Mascara & The Baby Era: Scope 3

Last Thursday, Cooper finally had his 3rd scope.

We had to be downtown by 7AM for check in 2 hours earlier than his appointment at 9AM

(Which had been rescheduled the day before from 10 with a check in at 8)

Considering where we live, and there being only one main road out to the interstate (which is a 16 mile stretch), we had to leave pretty early to make sure we missed rush hour.

With everything else in Cooper's life,

the one thing we can count on him always doing well for us is sleep.

He sleeps a good 12-13 hours a night, plus he naps for around 2 hours a day.

So he did not like having to leave at 5 AM.

We wound up getting there an hour early for our check in, but Cooper did pretty well with that.

As soon as we were called back, Cooper had the Royal treatment because Anma (Grandma) had been pulling him around the waiting room in a wagon, and the nurse took over.

He loved it!

Then after he rushed out of the wagon to get everything he needed, he was able to choose a beanie baby to play with and snuggle while he had the procedure, and then he could keep after.

*The amount of hospital beanie babies, knitted blankets and sewn quilts this kid has at this point is ridiculous*

He chose a black puppy.

Side note.

Cooper came down with a cold the day before the procedure.

I called as soon as I saw him showing symptoms and was put in contact with his doctor's nurse fairly quickly.

They told me as long as he didn't spike a fever, and he wasn't coughing anything up, we could proceed.

I asked for a number to call in case it changed when he woke up in the morning, and was given that info.

Then GI Scheduler (who didn't know what she was doing planning the scope- previous post) called and said she heard Cooper had a fever and wasn't coming in and wanted to reschedule.

Wrong.

And wrong.

UGG.

So he was doing ok the morning of the scope.

He had the nose of a faucet, and his eyes looked so sick (partially from lack of sleep the night prior with a cold, refusing his nap the day before, and being woken up 4 hours early from bed).

The nurse who came in to check his bands to make sure everything was correct showed immediate concern.

We explained what the Doctor's nurse had said, and she said ok but did you talk to the anesthesiologist?

Clearly.

Because we aren't given the name of the anesthesiologist until they walk in minutes before the procedure to meet you and ask you if you have any questions.

We told her we did not because we didn't have any way of knowing who it was before this exact moment.

She rushed to get him to make sure that they were ok with doing the procedure.

* When under anesthesia, your lungs don't work very hard, so if there is liquid or congestion in the lungs, it can cause permanent damage when they wake up*

Great.

He came in and wasn't worried.

WOOHOO! WE CAN FINALY GET THIS SCOPE DONE!

After we met with the anesthesiologist, Cooper's GI doctor came in.

We love him.

He is friendly, actually listens to what you have to say, and is genuinely concerned for your child.

After this, they sent in the Hospital Life man.

He comes in to make things less scary for the little ones.

He brought the mask that the anesthesiologist uses to put them under.

and Bubbles.

*Instant best friends*

Cooper loved it after the bubbles were involved.

They caught a bunch of bubbles with the mask to make it less scary, then had Cooper try to put it to his face, which he did in a second because he wasn't scared anymore.

We played with that for a few minutes.

Then it was scope time.

I hate watching Cooper be put under, but I have done it every single time he has been (that they allowed)

It keeps him somewhat calm.

He is terrified going in there and seeing all these people in masks looking down at him, so I hold his hand and get right next to his face so I am the last thing he sees.

He has to take about 10 big breaths of it and then he relaxes and is out, and it's my cue to leave.

And wait.

It takes about 30 minutes from start to finish for the procedure.

They came out right at 30 minutes to call me back to see him.

There are two types of kids waking up from anesthesia.

The first is super relaxed and still somewhat out of it, giggly and fun.

The second is angry, confused, and constantly crying until it completely wears off.

Who wants to guess which one Little Man is?

If you guessed type 2, you would be correct.

We hear him before we see him.

And the poor nurse who is holding him as he is fighting her and crying in her face.

I grab him and have him all bundled up and eventually he calms down.