And a Hair Cut, Too

Now we are in day two, post cyst surgery. To add insult to injury, I have had to clip some of Emme's hair to make her more comfortable. Yesterday she was flapping her ears in reaction to the feel of the incision and sutures or in an effort to make herself more comfortable. Each time she flapped her ears, some of the long ear hair caught on the sutures. Then she would move her head, pull on the stitches and cry. So Ken held her and I got out the scissors and cut all the hair that was long enough to get caught. So in addition to having a shaved spot the size of an index card on the back of her neck, Emme's ears look a little wonky. I don't care as long as she is more comfortable.

She seems to be tolerating the pain medication well. She is taking that in addition to an antibiotic. She is not nauseous and she is eating, drinking and eliminating without a problem. I know the pain medication is slowing her down. We say something like "Are you ready to eat?" or "Let's go outside and hurry up" and she seems to have to stop and consider what we are saying before she responds. I know the feeling; pain medicine makes me dumb.

Emme spent most of the day yesterday in one of our arms. She and I watched many shows on the "Sick Channel," HD Theatre. I discovered this channel last spring after my surgery and it was a wonderful diversion. Yesterday Emme and I watched a show on rogue crocodiles and hippopotamuses, the sunrise in a Cambodian village (where the sun rose VERY slowly), a show on souping up some one's SUV to make it "hot" and the beginning of a racing show. A rather eclectic mix but entertaining.

She sat in Ken's arms in front of his computer though a variety of Podcasts and many games of solitaire. By evening, she did begin to spend a little time on the floor or up on the couch or a chair seat by herself. We need to watch her constantly because if she begins to scratch, she will stop if she is told "No." Last night we all went to bed and slept through the night. She seems to have made it through the night with out scratching.

So today, we are taking turns on "Emme watch." She wants to be held sometimes but other times she can be more independent. We are still watching her to prevent her from scratching. We are all going to make it through this.

Obviously the photos I used yesterday and today are pre-surgery. I can't bring myself to take a picture of the incision. When it is over and done with, I don't want to be reminded of it in graphic detail.