Expansion time

Tyler is in surgery right now.  Today is his first VEPTR expansion.  He was such a big boy this morning.  He was calm and energetic.  I know that sounds like a weird combo, but I guess I just mean that he was not acting too worried about the events of today.  Yesterday Joey gave Tyler a new LEGO jet plane and that was the toy Tyler decided to bring with him into the OR.  He flew that jet all around the hotel room and waiting areas at Children's this morning.  I took a before picture of his back, but I can't download it to this computer.  I guess I will just have to put it on later. 
We are slightly more at ease having done this before, but it is still incredibly difficult to walk him back to the operating room.  Tyler had visited with Nancy (the child life specialist) as we waited and she gave him stickers to decorate his mask.  He took it into the OR and told the anesthesiologist that he wanted a root beer mask.  I was impressed at how well Tyler stayed still as I held the mask over his mouth and nose, and he just went to sleep. 
Dr. White expects this expansion to be pretty quick, about 45 minutes.  I expect to be getting a page from the OR nurse pretty soon to let us know that all is well and Tyler is almost done.  Then we will meet with Dr. White and he will give us the clip that has been holding the rods in place.  We should get to see Tyler in a couple of hours and he may be discharged today.  Tyler was relieved to find out that the doctors expect him to walk today.  That is one of the things that bothered him most after the VEPTR implant, having to use a wheelchair and the fear of walking.  We will see how things go.  I don't want to drive all the way home today, so if we are released the plan is to stay somewhere close to the hospital and make the 3 hour drive home tomorrow.