All done!

After 7 long hours, they are finished with surgery.  Things went as well as can be expected.  The lungs seem to be working well.  We should be able to see her in an hour or so which will be around 12:30 a.m.

Let me catch you up on the time line.  They originally said that she would be going in at 12:30 p.m., but we were still in our room.  Shortly before 1:00 p.m. we went down to the surgery suite, and her dad, sister and brother went back to spend some time with her.  Finally around 4:00 we get a message from the operating room that they have begun surgery, and the lungs were 30 minutes away and they would call when the lungs got here. Well... an hour and a half later, still no word.  After a call to the coordinator, who promptly called the operating room, we got the update that they had removed the right lung and were attaching the new one.  That was at 5:30 pm.  The next update was at 7 p.m. saying they were finished with the right lung and were preparing to remove the left lung.  By now, we have noticed that we have had an update every 1 1/2 hours.  Yeah, well, that's what we get for using our brains.  When 8:30 rolled around and there was no news, we were a bit miffed that they messed up the rhythm.  At 8:50 p.m., they called and said they were just beginning to attach the left lung.  They had some difficulty with bleeding (because of excessive scarring) and had to give her a few more units of blood than they expected.  Finally at 10:30 p.m. (they were trying to get back on schedule you will notice) they called and said they were closing her up.  The lead surgeon came out and told us he was pleased with how things went.  So now we are waiting to get a glimpse of the "sleeping beauty."

I am writing in a bit of a fog.  Even after the 3 liters of Diet Coke that I have sipped on all day, I am still "past ready" for bed.  She should sleep well for tonight, maybe even a few days.  I will let you know more about all of that when I get a chance to speak to the doctors.

Though, sweet friends, I must make a confession:  I am writing this down not just to update you, but so that I can get it straight when Tammy starts asking in a day or two.  I am crummy with numbers on a good day, and time telling involves numbers, and I am too sleepy to make myself remember.  However, we do praise God for each and every prayer, post, and text that you have sent our way.  There will be much more on that in the days to come as well.

May this post find you smiling and rejoicing and may your day be glorious in the presence of our Creator.