We survived 2 tonsil removals, an adenoids removal, an adenoid tissue regrowth removal and a set of tubes all in one day.
On day 2 of kindergarten we went to see the ENT to check the little ones ears and talk about when to so tonsil removal on her plus see if the kindergartener would need hers out and if it would help her. Next thing we know we are scheduling surgery for the next day for both of our girls and the whirlwind began. I had to schedule the surgery and go to the surgery center to get them registered for surgery because we had to be there by 6:30 am. Then I had to go to the elementary school to talk to the kindergarteners teacher and the school nurse to get things settled for the week she was out of school plus gave them her excuse for missing school. I also had to talk to daycare about the both the girls being out of day care and if they would have everything that would be needed to take care of the littlest when she did return (enough Tylenol, soft foods, etc.). Lastly I had to run over to the pharmacy to get some antibiotics and medicine for the next day. I had to call work and tell them I couldn't come in the rest of the week and I didn't know when I would be able to return. The hardest part was explaining to my kindergartener that she would be undergoing surgery the next day. I had to do all of this not knowing if she would be having surgery because we had to wait for the anesthesiologist to approve her surgery since she only had pneumonia 5 weeks early (they usually don't do it unless its be at least 6 weeks. Thankfully, they did approve her.
I was going to go into this surgery with both girls all by myself. My hubby couldn't get the day off of work. Hell, he couldn't get any time off to help with recovery either. That's when my awesome mom stepped up and took time off work (unpaid) to come help me for the day. We got up in the morning and woke the girls with just enough to put them in the truck and leave the the surgery center. No need to have them up earlier since they couldn't eat or anything. They were pretty excited that they got to go in their pajamas. They were great through all the pre-op stuff and even posed for a few photos. My mom distracted while I chatted with the anesthesiologist because of the higher risks with the older of my two having just had pneumonia and all. After hearing all of the risks and what they may have to do and what may happen during surgery made me want to pull the plug on her surgery, but what about all the risks if we don't do it? I know that if we didn't do this surgery there was no doubt in my mind she was going to end up with pneumonia for the fifth time sooner rather than later and then with the illness induced asthma where would that have ended us up at? The doctor? The hospital? I had to remember why I had agreed to her having this in the first place. To help her not be as sick as she was last winter. To help her breathe better and easier. To make a difference in her health so she can run around and be a normal kid.
They took the littlest first. She happily went with the nurse to the OR. She walked right up to her, put her arms up and a way they went. The oldest, mom and myself were then escorted to a post-op room that they would bring both girls to when they were done. We stayed in there and waited until the littlest was done. Dr came out to tell us she was done and did great. Then a few minutes later they took the oldest away - crying and all. She was so afraid it wasn't even funny. I almost lost it a little bit watching her go, but by the time they got her down the hall the nurse had her laughing. We didn't have much time before the littlest was brought into us. We got her all settled on me sleeping. She slept for about 15 mins, then sat up and had a sip of juice. then slept for a little bit longer. Once she was up again we tried a Popsicle and it was slow going for a little bit then she ate that sucker like she hadn't eaten in a week. The anesthesiologist poked her head in and my heart dropped. I thought I was about to hear about complications in the oldest's surgery, but she said right away "It went great! No complications." Then in came our surgeon to tell us he believed that this would help her a great deal because there was a lot of debris in her tonsils and adenoids. The oldest was delivered a short time later. Man, did she have a hell of a time. She was coughing and felt like throwing up. The little was eating/drinking everything in sight that they were allowed and took her IV out. That's not something I want to have to deal with again. The oldest fought having to eat/drink anything. She was afraid it would hurt and afraid of having her IV out. We finally left the surgery center at 1:30 in the afternoon. We had to make a stop for another antibiotic. We got everyone settled at home and spent the rest of the day eating Popsicle and drinking juice while watching shows. The littlest was running around the house like nothing had happened. The oldest was acting like her world had ended. It was a week with these two!
