Thank you to everyone who prayed for Bette and her surgery. Things did not go quite as planned and I know those prayers made all the difference. We really cannot thank you enough.

The day started out like all our other surgery days. Up at the crack of dawn, heading off to the hospital, checking in at the surgery center, answering the same 20 questions over and over, and then waiting to get the show on the road.

After only three hours the doctor called to say she was finished, which we were thrilled about, but which was also a little odd. Usually the nurse just calls. We ran to gather our things and talk to him while Bette was in recovery. But when we arrived, we found a crowd waiting for us. There were nurses in the hall, audiologists hanging around, and even the floor manager was there.

Her surgeon said the surgery itself went great, but something had happened. The nurse who had checked us in recorded Bette’s weight incorrectly as 24 kilograms instead of 24 pounds. She more than doubled it, which resulted Bette being initially medicated based on that weight. Until the anesthesia nurse, by the grace of God, caught the error in the OR before the surgeon began. They assured us she was fine, though she would probably be more groggy afterward than at the last surgery, and that the nurse who made the error would be reviewed.

As parents, we found the prospect of what could have happened if the error had not be caught extremely unsettling, but we appreciated that they were honest with us and also thankful that the mistake had been corrected just in time.

They all seemed to be really glad we did not flip out, which is what I think they were expecting.

After that, we went to meet Bette where we were attended to by our wonderful nurse Lauren, whose daughter also has a cochlear implant. Bette was extremely groggy and unhappy, but determined to fight it. We were like, Baby, just go to sleep.

She eventually did, after she had eaten and drunk something, but not before she threw up all over me. After that she felt much better and drifted off the sleep. I, on the other hand, did not feel better or have a change of clothes, but it was okay. You gotta take ones for the team sometimes.

Poppop and Gigi brought Lilla to visit, which really perked Bette up. We tried another wagon ride, which Bette was not that into.

She has to wear that wrap on her head for a few days. And I find it to be a major oversight that those wraps do not come in pink and purple. I mean, come on!

We spent the late afternoon entertaining Bette, letting her eat and drink, and waiting to be discharged. She had a field day with a box of latex gloves. She made friends with a boy in the room next door, who gave her a balloon that provided some wonderful additional entertainment. We finally got the OK to leave around 6pm and headed out.

Bette went straight to bed when we got home and slept for 14 hours straight. She is doing alright today, but her recovery from this surgery will be harder than her recovery from her first surgery, which really wasn’t all that great either. But hopefully in about one week’s time, she will be feeling much better.

We are so thankful that the surgery is over, that it went well, and that Bette made it through. We are so thankful for her life and that some very bad outcomes which could have happened did not. And we are so thankful for that nurse in the OR, who realized Bette did not weigh the same as a six year old boy! God is so faithful!

I am happy to report that everything went well with Bette’s surgery earlier this week. She was in and out and before we knew it the whole thing was over. I think it was our shortest hospital stay ever.

Her surgery was so sudden that I felt a bit unprepared. We didn’t find out until late Thursday afternoon that she needed to go in the next morning. We scrambled around that night reorganizing our schedules and getting the hospital stuff ready. When everything was settled and everyone was finally in bed, I stayed up for a little bit and prayed over my girl; for her doctor, for the surgery team, and that the Lord would protect her and keep her and bring her through safe and sound.

We arrived at the hospital at the crack of dawn, as usual, and checked in. It is actually painful how early we always have to be there.

We were escorted back to the surgery area where Bette changed into her tiny little gown. We then spent the next hour answering questions and entertaining Bette.

Thankfully children’s hospitals are full of things to distract kids. Our nurse brought us some bubbles, which helped for awhile, but Bette was happiest when we let her roam the halls. She always made her way to the nurses station to talk and flirt with whoever was there.

Then at exactly 7:30am, her nurse came to get her. We hugged and kissed her, walked as far as we could with her, and then watched as she disappeared behind the big doors.

And then before we knew it, the surgery was over, her doctor was sitting in our little room telling us how great everything went, and the recovery room nurse (the same sweet nurse who brought her to us after her implant surgery) was bringing her back to us.

They discharged us as soon as Bette ate and drank something and proved she was going to be able to keep it down. She wanted out of that room and was ready to go.

We came home and found Mike and Lilla playing dominos, which was her math lesson for the day and exactly why I love homeschooling. We were so glad to see them and be home. We celebrated by all eating some delicious petit fours.

And now we just are hoping and praying that Bette’s ears will drain and clear and be totally dry by her next surgery. We are counting down the days… less than three weeks to go!

We made it! And everything went really great.