Stacy Sans Gallbladder

I had my gallbladder removed on Wednesday February 16th, it was an outpatient surgery. Matt's mother had gone back to Oregon the weekend before so we no longer had a "live-in babysitter" in case this happened, so my mom took the day off from work and came out to our house to watch Isabella so she wouldn't have to be at the hospital with us. We appreciated it because it allowed Matt to be at the hospital with me during the surgery. 
After the surgeon took out my gallbladder he noticed that I may have had a stone lodged in my bile duct too (the bile duct stays in). He was unable to remove it himself because he would have had to make a very large incision, plus he just does not have the tools to do it. He said only a couple doctors do and they are in Anchorage. So on Monday February 21st I had a procedure called an ERPC ( go here to see what an ERPC is ) at Providence Hospital in Anchorage. Since we live in the valley, I had to stay overnight at the hospital after the ERPC procedure in case of complications. Apparently there might have been pain or something more serious happen and the doctor wanted me close so we wouldn't have to make the hour long drive back to the hospital. Everything turned out fine. My parents had that Monday off since it was President's Day so on our way to the hospital in Anchorage we dropped Isabella off at their house so once again she wouldn't have to be waiting around the hospital with Matt. My procedure only lasted about a half hour, but we had no way of knowing that. We were told it could last anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours. Then again we were also told that the doctor doing the procedure was the "master" and he was quick and efficient...we should have known it was going to be quick. So quick in fact, that I had NO trouble coming out of the anesthesia. It didn't take me long at all, and I wasn't super groggy or tired the rest of the day. Very nice change from the surgery the week before when once I got home I was passed out for the rest of the day. 
Matt stayed with me at the hospital for a few hours after the procedure, but he needed to get back to my parents' house to pick up Isabella. He had her by himself that night while I was in the hospital. I had though I might get a night of uninterrupted sleep, but once I found out that the area of the hospital I was staying in was the overflow for the maternity ward...I knew that wasn't going to happen. It was just like being at home sometimes. For the most part it wasn't so bad. Later on that night I had a visit from my Aunt Rita and Uncle John. Then the next morning my mom came to visit for an hour or so. Later that afternoon around 2pm I was released and my mom came to pick me up and drive me home so Matt wouldn't have to drag Isabella into Anchorage just to get me and bring us back. Thanks mom!


Overall it's been a very busy month. I'm still recovering from the surgery. I have very sore upper abdominal muscles and it's tough getting around and doing things still. Matt has been very helpful with Isabella's nighttime feedings and helping out during the day. I'm attempting to do a bit more each day, but some days are worse than others. I had a follow up with my surgeon this past Friday so he could check my incisions and everything seems to be healing fine. He didn't seem to concerned with the amount of pain I'm still in considering we have a newborn and I'm most likely doing more than a "normal" person would be at this point after surgery. I just need to take things one day at a time.


I had my 6 week doctors appointment last Wednesday and I'm all healed up and back to normal from the delivery. Isabella has her 2 month appointment on March 16th, and I'll be sure to update everyone on how that goes. She has been eating very well, and growing like a weed. She eats anywhere from 3-6 ounces at every feeding. That is a big improvement from her 2 ounces every feeding. Matt and I are currently attempting to get her on something of a schedule. We have had to fight with her every night for weeks from 10pm to 2am, and it was time for that to stop. We are trying to get into a bedtime routine and get her down for nighttime sleep at 11p, so far it's working pretty well. She will sleep until between 3-5am depending on how much food she eats at her last feeding. Then she gets fed when she wakes up and sleeps another 3-4 hours. It's pretty nice to have our nights back a little bit. 


Well that's all for now. I hope everyone has a great week :D

Here is Isabella being fed by Grandmama Susan (Chloe waiting to be petted)

Striking a pose :)

Here she is in a hat Grandmama Susan made her...it's a little big but she'll grow into it :)

Isabella with her cousin Ashlynn on 2/27/11

Another ER Visit

Last week on Tuesday night/Wed morning Matt and I went to the ER because I was having really bad upper abdominal pain. It was so bad that I couldn't breath! Thankfully Matt's mother was still visiting so she could stay home with Isabella. They did all kinds of tests in the ER and eventually gave me some pain medication through my IV, told me to schedule an ultrasound ASAP at the hospital and then told me to call a specific surgeon to follow up with the ultrasound results. The ER doctor suspected I was having a gallbladder attack. He also said it could be an ulcer or a number of other problems. So after getting home around 6:00am on Wed morning, Matt and I slept some then I woke up enough to call to make the appointment for the ultrasound. They couldn't get me in until Thursday morning, so Thursday morning we went. I couldn't get in to see the surgeon until today (Monday) so I spent the whole weekend wondering about the results of the ultrasound. So finally today we went and he told us that I have gallstones. Awesome. One of them is the size of a marble! So I'm getting my gallbladder removed. He said that it's a very common surgery, and it's an outpatient surgery so at most I'll be in the hospital for 4-6 hours total. The surgery is scheduled for Feb 16th. I wanted it done sooner, but it's the earliest he could get it done. On the upside, I guess the recovery time isn't all that long and I'll still be able to take care of Isabella just fine. I just have to take it easy overall.


Isabella is doing pretty good. We have stopped waking her up to feed her at night, and as a result she is sleeping a bit longer. We still have about two feedings a night, but that is a far cry from the 4 or 5 we had before. So, overall things are getting better. :)

2 Week Appointment and 1st Bath!

Isabella had her 2 week pediatrician appointment yesterday. She has gained her birth weight back, and then some! She is now 7 pounds 13.5 ounces. She also grew an inch so she is now at 20.25 inches! She is in very good health, the pediatrician had no problems with her. Isabella has been out of the house more since she has been born that any other newborn I know. She has already been on great adventures and she isn't even three weeks old yet.


Matt's mother, Susan came in on Saturday morning and has been staying with us helping to take care of Isabella. She has been a great help with the baby, leaving Matt and I some time to catch up on things that have been getting left on the back burner. While she has been here she is sewing for Isabella and has already made her another blanket, a sleeper and two diaper covers. She is going back to Oregon on Sunday morning and we will miss her!!


Matt and I gave Isabella her first "real" bath tonight. We had been slacking on doing it, and finally got it done. Isabella was pretty mad most of the time, who can blame her. The only time she settled down was when I would pour warm water over her head or over her body and once she was diapered and dressed again. Poor girl went through such an ordeal! I didn't realize that my camera's batteries were dead when we started giving the bath so I had to run and change batteries in the middle of the bath while Matt attempted to keep bathing her. Here are a couple of pictures I managed to get:

Sorry this is going to be such a short blog, but things have been pretty hectic as most of you know and the rest can imagine :)
I hope to blog more later on, but for right now this is it! Hope everyone is having a great week!