Oct. 28, 2007 Em's surgery

We are hoping this might help us with our desire to keep a journal. So, I guess I have a little catch up to do on some recent events. On Sunday Oct 14 Emma started complaining of her stomach hurting. She was still doing cartwheels and handstands so I didn't think too much of it. She woke up the next morning and said her stomach kept her up all night. She was suppose to be performing with Club Dance at the Suns game halftime that night. Alice also did not sleep and I was sure she had a ear infection. So I called the Doctor and made an appointment for Alice and asked the nurse what I could give Em to help her tummy so that she could perform that night. By that time she was really complaining and sometimes wouldn't stand up straight. The nurse said I needed to make an appointment for her also. At this time, I am still thinking it is just a tummy ache and get over it before the performance! So, I brought her into the Dr and he knew right away it was appendicitis. He did a heel-tap test where he hit the bottom of her heel and she was in excruciating pain. He said he was calling a pediatric surgeon to meet us at Banner Desert for surgery. We left the Pediatricians office around 12pm and met the surgeons in the Emergency Room. They initially wanted to do Xrays and other stuff to check the appendix. But with the amount of pain she was in by now he wanted to schedule surgery ASAP. They said the first available slot was at 7pm with a different Dr that doesnt do laproscopic surgery. After 10min the PA came in the room and said something just came up and they are going to surgery in 10 min. We immediately went upstairs to prepare for surgery. She was nervous at first and kept thinking her legs were going to get cut off. Sad. The Dr explained what he was doing and she wasnt scared anymore. When they wheeled her away, I started to get choked up and was fighting back tears. The Surgeon came in and said that the surgery went well. They removed the appendix and that it had leaked pretty bad. They wanted to keep her for 5 days afterwards to give her IV antibiotics. It was quite a juggle to make sure someone was always at the hospital and taking care of everyone else at home. Our families made that possible. After the first day, it was a downhill recovery for Em. She absolutely loved the hospital. From pushing the nurses button to ask for something, a Playstation in her room, frequent visitors, a bathroom in her room, her "fun" bed she can control and them "serving" her food...she loved it and cried when she had to leave. A highlight of the stay was that Matt Leinart pledged $500K to the hospital and decided to show up one of the days we were there. I am sooo grateful for the tender mercies of the Lord and that Em is back to doing handstand and cartwheels. Here are some pics.