Ear tubes are in place!

Monday morning we went to the Children's Hospital at about 7:30 am, were checked in right away, and the nurse did all her assessments (and we changed Cael into the hospital pjs). We had about an hour and a half to attempt to entertain Cael in a pre-op room with various toys. This was more challenging that it sounds...try keeping a growing boy who hasn't eaten for 12 hours happy. He was so sweet in asking "please" by rubbing his chest and pointing to the diaper bag; time and again we had to distract him with another toy or silly game.


Finally at 9:15 am the anesthesiologist came to get Cael and asked if I wanted to go with until they put Cael to sleep. Sure...why not! I will admit it was interesting watching your own child "go to sleep", fight it along the way, then completely relax and give in...kind of amazing actually! The procedure started around 9:30, the ENT came and got us from the waiting room at 9:35 stating everything went very well. The nurse brought Cael to us in the hallway at 10:05. Cael seemed very dazed and not sure what was going on. The nurse said he didn't cry at all, and the post-op nurses said that most kids come back to the recovery room screaming...Cael is one tough kid (I like to think)! They immediately gave Cael some apple juice, and then followed it up with a 2nd juice box of apple juice. I think this is when he realized he hasn't eaten for 14 hours! He seemed to "snap" right out of the anesthesia and was begging (with "please" of course) for crackers. The nurse got his discharge papers ready and we were on the way to the car at 10:25. It was great! We got home and treated Cael to mac 'n cheese for lunch...he loved it! (And I'm not sure he stopped eating since that moment!).

One thing we have to be aware of is water in the ears. This is hard since Cael LOVES his baths! So, we put vaseline on a cotton ball and shove it in his ear! Much to our surprise, he doesn't seem to mind too much (yet at least)!


After his bath the night of the surgery...I think he is back to normal!!
He went to daycare today and "had a great day" according to Deb the daycare lady, so we pushed our luck and went to the YWCA, where Cael also did very well. We have noticed his personality kind of "sparked" since having the tubes placed, and he is actually quite hilarious (I mean, look at the photo above and tell me you don't chuckle with that!)

I actually have to start working again tomorrow...my student's last day is tomorrow! Better get to bed to rest up! Have a great rest of your week!