking down the hall altogether. Only Daddy was really walking with the nurses. You and I were still lying down stuck together on your patient bed...we saw walls and ceiling tiles painted with pretty flowers...a kiss from Daddy...a doctor's voice...Dr. Thompson..."Mommy, mommy...mommy..." Last little words before, you were put to sleep. I was escorted out to find Daddy. Patient 11342. We watched the screen. One hour and 20 minutes in surgery as they removed the lymph node. Next, the screen changed that you were in recovery. Immediately, I had Daddy stand up and wait IMPATIENTLY with me as I anticipated getting back to you. The doctor's familiar stance came towards us. He stated that you were well and that everything went as planned. However, he did state that the little lymph node that he expected to be a lima bean was not. It was a little smaller than a ping pong ball. Thus, he had to get into major blood vessels in your neck. Deep breaths. Seconds later, we were called back to be with you. Sleepy. Dreamy. Eyes. Two bright eyes...what did they see? Mommy and Daddy and nurses.......and two little dry lips what did they ask for....POPSICLES! One...two....three....and an ICEE....and popsicle four and five for the walk back to the truck! 

Your first ICEE ever!

TREATS x 6

In the truck, a drowsy little one sat next to Mommy---You! You wanted pancakes so we stopped into a Cracker Barrel to grant your wish. A candy cane of bubble gum flavor......a stop at the store for chips and more candy...you wish was our command and when we didn't........TEARS streamed.....questions followed..."Mommy, why do I have a band-aid on my hand?" (IV line). "Mommy, why do I have stitches?" (glue and sticky strips on your neck).....all I could do was tell you the truth little one. You'd ask, "Why?" and we'd talk. Luckily when we arrived back in the comfort of our own home that evening, Tinkerbell had sprinkled her fairy dust about the house and brought you your very own scooter to tinker with....

Tinkerbell loves you even more when you tinker!

Tired Little Tinker?

Sophia

Does it fit?

After a few little spins........you were just ready to call it a day! Mommy was too. Daddy brought medicine home. We took it and laid down to rest in one big bed, yours! "Mommy, it hurts." was one sentence on repeat Wednesday night. The other was, "Daddy, can I go to work with you tomorrow!?!" You did just that Thursday morning around ten o'clock. You joined Daddy and his crew at work (with your backpack on---you said, "Just in case, I need my blankets..." and I think you had a few special toys tucked away like that purple bunny from surgery). You even wanted to wear your sweater dress since it was cool outside so that Daddy could tell you looked pretty! Oh! The little things that are important to you------but you know little princess, the THING that is most important to us too is time with you! We love you!

Daddy?

Dropped off at Work with Daddy

Chalk Line Time

After Daddy dropped you off to eat lunch with me, he didn't want you to cry when he left. I assured him that you'd be okay while we ate lunch together, read books and snuggled in for a nap! When you woke up Thursday afternoon, Yiayia was here and you immediately asked her, "O Papous pou eini........."