We got help from my hubby's parents who came to stay with us on Sunday (5 days after surgery) to take care of the oldest as she had to stay out of school for a whole week. The littlest went back to daycare on Monday. She was so excited to see her friends that day. It was another thing when Wednesday came and the oldest had to go to school. I had constant contact with the school nurse about how we were doing because she had to give the oldest Tylenol that week while she was at school. She even encouraged her to eat.
We are now three weeks past surgery and everyone is doing great. The little has a runny nose and I thought for sure when we went for our follow up with the ENT Tuesday that he was going to tell me she had another ear infection, but her ears were clear! I couldn't believe it! Small miracles! Everyone is happy and healthy. Most important is that they are pretty much back to normal! Fingers crossed for no more ear infections, pneumonia, bronchitis or any other issues.
I was going to go into this surgery with both girls all by myself. My hubby couldn't get the day off of work. Hell, he couldn't get any time off to help with recovery either. That's when my awesome mom stepped up and took time off work (unpaid) to come help me for the day. We got up in the morning and woke the girls with just enough to put them in the truck and leave the the surgery center. No need to have them up earlier since they couldn't eat or anything. They were pretty excited that they got to go in their pajamas. They were great through all the pre-op stuff and even posed for a few photos. My mom distracted while I chatted with the anesthesiologist because of the higher risks with the older of my two having just had pneumonia and all. After hearing all of the risks and what they may have to do and what may happen during surgery made me want to pull the plug on her surgery, but what about all the risks if we don't do it? I know that if we didn't do this surgery there was no doubt in my mind she was going to end up with pneumonia for the fifth time sooner rather than later and then with the illness induced asthma where would that have ended us up at? The doctor? The hospital? I had to remember why I had agreed to her having this in the first place. To help her not be as sick as she was last winter. To help her breathe better and easier. To make a difference in her health so she can run around and be a normal kid.
They took the littlest first. She happily went with the nurse to the OR. She walked right up to her, put her arms up and a way they went. The oldest, mom and myself were then escorted to a post-op room that they would bring both girls to when they were done. We stayed in there and waited until the littlest was done. Dr came out to tell us she was done and did great. Then a few minutes later they took the oldest away - crying and all. She was so afraid it wasn't even funny. I almost lost it a little bit watching her go, but by the time they got her down the hall the nurse had her laughing. We didn't have much time before the littlest was brought into us. We got her all settled on me sleeping. She slept for about 15 mins, then sat up and had a sip of juice. then slept for a little bit longer. Once she was up again we tried a Popsicle and it was slow going for a little bit then she ate that sucker like she hadn't eaten in a week. The anesthesiologist poked her head in and my heart dropped. I thought I was about to hear about complications in the oldest's surgery, but she said right away "It went great! No complications." Then in came our surgeon to tell us he believed that this would help her a great deal because there was a lot of debris in her tonsils and adenoids. The oldest was delivered a short time later. Man, did she have a hell of a time. She was coughing and felt like throwing up. The little was eating/drinking everything in sight that they were allowed and took her IV out. That's not something I want to have to deal with again. The oldest fought having to eat/drink anything. She was afraid it would hurt and afraid of having her IV out. We finally left the surgery center at 1:30 in the afternoon. We had to make a stop for another antibiotic. We got everyone settled at home and spent the rest of the day eating Popsicle and drinking juice while watching shows. The littlest was running around the house like nothing had happened. The oldest was acting like her world had ended. It was a week with these two!
We got help from my hubby's parents who came to stay with us on Sunday (5 days after surgery) to take care of the oldest as she had to stay out of school for a whole week. The littlest went back to daycare on Monday. She was so excited to see her friends that day. It was another thing when Wednesday came and the oldest had to go to school. I had constant contact with the school nurse about how we were doing because she had to give the oldest Tylenol that week while she was at school. She even encouraged her to eat.
We are now three weeks past surgery and everyone is doing great. The little has a runny nose and I thought for sure when we went for our follow up with the ENT Tuesday that he was going to tell me she had another ear infection, but her ears were clear! I couldn't believe it! Small miracles! Everyone is happy and healthy. Most important is that they are pretty much back to normal! Fingers crossed for no more ear infections, pneumonia, bronchitis or any other issues.
