2002-10-23 - 9:29 a.m.
Whew. Surgery was a very big, although, possibly unnecessary, SUCCESS. We did not have to spend the night and it turned out to be even more minor than the best possible option. It was another hemangioma--a birthmark made up of immature blood vessels. Had we known this, we would have let it go away on its own, but since they were already in there, they removed it. She's got one little stitch and some of those sticky strips and she's ornery as ever. She was completely unaffected by the whole experience. I feel like a big weight has been lifted since the anticipation of this surgery has been causing us all a great deal of stress. All done.
The surgery waiting room was filled with a bunch of hungry kids and anxious parents. What a bunch of troopers. I'm sure none of them had eaten since early that morning. (Those are the surgery rules.) Lou was the only one causing any trouble and it was minimal. There was just one little girl there (about six) with a little Pipi Longstocking doll that Lou could not seem to get over. She would not be dissuaded. I tried to distract her with her teddy bear, with exciting books, with funny faces, but she'd just squirm until placed on the floor so she could make her move for the doll. At one point she lunged for the doll and got a hold of a chunk of the girl's hair instead and pulled it. Lord. NOT okay. I need a book. I'm not prepared for all the rules regarding the parental interventions. I ended up kind of frog-marching her around the corner and playing with her in the hallway until our names were called. At one point, when Sonny was cruising the hallway with Lou, I went back in and sat down beside the little girl and apologized for Lou pulling her hair. She immediately said, "She didn't pull my hair," and shook her head vehemently. So, instead I just thanked her for being so patient and good with Lou and she smiled. What a sweetie. I think she was trying to keep Lou from getting into "trouble." Those shorties, they stick together. Anyway, I hope that little girl's surgery went well.
I'm looking around this mess of a house right now, wondering when it will again look like an adult lives here. When will I be able to use toilet paper off the roll again instead of from a baby-handled heap on the back of the toilet? Hmmm...which reminds me....my nephew (a 4-year old) frequently comes over with my mother-in-law when she watches Baby Lou on my workdays. The other night I came home to a glazed bed-side table. We had left some lubricant on the table (tacky/bad move--I know) and nephew had pulled out the stopper thing and covered the table with it. I couldn't exactly say anything to my mother-in-law since I don't like to use the word "lubricant" when talking with her, and I definitely don't want to use the words "sex jelly." Therefore, he got away scot-free. And, we have one silky-smooth night stand. It seems to work a bit like Murphy's Oil.
All of these things are lessons, I believe. I am learning what it is like to have zero control. Something I needed to learn.
Go be spontaneous for me. Please.
