RollersInVegas

It's Wednesday, 4:00pm...and we're all ALIVE!!!

We made it! barely....but, we made it!

It all started when we drove to the airport (which is only 5 minutes from our house)...the long term lot is FULL...and it says you have to park across from the airport in overflow parking!!(Now...I wasn't sure if that was even possible, because then I'd have to take a shuttle...with a stroller, three suitcases, and a rolling oxygen concentrator. (I'm still not sure why the airport was packed on a Tuesday mid-day?!?!) So...thank goodness Joe always valets his car...and so I know right where to go. I looked like a complete idiot valeting my dirty old mini van...but, it was better than trying to catch a shuttle with all my junk!

Now...we're in the airport (I wish I had pics to show you....but, I'll try to explain it)...you better pee first...you might laugh so hard you pee in your pants!!!
I'm pushing Isaac in his stroller, carrying his baby bag, and pulling the oxygen concentrator (which is the size of a small briefcase on wheels). Chris is pulling a BIG carry on...and a small one that I attached to the big one. Eli is pulling his small suitcase that has their toys and snacks for the plane. We get to security and I'm thrilled because there's a handicap lane. WELL...the airport is SO packed...that they let other people get in the line. (which means I will be holding up regular people...not just those that hold up people like me!). Then, the security gal tells me that I have to take Isaac out of his infant seat, put the seat on the belt, fold the stroller and put it on the belt, and then carry him through the security metal thing. Then, we have to go back through with the oxygen thing...which makes the metal detector go off....SO NOW...Chris and Eli are at the end of security and they make me take Isaac and the oxygen to the other lane to be checked. I'm looking through the glass at poor Chris...and he's trying to get the carseat off the belt, the stroller, the babybag, laptop, 3 pairs of shoes...and Eli's trying to get his carry on suitcase off the belt! FINALLY..someone steps in to help Chris (because you KNOW that he doesn't know how to even open up the stroller). They check Isaac and myself for explosive material, check the O2 machine...and then we're free to go! (unbelievable!)
NOW...we get to our gate, get some pizza, and go to the bathroom before we board.
THEN....we board the plane. The big boys go ahead of me....I'm carrying Isaac in his infant carrier, carrying the over-stuffed baby bag, and pulling the O2 machine (just a site to see!) I sit in one row (window and middle) and Chris and Eli sit behind me (Chris doesn't want to sit by himself because he hates flying). So...the place starts taking off...and I have to put my hand between the seats behind me so that Chris can GRAB it with BOTH hands (sweating profusely at this point I might add)...until we reach cruising altitude and he can let go of my hand!
Isaac stays awake the WHOLE time...but, I put his headphones on and he watches Yo Gabba Gabba. Eli and Chris watch the Simpsons on the psp...until Eli decides that he wants to watch a Thomas the train movie on my laptop. Chris pulls the laptop out...and I left it on and now the battery is dead! Eli was almost in tears! Thank goodness we were ready to land at this point!!! AND there...like a Christmas miracle...was MANDY...there to rescue me and help me!!!
Long story short...we make it to Mandy's house...order in pizza, eat...then, Isaac and I are off for the 2 hour drive to Stanford!
Where yet another story is about to happen....
I go in to check in. Isaac is asleep...so, I just take the carrier in (and unhook him from the O2...he won't die without for a little while). She tells me that she indeed found me a room on the first floor...but, the parking lot is full, so...I'll have to park around back and WALK up a flight of stairs. I told her that was the WHOLE purpose that I requested a ground floor room...I have a baby in a stroller and on O2!!! (HELLO...does anyone hear me?!?!) The lady told me to just put Isaac in the room and then take the car around back and park (she IS crazy!!) So, I just pull up behind the cars in front of our room...and unload our suitcases, babybag, and even the O2. Then, I drive around back and put Isaac in the stroller and push him UP the driveway, down the sidewalk, and back around to our room (at 10:00 at night!) I tell you what...I fell asleep SO fast. I put Isaac in one bed (surrounded by pillows) and I had my OWN bed (heavenly!). Then, something went terribly wrong! Isaac woke up at 3am and would NOT go back to sleep! So, at 5am, after starting up his feeds...I patted his bum until he finally gave in! THEN....the clock woke us up at 7am to get it together to be at our appt at 8:30...which we barely made!

Now...for the appointment! And Vanessa (and anyone else who doesn't understand why I travel for a simple cleft surgery). Well...first of all...just because of Isaac's heart and how hard he recovers from anesthesia...I'd rather him be at Stanford where the anesthesiologists know him and Dr. Hanley is there if something heart-related happens. SECOND....the ONLY children's hospital in Las Vegas is fine...but, it took them 2 weeks when Isaac was born to even notice that he had a cleft palate and that's why he couldn't drink from a bottle. SO...if that's how attentive they are...I need my delicate flower at the best place that can take the best possible care of him. (I don't know...it could be overkill...I'm 95% sure that everything would be ok if the surgery was done in Las Vegas...but, I just don't want to take any unnecessary risks on such a minor surgery.) Call me crazy!!!
I met the plastic surgeon that would do the repair. He was awesome! 100% glad we made the trip. They have you see a whole craniofacial team (which LV doesn't have)...so, we also saw speech (who gave me new ideas), ENT (who saw that fluid was still pooling in his ears...so, he'll need tubes in his ears while he's under for the cleft repair), he took a hearing test (which showed that one ear doesn't hear too hot...so, we'll have another test done in 3 months)....I think that's all we saw. It was just good to be evaluated from all the specialists at one place (even though it took 4 hours!) We actually went ahead and scheduled the cleft palate and ear tube surgery for June 18th!! In hopes that he'll be recovered well before his heart surgery at the end of the summer. BUT first...we have to be cleared for this surgery by cardiology. So, next week when we see Dr. Mayman...he has to fax a copy of the echo report to Stanford and they'll conference with the cards there...and together they'll all decide if his heart is healthy enough for the surgery. If it isn't...then, he'll have to wait until he's recovered from the heart surgery...which would be middle of RSV season and close to his 2nd birthday.
We'll see!!!

So now...I'm at Mandy's house...watching her make goodies and chase her red-headed 18 month old around!!! NOW...we rest!!

Andrea...I'm babysitting for my sister tomorrow night so that her and her hubby can go out on their anniversary...but, email me your phone number and I'll see if I can squeeze in a visit with you!!!

Megan..I'm off to check on you now...I hope Eli's doing good today and the cath went great!!!

Thanks for checking on us...we did it...we did it!!!!
I feel like a big girl now!!!