Cub 2's Post Operation

Cub 2’s surgery was a success. He had 40 stitches in his mouth, and he had a stitch through his tongue, as a safety precaution if he has problems breathing. HE HATED that stitch! Cub 2 wouldn’t sleep more than a few minutes at a time.

The Post Op room- We spent a VERY LONG night here

Cub 2: Notice the thread on his cheek - That is the tounge stich

We figure when he is a teenager and asks for a tongue piercing, we will say, “No, you had one before and didn’t like it.”


In fact once he had the tongue stitch taken out he slept for a long time. He also wouldn’t eat with it in and as soon as he had it removed he ate like a horse.

To keep him from sticking his hands in his mouth he had to wear two arm braces called “no-nos” H e didn’t like them because he had a hard time pushing himself up. The only other mishap was that he developed a rash where the monitors were connected to him.

Doing push-ups with a No-No

When we got home all of his brothers and Grandma made a Welcome Home sign for him.

Welcome Home to the Zoo

Happy Surgery Day!

We have finally arrived at the day of Cub 2's cleft repair. He is in surery while we are writing this entry.

The last six weeks have been long as we have tried to keep Cub 2 healthy. He could not get sick six weeks before surgery. Durging the last six weeks Tiger, Panda and Penguin have all had Mono. Panda, Elephant and Cub1 have all had Bronchitis. Cub 1 also had Croup. Wading through all of this sickness, we didn't think we would be able to keep Cub 2 healthy!

Here are some pictures of Cub 2 in his hospital pajamas and playing with dad while we were waiting.

Cub 2 and Zookeeper 1

Cub 2 posing

Ditto

He coudn't have formula after midnight but hie could have apple juice for up to three hours before surgery. We were able to give him his last apple juice at 9:45 am...then his surgery got pushed back by an hour! They let us try giving him a little more apple juice, but since he wasn't hungry he only had about an ounce. I was worried that he would get really hungry but he only started fussing about 15 minutes before the anesthesiologist came for him.
The nurse put his hospital bracelet on his little ankle. That didn't work. It took him only a couple of minutes to get it off. After picking the bracelet up off of the floor for about the fifth time, ZooKeeper 1 put it in his shirt pocket. The nurse said that was okay, but to be sure we sent it with Cub 2 when they took him back. ZooKeeper 1 and I both had a feeling that we would forget to send it, but what were we gong to do? He wouuldn't leave it on!

After they took him back for surgery we went down to the cafeteria for some much needed food. While ZooKeeper 2 was in line waithng for her food she got a call from surgery. They needed Cub 2's bracelet! ZooKeeper 1 had to run it back up! Since he was in a hurry he took the wrong elevator and ended up in the wrong place and was "momentarily disorientated" (He can't say he was lost, it's an Army thing.) He dropped the tag off at the Post OP desk but that was the wrong place because they called ZooKeeper #2 again and then again looking for the ID bracelet!

We are now sitting in the parents' room waiting to hear how things are going.

We will keep you posted as much as possible. Please keep our little Cub 2 in your prayers!