Newbie Question: How To Tell Kids

My opinion - don't tell them what's happening until you're home from the hospital.  You will be anxious enough.  Why put that on your daughters?  I told my son (age 11 at the time) that I was going away to the hospital for a few days and would be home before the weekend and expected some help.  I made it very casual, no worries at all, and I promised him a viewing of my new scar.  I also didn't let my husband bring him to the hospital to see me.  I was his rock, and I didn't want that to ever change, so it was important for me to not allow him to see me in such a weakened state.  It was only a few days before I was home, anyway.  He was used to me leaving for work for a few days, so he didn't miss a beat when I was away.

The end result - I couldn't have had it any better.  He had no anxiety, no worry, and thought my scar and diagram of what was done was the coolest story ever.