Surgery - Take Two

I realize that it has been quite some time since I have posted anything "medical" in regards to Hayes.  This is partially because there has not really been anything major to post, but I also think it is largely due to the fact that I am loving this somewhat normal life oh-so-much.  However, I have to admit...there has been something "medical" lurking over our shoulders for longer than I would like to reveal.  And now that we are exactly a week away, I think it is time that I finally share it with all of you.  (Stop your worrying...I am making it sound much more dramatic than it really is!)

Hayes will be undergoing his second surgery next Monday, June 18th.  It will be another multi-procedure day where Dr. Roy, his awesome new ENT, will be placing tubes in his ears and giving him an upper lip frenectomy while Dr. Tsao, his beloved pediatric surgeon, will be doing an inguinal hernia repair and also a circumcision revision.  Yup, another full body makeover!  I know that you are probably wondering why he is getting some of these things done or even just want to know what some of them are, so let me try my best to explain...

• Tubes - These are pretty self-explanatory.  Hayes has literally had more ear infections than I can count since starting school at the beginning of March, and we are hoping...praying...that these tubes will put an end to his pain and stop the constant flow of those yucky antibiotics that are always pulsing through his veins!
• Upper Lip Frenectomy - You know that little piece of tissue that connects your upper lip to your gums?  Well, Hayes has a ridiculous looking one that is causing a major gap in between his front teeth and could also possibly lead to speech issues down the road.  So while Hayes is already under anesthesia, Dr. Roy has decided to cut the tissue and suture the incision closed.  Here is a lovely before picture for everyone to see just what we are working with right now...

• Inguinal Hernia Repair - Okay, so you are probably thinking, "Wait...didn't Hayes already have this done during his last surgery?"  And the answer is yes, he did.  However, with everything else that was shoved back inside of his body at that time, the hernia repair was just not able to hold up.  (So glad it was the hernia and not the O!!)  We always knew this was a possibility, so it really came as no surprise when his testicle became...well...HUGE again.
• Circumcision Revision - This is probably the one that I get the most questions about, and unfortunately, it is the hardest to try and explain.  (And it is also weighing the heaviest on my mind too!)  When Hayes had his initial circumcision done back in January, Dr. Tsao used a plastibell and it provided some great results.  That is until Hayes started swelling from all of the fluid build-up...and then he encountered so many problems with the catheter...and then the hernia reappeared causing that whole area to protrude.  All of these issues have left his penis looking...how do I put this??...not quite as clean and well-trimmed as we would like.  So, we talked to Dr. Tsao about our concerns, and together we decided to go forward with a revision.  We know it will be kind of painful, and we know that is carries some small risks.  However, we decided that ultimately we needed to do it for twenty-something year old Hayes and his future wife.  We know they will thank us later!

Compared to his last surgery, I know that all of these procedures seem so minor.  However, it is still scary to see your little one whom you love so much have to go through any pain or discomfort at all.  We are just praying that this surgery and it's recovery will be routine and mundane, and that our crazy little toddler will be back to his antics in no time at all!  Stay tuned...