Shit Uncle Rusty Has Said

The first time I ever laid eyes on him.  The second day of Owen's life.  After tucking Owen's liver and intestines back down where they belong. Wearing a chocolate brown suit, with a shrug of his shoulder;

"I do this every day."

To which I replied, after failing to locate a blunt object with which to beat the God complex out of him;

"Well.  I.  Don't."

*******

After a couple weeks in the ICU.  After I felt confident that I'd be taking my sickly, but alive baby home, eventually.   Hovering over his isolette with my mother in law and sister in law;

"I think he has a moderate chance."

*******

Getting the dreaded middle of the night phone call from the ICU.  Making the mad dash to the hospital to say goodbye to the child I'd never get to know;

"He's going where no baby has gone before."

Unchartered waters. Maybe heart lung transplant.  Lots of other surreal crap no mother ever wants to hear.

*******

Post-op: emergency thoracotomy performed in ICU, describing weeks old baby's lungs;

"A cross between tissue paper and swiss cheese.  We just wait and see if they'll heal."

*******

Pre-op:  Left nephrectomy. Nissen Fundoplication. G-tube placement.  Circumcision.

Waiting patiently for Owen to be taken to surgical suite.  Waiting far too long.

Rusty appears, obviously frustrated and annoyed, explaining that there was a scheduling mix up and that;

"Someone doesn't know what the fuck they are doing."

*******

Post-op: having removed vital organ, rearranged anatomy of stomach, placed device through which nutrition will be delivered to baby, and circumcising baby;  first words to parents of baby;

"His Penis looks GREAT!"

*******

A Monday.  A week after above procedure. 

Rusty:  "I think you can take him home on Friday."

Me:  "Holy shit!!  No fucking way!!"

So on and so forth as Rusty shook his head and laughed.

*******

Almost two years old, post MRI showing that Owen's fundoplication had come unwrapped allowing all stomach contents to be expelled from his body, thus starving him;

"This has never happened to me before."

Much restraint required to not come back at him with; "That's what HE said."

*******

At a clinic appointment, when Owen was around three years old;

"I wasn't sure he'd survive his first winter."

Also?

"I wasn't sure you're marriage would survive this."

*******

Maybe at the same clinic appoinment?

Rusty:  "I'm so sorry about his hearing.  I just wish there was something we could have done to prevent it."

Me:  "Psssshhhh."

*******

Another clinic visit, four years old,

"Looks like he's going to grow up, get a job, and pay taxes."

*******

Today. 

Showing Owen his x-ray results:

"A normal size set of lungs.  A normal looking heart. You don't need me for anything.  If you want, I can see you again in two years."

*******

I want.  I most definitely want.