Tuma Adoption Journey: Surgery and the day after

Liana's surgery was yesterday. We woke up bright and early and rushed over to the hospital, with Ella and Ethan in tow. As we waited, Liana was her super friendly self, teasing and calling everyone who came into the room "baby." Silly girl! Her surgery took about 2 1/2 hours and it went really well! This surgery usually takes about an hour or so but the doctor had warned us that it would take longer since it was her second one. It's just a bit more complicated. He was able to do it laproscopically, which was a relief. Liana was pretty sore and tired yesterday. She wanted nothing to do with anyone, except for family. She cried any time the nurses came near her and gave her doctor the stink eye when he came to visit. Any time she cried, her oxygen levels went down but she never had to be given any oxygen because she always calmed down once the nurses left. Her poor little throat was so sore from having a breathing tube during her surgery. She wasn't able to drink anything but she could have ice chips, which was an amazing relief! She did manage to sit up and even walk a little yesterday! The amazing girl even managed to let us know when she needed to use the potty and sometimes even walked to it herself! I was afraid to pick her up until she cried and cried, "Mommy" over and over and her oxygen levels got really low but when I picked her up, she calmed down right away and back up went her levels. It made me so happy that I can be there for her but it also made me so sad, again, that the first time she had this surgery, she had no mama to take care of her. She had to be by my side most of the day, preferably in my arms. It melted my heart. She would get so sad if I even tried to sit on the couch and if I went to the bathroom, forget it!

Today has been fantastic! She woke up in a great mood! When the cleaning lady came in this morning, Liana started smiling and being silly and called her "baby." Oh boy, this girl is such a tease! The nurses today were warned by last night's nurses that she is afraid of them but today's nurses have seen none of it! She is smiley and chatty and playing peek-a-boo with them. She's a totally different child! She also got to play! It is good for her to walk because she needs to get the air out of her tummy and walking helps so we walked to the playroom this morning and she hopped right on a big wheel and started scooting all around! I could hardly keep up with her as I drug her IV all around the play room. We had to keep telling her to slow down! She is now on a liquid diet and has had some apple juice and a popsicle. Later, she might even get to have some pudding or a milkshake! If she continues to do well and not have any issues with her diet, she may even get to go home tomorrow!!! So far, so good! She's been unhooked from the machine that monitored her heart rate and oxygen levels and hopefully will be taken off of the IV soon. The doctor even told the nurses to not check her vitals at night so we can actually get some sleep, bless him!

I am just amazed at the strength of our little girl! I had no idea that she would be riding a big wheel less than 24 hours after having surgery! I can't believe how she's back to being her charming, sweet and spunky self so soon!! This experience is just reminding me all over again how blessed we are to be her family! I am so happy to get to be the mama to this wonderful child!

Being silly before surgery