Wednesday Morning following Surgery

Austin is doing so well today! He slept for most of the afternoon yesterday and ate a good dinner. The nurse was able to raise the head of his bed, so he was a bit more comfortable and able to play better. My mom helped him do an art project with some paints, which he enjoyed immensely. We don't paint much at home because it can be such a mess, so he thought it was a great treat. I was a little worried that he wouldn't sleep as well last night since he took such a long afternoon nap, but he was asleep by 9 and slept straight through until 4 this morning. I was able to get 7 solid hours of sleep myself, which was a great blessing and much needed.

Austin seems to be functioning much better on less pain medication. They were giving him morphine and valium because he was having such a hard time, but I think they mostly hyped him up and made him feel worse. He is acting like himself now, and he is only taking regular tylenol and his muscle relaxer. He hasn't had morphine since yesterday morning, and he has actually only had two doses of tylenol since then as well. I am so proud of how he is handling the pain. He seems to be coping better. It was such a joy to see him chewing on his orange UT blanket this morning. He sucks on it every night at home because it acts to comfort him and help him go to sleep. Until last night, he hadn't used it. I'm glad he is feeling more like himself.

Austin will play in his bed for most of the day and should start physical therapy later this afternoon. He has been asking to get out of the bed, so I am hoping that he will do well with the therapy.

At the moment, he is watching The Land Before Time and playing with race cars in his bed. He is ready to go home, though. He told me a few minutes ago to, "Get me out of here" and last night he was actually asking to go to the potty. He never asks to go, so I know he was really wanting to get out of the bed. Of course, I couldn't indulge his request. He has to stay in the bed until post-op day 2 (48 hours following surgery- about 3 this afternoon). Overall, his attitude has been pretty good last night and today. He is more cooperative and reasonable than before. He still doesn't take his medicine willingly, so you can pray that he will become more cooperative since we will have to give him medicine once we get home.