Surgery Check In: 7am Tuesday

It's official. We're a go for tomorrow morning.

Today was pre-op (A.K.A. 6 hours of baby torture). Sheridan had an echocardiogram, an EKG, a chest x-ray, and (the worst of the bunch) blood test. He was over tired because he only got 9 hours of sleep (he's used to 12), we woke him up uber early for the appt, and people wouldn't leave him alone. None of the tests/exams is too bad by itself (except the blood draw), but put them all back-to-back and then ask the poor kid to meet with a seemingly endless line of nurses, physicians assistants, etc. afterwards and... well... there's only so much a baby should have to endure.

But he was a total trooper, and only had a rough time with the blood draw (his blood just stopped coming out of the first vein, so they had to poke him a second time in his other arm). Gary was holding him during it, but Sheridan cried so hard he could only breathe those stutter breaths, you know what I'm saying.

Here's the only picture I took during the whole ordeal (my mom holding him after I sang to him and calmed him down - of course he immediately wants his Nonna!)...

So, tomorrow we report for surgery at 7am. Gary said I'm not acting like myself. He said my stress is showing (I was stalling Sheridan's bed time to play with him and give him way more kisses than any baby should have to endure - it just so happens he likes it).

I will say the surgical team and anesthesia team did a great job walking us through the surgery step-by-step (I have to try REALLY hard not to let the tears come when we're talking nitty-gritty of the surgery). But I think he's in excellent, capable hands.

So, as I bide time this evening, just thought I would post a couple more pics from yesterday (our trip to Stanford) and today...

Sheridan playing with his ball pits (yes, he has two - a bit spoiled, but whatever).

His favorite part is throwing the balls out of the "pit" all over the living room. awesome.

Hangin' with Nonna (I'm SO glad my mom came down with us - it's been such a help to have three of us taking turns!).

Sheridan loving LOVING the hotel room. Especially the bit mirror wall.

Just for those who care (likely nobody, but oh well), here's our hotel room (Ronald McDonald House didn't have any rooms available, but as soon as they do we'll move there). Our room is very, um, orange.

Climbing on me...

Here's Sheridan recovering from the blood draw... eating an organic blueberry Cliff Z Bar to tide him over for lunch.

My dad and step-mom (Grandpa and Nanny Airplane) came down this evening so they could have dinner with us and be at the hospital all day tomorrow. So grateful they came down and we got to spend some much-needed time with them.

And Sheridan had a blast cruising around all the furniture in the room. He's getting pretty brave crossing large gaps (here he's crossing from my mom to the coffee table).

He even took an independent step a couple times tonight. I'm so proud of him! And he's pretty proud of himself, too! Here he is clapping "Yaaaaayyyyy!" for himself :)

It's all still surreal. I'm not gonna lie. I think Gary is right, my stress is over the top. Right now, I just know that I love him, that he is loved by MANY, and that he loves us all right back. I also know he will be okay. This is not my last night with him (as Gary reminded me after I said good night to Sheridan).

Thanks to everyone who is sending me emails, posting comments, writing notes on facebook, calling, sending text messages... you have NO idea how much it means to me. I'm not afraid or ashamed to say that I need that support right now. So, thank you.

One last thing... internet connectivity has been rough to say the least (both in the hotel and the hospital). But my intention is to post updates throughout the surgery tomorrow if I am able. I know how helpful others' posts have been to me as we prepare for Sheridan's surgery, and I'm hoping that anything I can share can help other families prepare. But if internet is down it might take a couple days... I refuse to type more than 4 words at a time on an iPhone :)