Tomorrow's the day

Quinn's stomach problems have subsided. The reason for his troubles earlier where due to some combination of trying to eat so much while taking morphine. The drug slowed down his digestive system enough to give him some hefty belly aches with a lot of trapped air. After two days of just IV nutrients and tube venting of his stomach, his abdomen is no longer swollen. The collapsing of his veins limit the life span of existing IV lines, so Quinn still spends his nights being a miserable pin cushion. Yes he does fight off the needles, silently kicking and swinging for all he's worth. He clearly wants no part of this painful business. He has one IV remaining in his right arm, but the medical staff tried to insert a few more for better access to medicating him. He has established a reputation in the nursery of breaking the success streaks of IV teams.

Heart surgery is scheduled for tomorrow morning. Mom's been hanging with him all day while I was at work.

When I got to the hospital, I found my mother paying a visit and sitting with Quinn, so I took Steph to this nice Italian restaurant across the street for dinner. She is nervous about tomorrow. I told her not to worry. Quinn's a tough little machine and people have survived worse. That's when she said "yeah but very strong people have died from much less." Steph has a rare tendency to make points that can catch me off guard.

Since being in an intensive care unit, I've heard so many fantastic success stories of infants who have undergone all types of heart surgeries. Quinn has a few other surgeries that complicate his case, but I think he's capable of everything these doctors are expecting and hoping of him. Spending time with him and looking at him has really made me confident he can face what is coming. I'm aware of what blind optimism is, and this is not it. The odds are well in his favor here, and getting to know the little man over the past two weeks, I can say he's definitely no quitter. I don't think it's silly of Steph to worry. I think all mothers worry. But for me, getting to watch how he's dealt with and overcome everything so far has become a big source to my calmness about tomorrow.

I still have to wish you the absolute best possible luck on this son. I've got nothing on you when it comes to facing surgery. You've been going under the knife like I've been going to the barbershop. Do well and you'll calm everyone down. So many people are pulling for you.