We left Tuesday morning for Portland and made it in record time. Usually we hit traffic as we head into Oregon, but the timing was perfect. The drive seemed really fast, though Sam asked every five minutes if we were there yet and why Portland was so far away.
Our pre-op appointment consisted of meeting with the nurse, care coordinator, anesthesiologist, resident, our Dr. Susseman, a physical therapist and motion pressure test and x-rays. Sam was very cooperative and equally compensated with several Hot Wheels, stickers, and a huge truck with trailer and quad. The packaging was bigger than Sam, so it was quite a sight to see him proudly carry it through the halls.
Three and a half hours later we headed to our hotel by the Portland Temple. As one last hurrah (for the next six weeks), Brandon took Sam swimming, we did a little shopping, dinner at Olive Garden and jumping on the beds.
Day Two: Surgery
Early Wednesday morning, we went back to the Shriner's Hospital. We got a tour of the floor and prepped for surgery. They gave Sam some medicine to relax him and it has a tendency to make you a little loopy. Sam would look at his hands with the warm packets wrapped around them and say, "I have two hands." He was pretty funny, but you probably had to be there.
We took Sam to the holding room where we talked to the anesthesiologist and doctor one more time and said our goodbyes before Sam went into surgery. I didn't have as hard a time as I expected leaving Sam. I knew the doctors and nurses are some of the best and would take care of my baby. Brandon and I tried to entertain ourselves for the next four plus hours, but both ended up taking a nap... Only a short preview of how uncomfortable my bed was going to be that night. The nurses called over the intercom and informed us that Sam was waiting in the recovery room.
This is what I wasn't expecting. We walked into the room and I burst into tears. There was my little boy pale, hooked up to a million machines and these big scared eyes. I was bawling, which only made Sam more confused and nervous. The anesthesia made Sam sick and he was throwing up. He was quite lethargic and quiet the rest of the night or couple of days. Every response to any question consisted of a nod or a shrug.
That night was pretty restless. Nurses came in to check up on him every two hours in addition with the hard fold out chair bed and being pregnant, I didn't get any sleep that night.
Day Three and Four: Recovery
With every day Sam got progressively better. He went from nodding to yes or no answers to being sassy Sammy. From only sleeping and watching movies to playing the wii and painting stained glass to venturing out to the classroom. They had a Sam-sized wagon which Brandon chauffeured around the hallways. And once Sam was "wireless," we tested out the wheelchair.
The last 24 hours were the most traumatic, as Sam was weaned off his epidural medicine and more alert. They were able to remove his catheter, epidural and IV, none of which compared to the removal of the tape.
Saturday morning Sam also got his colored casts. Previously they had been plaster casts which were split down the front to help in case of swelling. The little red marks in the photos are where the plaster is wicking away blood from the incision sites, which we were warned was normal and actually better for healing. Sam chose green, his favorite color, for the fiberglass. Because of the color and 80 degree bend in the knee we tease him that he looks like he has frog legs.
Sam was completely spoiled with toys and good nurses. The nurses were so good with Sam, especially Alan (the movie man), Cindy and Shizuyo (She-zoo-yo).
P.S. Sam wasn't throwing up in the car. He holds his breathe when we drive through tunnels and over bridges. And the purple marks on his ankles when swimming are doctor's notes about the surgery.
Two weeks after Sam's first surgery we returned to Shriner's to have a follow-up surgery. This surgery was very quick (30 minutes compared to the 4+ hour surgery previous). They removed some pins from each foot and recast each leg. We were hoping Sam would get the casts below his knees, which would help with his lack of sleeping at night, but they still go all the way up his leg. They are considerably smaller in size though, which should help some. 
