Yesterday was Tubular

Some of you follow me on Twitter, so might have caught me tweeting about this, but yesterday A had to get tubes in her ears and have her adnoids removed. I was not really worried because L had this done last winter, so I knew the drill. Plus A had no clue what was going on, I just told her the doctor was going to "fix her ears." So, she gladly went with the nurse, completely unaware. I waited and read some articles for school. They brought her back, said she was an A+ patient and I sat in the rocker recliner with her while she came out of it more. She was none too happy, mainly because of the IV in her hand (I felt her pain!) About 20 minutes into waiting, she threw up all over me and herself, so that was a treat.

The doctor came to check on her and informed me that she would probably be cranky for a few hours and then be back to her normal self by the evening. Either he sniffs glue or he way overgeneralizes, but he was so wrong. She was a zombie all day up until about 7pm. She snoozed and cried off and on, but then the weird thing was she didn't perk up until she had Tylenol with Codeine... isn't that supposed to knock people out?

So, we went to bed around 10pm and this morning she is right as rain- or so she says. Hopefully she will be able to sleep better now, hear better and quit digging in her ears. Unfortunately L started running a temp yesterday afternoon and is not much better this morning. And I have to present at a conference tomorrow morning, so I won't be home from 10:30 am today until noon tomorrow. It will be the first night I've ever spent away from the kids! And they're both under the weather- go figure... now I will be riddled with guilt the whole time...

A Totally Tubular Experience

I wanted to share with everyone the experience of my son getting tubes, since I know that many parents go through the same thing and wonder what goes on.

A little background: L has had 3 or 4 ear infections in his one year of life, which alerts the pediatrician that he could need tubes. Also, he is very resistant to most antibiotics and he has been on several in his bouts with the infections, from amoxicillin to omnicef, to a dicontinued medication, to an antibiotic injection in the leg. I did not want to submit my poor little guy to any kind of surgery, but after being directed to an ear, nose and throat doctor. He recommended the tubes and said that it would help prevent future ear infections, make them easier to treat and that chronic ear infections/excess fluid in the ear can lead to hearing loss. So, Nick and I decided it was best.

The actual procedure is called Myringotomy with Tube Placement. Myringo= tympanic membrane: -tomy= a cutting operation. "This procedure involves making a small hole in the eardrum to remove fluid. A small tube is then inserted in the hole to maintain ventilation. This procedure is often required in childhood due to an immaturity of the eustachian tube that connects the ear to the back of the nose." (From the info the doctor's office gave me.) Also, interesting is that it says that exposure to colds, viruses and secondhand smoke contribute to ear infections. Also, a child that lies on their back while drinking a bottle is at an increase risk. Did not know, they didn't apply to L, but interesting none the less.

So, Thursday I woke up at 5 am in order to be to the hospital (next town over as our town is not know for its great doctors) by 6:30. We were shown to the surgicenter and put in a cubicle type deal with a curtain. I changed L into a hospital shirt and pants and left his diaper and socks on. Oh, that day it was -15 when I woke up. The nurses checked his vitals, the anesthesiologist came and spoke to me about his part and then the doctor came to speak with me and brought a stuffed animal for L. We waited our turn and they took L from me to the procedure room. Parents are not allowed in, you must wait until they bring them back. He was given gas to knock him out and the procedure itself lasts about 5 minutes. When they brought him back to me, he was quite fussy. Usually they keep them longer, but told me he came out of it quicker than normal and was fighting them, so they thought it best to bring him back. He quickly chugged two sippy cups of juice and after 20 minutes fell asleep on me. We left the hospital around 9am.

Upon arriving home, he was grouchy for a couple hours- they said he would be because his ears would pop and adjust for a bit. Then he took a looooooooong nap and after waking up, was back to him old self and has been since! It was not scary and he did very well!

I went by myself, but was fortunate the child after him was a family that I knew and we chit chatted to pass time.

Well, hope this helps anyone who was curious about tubes and if you have any questions, ask away! Oh, and the following day, I got a call from the doctor's office, the surgicenter AND the anesthesiologist all asking me how he was doing and if I had any questions- very nice!

When it rains, it pours!

I hate to be a Debbie Downer, so hopefully after this post I'll have some more fun filled or positive ones. Actually, I did get a bit of good news- I was accepted into grad school at the only university I applied to. That was good as it was my only feasible option.

Anyway, onto downer personal items. So, as you saw from my post on Pekin, it looks like we probably won't be getting anything from insurance on our truck. So, a lesson in life learned. When someone flies through an intersection and totals your vehicle, don't be nice and feel sorry for said person because it was icy as my husband did. Put blame where it was due.

So yesterday was my son's one year check up. My 3 year old has been sick for over a week and started running a temp, so I took her in as well. My son had a small cold, but seemed to be getting over it. Well, he turned out to have an ear infection... again... so we were referred to an ear, nose and throat doctor who determined my son should have tubes put in. This will be done next Thursday. And what was wrong with my daughter? Pneumonia. My poor kid! And of course instead of feeling sorry for the also sick mother for having two sick children, "people" choose to be judgmental and lay all the blame at my feet for exposing them to the outdoors or saying perhaps my house is too cold... cause God forbid it was one of the many viruses going about or traveling on an airplane, etc.

I am desperate for some good news! Being on a tight budget, having to buy a new vehicle so my husband has transportation to work, buying medicine left and right, doctors appointments, gas to transport to said doctors and the stress of all these things along with the fact I've been sick for several days is leaving me in woe.

Luckily I'm a glass half full kinda gal and know there is sunshine in the horizon or I'd need some mass quanitites of Prozac to get over this present hurdle.

Thanks for listening to my rant! I promise happier posts soon!