We made it!!!

Well, we made it to Courtney’s surgery. It’s been tough, but we made it! We left for the hospital at 5:30am. We waited until the last minute to get her up. We just got her up, put her coat on and headed out. We even waited to change her diaper until we got to the hospital.

Once we got settled in our outpatient room it was a waiting game. Thankfully they have little TV’s you can watch. So, we let her watch cartoons and Sesame Street. We know TV isn’t good for kids, but it was one of those instances where it really helped. Otherwise she would have been all over the place. She was so calm and still, in fact, that when the nurse came in 30 minutes before surgery she said that Courtney didn’t look like she needed the “magic drug”. Whatever drug it is they can give them to calm them down, Courtney didn’t have to have. This apparently also made things easier on the end side too.

We got her dressed in her little gown and the doctor and the Anesthesiologist came in to talk to us. Once we were set there, another nurse came to get Courtney. Hubby took her to the room. There was NO way I would have been able to leave Courtney there, so, Hubby did it. That was when I had to try really hard not to break down. Hubby was able to stay with her until she was asleep. Then he came back to our room and we waited an agonizing 30 minutes. Okay, agonizing for me, Hubby slept.

Then the doctor came in and told us how surgery went. Her tubes went in no problem. She did have mucus behind the ear drum. She did not have an acute ear infection in either ear, which is also good. Her adenoids were small, as are her tonsils (her tonsils stayed). The one problem he did see is that she has a shallow pallet. So, he had to leave part of the adenoids so she can speak clearly and make the K sound. So, they will probably grow back in the future. This is fine as long as her ear canals have grown enough by then to allow drainage.

Then the nurse came to get one of us to take us to recovery where Courtney was. They kept saying, ‘she’s a bit grumpy’. Thankfully I had pre-warning from past experience and friends that ‘grumpy’ is not the word to describe it. Try full out exorcism going on! Courtney was failing and screaming and fighting and drooling. The only way I knew it was her was because of her pink socks. Once I got in there, they got me a rocking chair, I sat down, they gave her to me and I had to football hold this screaming, kicking, flailing, drooling baby until they got some more drugs in her to calm her down. She fell back asleep for about 15 minutes and then woke up and started all over again, but not as bad as before.

Finally we were able to go back to our room. I held her while the nurse wheeled me in a wheelchair. We spent the next few hours in the room, Courtney slept off and on. She finally woke up and drank a large sippy cup of juice. She also ate 2 containers of Jell-O.

We were finally released at 11:30am. We came home and Courtney slept on the recliner with me for about an hour. Then she wanted to be in the lying down position so we put her in her crib where she slept for about another 45 minutes.

After that she was up. She was almost back to normal also. Nana came up to visit her and that made a huge difference. Nana had her laughing and giggling and singing. Eventually Nana left and Hubby came home from getting a haircut and picking up dinner. We gave Courtney macaroni and cheese. She is supposed to be on a clear liquid diet, but the kid was starving! She had eaten several containers of Jell-O, and some sherbet, and drank about a bottle of Pediasure and some Juice. So, we figured mac n cheese might be a bit more substantial for her.

She lasted until dinner was over, and then I took her up to bed. She was half asleep when I put after reading a few books. She has been out since. She had cried out several times, so I assume at some point we will have to intervene with her tonight. Her Tylenol runs out in about an hour. She might wake up and need more then.

I know both of us are exhausted also. I finished my assignment for school that is due on Tuesday, so that I can start studying for our test on Thursday. Hubby is working on setting up my new laptop that the company bought for me! So, I am going to take a shower and go to bed.

Thank you all for the calls and emails worrying about our little girl. She is doing well, and will hopefully only be better from here! (NO MORE EAR INFECTIONS, cross your fingers). We are very lucky to have so many good friends and family!