Downhill Slide

Today started out great. Riley was feeling happy and fiesty. Around mid morning things changed. He started complaining of pain. He has not really complained a lot so this was new. He had some bandage issues which didn't help at all.

Well, around mid day I just knew I had to do something to help him. I gave him some of his Codeine. (He had not taken any in two days.) I fed him lunch and then took action. Once I knew the meds had kicked in I removed the bandage that was causing him so much discomfort. He cried and cried. It just broke my heart. James stood by his head, saying soothing words to him, rubbing his hair and just being a great big brother.

After I cleaned the area I was able to get a good look at one of the two surgery sites. OH MY GOSH! It looked horrible. Now, I did not lead on to Riley that I was shocked by how it looked. I showed him the area and explained to him that the area was bruised and swollen. I told him that everyday it would look a little better. He was still crying, but understood. After that I was able to put antibiotic cream on the site. He was terrified as I approached the area. I don't know how I did it and didn't cry in front of him. It was just heart wrenching. After I finished he said he couldn't walk. I know this was from everything being so traumatic.

Well... let me tell you about divine intervention. After about 10 minutes of playing quietly with James the doorbell rang. A box arrived in the mail from my great friend Jenni in TN. It was JUST what Riley needed. He was so happy and excited. He opened the gift to find an amazing array of quiet time activities. Riley asked James to join him and the two spent about an hour coloring and reading books together from the care package. When they finished Riley packed everything up back into the gift bag and carried it with him where ever he went for the rest of the day. It is actually sitting next to his bed right now. He has already asked James to color with him again tomorrow. THANK YOU JENNI!!!!!

Tomorrow we will need to remove the remaining bandages. It is not going to be easy. Riley knows we are going to do it. He understands that it needs to be done. He, also, knows it is going to hurt. I wish I could cast a magic spell to take the pain away. I wish these bandages would just miraculously fall off during the night. It just hurts my heart to the core to know my baby is hurting.

My baby is hurting and I can't do anything about it. This has to be the worst part about being a parent.