LESS Tubes, A NEW Seat and a LAP

Conner acted like nothing less than a ROCK STAR today!!

As Lindsay's earlier post mentioned, Conner's breathing tube was removed today. This allowed him to begin breathing on his own and slowly start taking fluids orally. When I got back to the hospital I could not have been more pleased with how great Conner looked. His color looked perfect, he was happy, made a few silly comments, and even asked when he could go home! He even had a couple of visitors, that he was very very happy to see!

Lindsay took a much needed break and went out to dinner. While she was gone the nurses decided that we were going to surprise Mom when she got back. At about 8:30 the nurses began removing two IVs, the catheter, and the mainline in his femoral artery, and one blood pressure cuff. It was a tough task because there was A LOT of tape--Conner doesn't like taking off even the smallest of band-aids, let alone feet and feet of surgical tape! He got cleaned up a little and then put on a fresh pair of pj's. Then the nurses helped Conner sit up and move into a cozy chair. Where he rested sitting up, watching random TV shows. Mom walked in just as Conner was bitting into his second popsicle. She was SHOCKED to see her big boy looking even better than before she had left.

Why stop there right? Conner was resting very comfortably in his new chair when Kristen came in and asked him if he'd like to go on a walk with her. He said sure! So she began to completely disconnect him from the remaining wires and said, "Dad you hold that hand and don't let go." Kristen told Conner that, "our first stop is the Toy Box and you can pick whatever you want!" He found a yellow truck. Next stop, the bookshelf where he got to pick a few books for a bedtime story. Down the hall and out the doors to the balloon station at the front desk...Conner picked a Happy New Year balloon! Down the next hall and around the corner we found the kitchen. Conner asked for an apple juice and graham crackers. From the kitchen it was down the hall for the home stretch to his room. The whole trip was probably less than 450 feet, but an amazing accomplishment for a kid that is less than 29 hours post-op. Once back in his bed he ate a cracker, drank all of the juice, and we read three books.

It is now 12:47 am and I'm blogging at his bedside. He is sound asleep with Froggy the Pillow Pet under his left arm, Alvin and his newest addition Moose comfortably tucked under his right arm.

Sweet dreams for a sweet and strong boy.

Conner asleep in his new cozy chair...with his crew of course!!