Surgery #1 is under our belt and we are well on our way to recovery. This surgery consisted of the following:

1. Straightened the penis

2. Opened (butterflied) the penis in preparation for moving the urethra

3. Peformed a partial circumcision

4. Started attaching the scrotum

The second surgery will be sometime in September and will finish up the work on the scrotum, complete the circumcision, move the urethra to the tip and close the penis. The doctor did not find his right testical this time around, so he'll be looking for that again in the next surgery. We pray that he finds it during the second surgery so that we can avoid a third. If he does find it, then it will be moved into position also.

The surgery took just under 3 hours and went very well. We haven't seen any of the "work" yet because everything is bandaged up and then covered with a dressing. Mikey is wearing two diapers right now. The internal one is for the BMs and the external one is where the cathedar drains. We are having to change the inner diaper pretty frequently because there is blood. We knew the blood was to be expected, but it's still scary seeing your child's blood. Also, changing diapers has now become a team sport for us, as one person has to hold onto Mikey's hands to ensure he doesn't start exploring.

He did have two BMs last night and that was an event and a half. It's very difficult to clean when you're trying to be super careful to not hurt or move anything around. In fact, Mikey got pretty upset when we cleaned up the first one so we had to stop. Since we can't bathe Mikey for at least a week, we were joking that we would have one stinky kid by next Thursday. We ended up calling the doc because some of the poo got up under the dressing. We were told not to worry and that it happens all the time. We're just supposed to clean up what we can and to ensure we do not remove the dressing. The doc said that what we are seeing is a lot of the bandages too, and not skin. So, that explains why it wasn't cleaning up easily.

I know - gross - too much info. But, when we have to go through this again in six months, it will help me to have this as a reference. And, if anyone else out there has to go through hypospadias repair, they'll know this is to be expected.

All in all the surgery was a success and Mikey is doing great. Every now and then he does something that causes a twinge of pain, but he can be comforted pretty quickly. He's back to his giggling, gurggling, laughing little self, so we feel we're over the worst of it. He is a real PITA when it comes to taking his meds, though. I've taken to putting drops of it on his cereal so I can fake him out - he will no longer open his mouth for the dropper!

We go back to the doctor on Thursday to have the dressing and bandages removed. At that point we'll get our first look at his handiwork. We've been told to expect a lot of redness and swelling that will take about three months to resolve. After three months, we go back in to check how everything is healing and schedule the next surgery.

I hate that I have to put my child through another surgery, but I take comfort in the fact that I know he won't remember a minute of it. It also helps that I've met another monther that has been through this with her son. Having her to talk to has been a Godsend.

Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers. We certainly felt them and truly feel that God has blocked Mikey's pain.