Declan's Surgery...

This is Declan before they took him back in his little Hospital gown...

Well, I did not really announce this surgery because it really is not THAT big of a procedure...but it is still nerve racking to have your baby be put to sleep and have a tube down his throat and be cut and have stitches.

As most of you might know, Declan wanted to come into this world FIVE weeks early from his due date. He weighed 5lbs. 3 1/2 oz...so he was decent size for already five weeks early, but still quite a little guy. Declan was pretty fragile when he was first born. He had a hard time breathing. Was born with pneumonia. So, with him being in such a state he was not circumcised. The doctors told us we should wait until he was at least a year. So, I finally got the guts to get this going and get it over with. I am so glad this is over. I hate seeing Declan hurt or in a hospital at all. It just makes me ache beyond words...

So, he was scheduled to do it today, March 19th at 7am. We had to be at the Rock Springs Hospital at 6:00am to check him in and get him ready. They said they would start at 7:25am and should be out at 8:00am. Well, they did not come out to get me until 8:30-ish. I was kind of nervous, but I then realized why it was a little extra. I looked at his hands, arms, foot...and I could see that they had a hard time finding a good vein(little poke marks everywhere); which he takes after me I guess (sorry Goober). But, they finally got one in his left foot for the I.V.

When they asked me to come back I was relieved, but I already knew that I was going to cry, because as I was walking I was getting tears. I walked to his bed and they were holding him up. He was waking up and because of the MEDS, he was pretty grouchy--not the normal little Declan. I could not believe how swollen he was. His eyes were red and pupils were hardily there. I just felt horrible and wanted to cry with him. Since he had a tube down his throat while sleeping through the procedure, he did not quite have a voice yet. So when I walked in he was making the slightest noises, but you could tell if he was not so groggy he would be screaming his head off.

They put him in my lap and I gave him his binkie. Same binkie he has had since he was born, such a comforter. Declan only gets it when he sleeps now, but I considered this a good time for one. Shortly they moved him out of recovery and the doctor went to get Kris and later on I went and got Kris's mom and sister Becky...(which thank you for coming and the support :]...oh, and the yummy McDonald Breakfast food while we were waiting for the surgery to be done).

So, all-in-all he was such a good baby. They could not believe how quiet he was, and behaved. I got to be honest, he had every right to be onry or upset, but he did really well. A Doctor kept coming by and Declan kept wanting him to hold him and the Doctor said, "Man, he just got his Woo-hoo messed with and he's still a good happy kid..." I thought that was funny...Woo-hoo :] All of the nurses loved him. When we first got there, if any of you have seen Declan know how friendly of a kid he is, he'll go to pretty much anyone--ANYONE. So, he was trading nurses and doctors the whole time until his surgery. They wanted him to be their mascot at the Hospital and didn't want him to go...

I just got to say how truly thankful I am. I was pretty nervous because of the whole being "put to sleep" and being cut and such. Anything could happen, and we were blessed that nothing did. Heavenly Father continues to look after and bless Declan--and us as parents to have such a child. There is just something about this child that is so special, and I know in my heart he'll do great things. He really is such a strong individual with all that he has already gone through, even though so young. I know I am a mom and want nothing bad to happen to my kid, but I just hope to be done with Doctors for Declan. His first month of life was rough, and I am just grateful that he will not be able to remember that or this...
IT'S OVER...YEA!!

HERE ARE SOME MORE PICTURES OF THE DAY
FOLLOWED BY BEING HOME AFTER HOSPITAL WITH BALLOONS...Did not want to be on the bed...wanted to be held by someone, did not matter who.

Pretty Groggy and swollen...with Daddy...
Becky, making him happy :]

The Hospital gave him a Teddy Bear and a new soft Green Blanket...

All of us waiting for the Doctors to tell us we can take him home...


Declan and his Balloons...he went crazy!! Mom M., Becky, and Rachel brought them over after one of their Ward activities..(made him so hyper and happy...you would not think he just had his Woo-hoo messed with!! hahaha)

Done for the Day...Night-Night Time...