       return
 
     # TODO(david): Investigate if it's faster to unshift or push here
-    operation_list.push operation_object
+    if initialized
+      operation_list.push operation_object
+      apply_operations()
+    else
+      pending_operation_list.push operation_object
 
   $('#input').keypress((event) ->
     k = String.fromCharCode event.which

  string = woot.initialize_string()
  applied_ops = {}
  operation_list = []

  # On a new event, we need to try to perform it, and if that fails, add to pool
  events_ref.on 'child_added', (snapshot, previous_child) ->

        event.stopPropagation()
        return false

  apply_operations = () ->
    # Try to process all of the pending operations
    iterations = operation_list.length
    should_update = false
