It's surgery time...

walking into the hospital with Coco & teddy

playing in the waiting room

driving a car down the pre-op hallway

the hospital gown was a little big!

before surgery in daddy's arms

holding momma's hand before surgery

being tossed around between momma & daddy before surgery

safe in our arms after surgery

It's surgery time for Stryker. He had adenoids removed & tubes in both ears. We scheduled the surgery with the best ENT, Dr. Waitrack, at Children's Hospital. The instructions were no food after midnight the night before, clear liquids until 4 am, arrive at Children's one day surgery waiting room at 6:15 am, & the surgery would only last about 15 min. We decided to keep Stryker awake as late as possible, hoping to put him in the car asleep. This definitely did not happen. He woke up after being picked up from his crib in the best mood. He was smiling & talking the whole way to the hospital. Coco rode with us & grandmomma met us at the hospital. Stryker received several gifts for his surgery/recovery time: crane from Logan & me, singing/instrument playing/dancing Elmo from Coco, Hokie Pokie Elmo & Elmo balloon from grandmomma. Stryker enjoyed playing in the waiting room. I bet he was thinking, "now, this is the perfect way to wake up!" The best way to keep him still in oder for the nurses to take his vitals & assess him in pre-op was letting him watch Elmo on the portable DVD player. All of the nurses were females who fought over Stryker. The procedure only lasted 10 minutes & then about 30-40 minutes in recovery before heading back to be in our arms. He was wide awake after the surgery but became more groggy after being back in the room. He sat in my lap watching Elmo with his little eyes rolling back in his head from the anesthesia sedative effect. Each time he swallowed, he would squint his eyes & grimace. We finally were able to get Stryker to eat a popcicle allowing us to be discharged. Dr. Waitrack informed us that his adenoids were enlarged & eardrums were retracted so this surgery should help him tremendously. Stryker slept about 3 hours at home, but was his hyper self after waking up. You did great with the surgery buddy! We love you & hope for fewer sicknesses.