Minor Surgery

Ryland was a brave big boy today.  He had a mole on his jawline that we have been watching for the past few months removed.  He had the procedure without me in the room and didn't cry.  He is very self conscious of the bandage, so we will hang out around the house for a few days.

Ridley has surgery

My sweet girl had a quick procedure this morning, but it is was still so hard.  After numerous ear infections and rounds of antibiotics, we knew it was time for tubes and removal of adenoids.

Ridley was her opinionated self and gave the staff a hard time.  They gave her a princess crown and wand, which helped distract her for about three minutes.  After a breathing treatment, she was irate.  The meds came shortly after, and I rocked my sweet angel one more time before they took her back.

After about thirty minutes, the doctor came out to let me know the surgery was successful, which gave me relief.  Five minutes later, I heard Ridley screaming from the recovery room.  The nurses quickly came for me to help them console the crazy child.  Needless to say, Ridley isn't pleasant when she comes off anesthesia.  I rocked and comforted for an hour, so we could be released.  We spent the rest of the day cuddling.  Hoping this gives her some relief from the ear infections and pain.

Goodbye Tonsils

After several rounds with tonsillitis, Ryland had surgery to remove them.  We are hoping that this eliminates the ongoing pattern of tonsillitis every 6 weeks.  Ryland was looking forward to being out of school for a week and eating ice cream.

The surgery went well, and after the anesthesia wore off, he was ready for the first of many popsicles.  He was a total trooper and was very relaxed about the whole surgery.  The one problem.  He did NOT want to wear the hospital gown.

We are happy everything went well, and he can start the heeling process.  

Reed's Surgery

Reed's surgery was early this morning, and everything went well.  He was a little defiant after the happy shot up his nose.  The nurse kept telling me he would relax in about 5 minutes.  About 10 minutes later, she informed me that some children are a little tougher than others.  Duh?  Needless to say, Reed went back to surgery screaming.  He refused to wear the hospital gown, and he would not let them take his shoes. 

 

The doctor came out after about 15 minutes to inform me that he was finished, and it took three stitches.  I was able to comfort him in the recovery room as he was waking, and he wasn't happy.  He threw a fit about the monitor on his toe and refused to drink juice or eat a popsicle.  I pulled a quick one on him and poured the juice in his cup.  He went for it and drank it all.  The nurses were pleased and processed all the paperwork to get us released. Of course when I stood up with Reed, he vomited everywhere. (and twice more in the truck on the way home)

Ryland was a trooper this morning.  He comforted Reed and told him everything would be OK.  He was really sweet and patient.  He is such a great big brother!

Tongue Tied

Reed will have surgery in the morning to release his tongue tie.  We have been talking about it often today, and he seems to understand.  I snapped a picture of him sticking his tongue out, so we can compare it to after the surgery.  We have done this exercise so many times hoping it would stretch or tear.  I have noticed improvement but not enough. This is as far as he can stick out his tongue, and notice the middle indention.  It almost creates a upside down heart where the lingual frenulum is connected.  We are hoping that everything goes well, and the corrective surgery will be beneficial for speech.

 

ENT

Reed had an appointment with our ENT today to check on his tongue.  The doctor agreed that the tongue release procedure needs to be done as soon as possible to not cause any speech delay.  I scheduled the surgery for April 5th.

 

The procedure

This is not how I wanted this pregnancy to end.  The emotions are so difficult to work through, and the only thing that is giving some sort of peace is prayer.

John Chris and I spent the day at Baylor for the D and C procedure.  The staff, nurses, and doctors were very sweet and accommodating.  I held it together pretty well until the Chaplain came by right before I went to the operating room.  We chatted about the feelings that we are dealing with, and we were able to pray together.  She left a small stuffed lamb and some other items to comfort and assist with our grieving. 

The procedure was physically painless, and I am expected to recover within a week. I will take it easy and give myself the time.  I am looking forward to being back to "normal" physically.  I am sure the emotions will follow, but I am a short fuse of tears or anger these days. 

Ryland's bad breath

We were warned, but we had no clue what was coming.

The ENT doctor told us that Ryland's breath would be rank due to the adenoidectomy, and it would get better as he healed. John Chris was holding him this evening when he caught a whiff. He immediately said yuck!

This reaction made Ryland giggle with joy.
Ryland started breathing all in John Chris's face. It was so hilarious. He knew exactly what he was doing.

Ryland is a funny boy. He is very pleased with his new discovery.

He decided to give Dad another good smell. What a little stinker!

Rough recovery

Ryland's recovery has hit a hard spot tonight. He has been acting like he feels great, but he just crashed. He now is running a fever and very clingy. I am concerned but remaining calm because the doctor did tell us to expect these symptoms. It breaks my heart to see him in pain. I just want to hold him and make him all better.

On another note... I have such a wonderful friend. Chanda has been here with us all evening. She has been so helpful, and I am so lucky to know her. She has helped calm Ryland with hugs and love, and she has helped me not pull my hair out! I am blessed beyond words. Thank you!

Tubes and adenoidectomy

Ryland is getting tubes today. He may also get an adenoidectomy, but we won't know until the doctor checks them out. He was a sleepy head on the way to the hospital.

He finally decided to wake up a little when we arrived at the hospital. I am sure he was wondering what was going on so darn early in the morning.

Now the little mischief monster comes out. Ryland was very curious about the bed and the hospital equipment. We let him play with it for a little while we waited. He quickly decided that they were all boring. We couldn't give him anything to eat or drink, so things started getting uncomfortable very fast.

After waiting about an hour and a half, it was time. John Chris gave Ryland hugs and kisses, and I took him back. The nurses had prepared me for the Giggle Juice and said that it would calm him down before the real anesthesia. I sat in a dark little room with him while one nurse blew bubbles and another shot the Giggle Juice up his nose. All hell broke loose. Ryland started screaming, crying, and arching his back. I tried to calm him down, but another nurse kept rushing him to go on back. I rocked as long as I could, and he started to calm down. As they wheeled him out of the room, I could not hold back my tears.

John Chris and I sat in the waiting room for about 35 minutes before the doctor came to tell us how the surgery went. Ryland's adenoids were huge, so they were removed. The doctor said everything went according to plan, and he would be in recovery soon.

About 10 minutes later, we were called back to the recovery area. He was barely awake and drifting in and out. When he would wake up, he could feel the IV in his foot, and he would start kicking and screaming. John Chris rocked him while I held the IV and the monitor wires up so they wouldn't pull his skin. I couldn't help but think about the time we spent with Ryland in the NICU. It is so hard to see your baby in the hospital.

Ryland was released with a few prescriptions and some magical ear drops. We headed by the pharmacy and then home. He slept most of the afternoon, but when he was awake, he was acting a little drunk. He stumbled a good bit and laughed a lot.

We are hoping and praying for an improvement with ear infections, and we are so happy things went well.

Double ear infection

Ryland was up most of last night. He ran a 102.5 fever for about an hour before it finally broke. He isn't pulling at his ears, but this is typical fussiness with an ear infection. We headed to the pediatrician for a visit, and of course it was a double ear infection. Ryland is back on an antibiotic and continuing the decongestant.

I have said one more ear infection, and we are going to a specialist. Today I made the call. Ryland has an appointment for consultation in 2 weeks. I have spoken to the doctor, and we will go ahead and schedule a operation for tubes when we go in. I hope that the surgery will be helpful and give Ryland more happy days!