Such a TROOPER!

This little girl has blown me away this week.  After all the research, talking to doctors, asking friends… All I heard and read was the same thing.. this recovery will NOT be fun, it’s going to be horrible.  That is what I prepared for mentally – I was ready for the worst.. but ended up with the best. This little one sure is tough.

Day 1: Morning of Surgery

We left the house at 6:00 a.m. and arrived at Doctor’s Surgical Center just before 6:30.  The kids played in the waiting area and then we went to the back and waited and waited for Audrey and Will’s turn for surgery.

Will went first and as expected it was quick quick.  His body didn’t take well to the plastic tubes that are standard for most kids.  The doctor said they work great 99% of the time… you would know MY kid has to be that 1%! Will’s ears had created polyps over the openings of the tubes, blocking all fluids – causing swelling and of course fluid build up.  This time he got titanium tubes and we are hoping that this will do the trick for him.  He woke up out of anesthesia and didn’t even cry! He had a popsicle and off he went to Lake Charles with my parents.  Within 30 minutes I got a text with him smiling and being himself again. whew.. one down one to go!

After getting him settled in my parents car I went back upstairs and back into the waiting room.. felt like hours, but it was probably 30-45 minutes.  Audrey started to wake up from her adenoid and tonsils surgery with a little gaging and coughing – since this isn’t ideal for the ‘bo-bo’s’ the nurse gave her some phenegren (sp?) and off to sleep she went for about an hour or so.  When she woke up the second time she didn’t cry, fuss.. nothing. she wanted to go potty and tore up a popsicle – couldn’t eat it fast enough!!

After she had been in recovery for 2 hours we were allowed to go home.  I was shocked how calm she was the kids all around her were screaming and thrashing around… (which was totally what i expected for her too).  We got home and back to bed she went.. forever. she napped for hours and hours.  When she woke up she ate everything in sight… her favorites were popsicles and boiled eggs (chopped up).  We played games, watched movies and really had a fun time together.  I put her back to bed at around 8:30 at night and she woke up at 3:00 a.m. like it was morning. We watched another movie, she ate a popsicle and a yogurt and back to bed at 4:30 a.m. We both woke up just before 8:00.

Here are some pictures of before surgery…

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Day 2:

We had a full day of fun around the house doing more of the same… playing, coloring, painting, cooking, movies… LOTS of fun for Audrey without brother around. I put her down for a nap at around 1:00 and when I went in to check on her about 30 minutes later, she was still wide awake and asked to get up.. how did she stay awake all day?!  I was very detailed about her medicine – she took her Tylenol with Codeine prescription every 4 hours (even thru the night *i’d set my alarm) for the first 2 days.

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Day 3:

Another awesome day of more cuddles, snuggles and one on one time - I switched her to regular tylenol, but still keeping her on it every 4 hours to stay on top of the pain (that may or may not be there).  She actually napped for a while this afternoon and when she woke up she had visitors and played some and after that, Mere and Cappy came back to drop off Will.  They missed each other! It was so cute to watch them laugh and hug.. buuuut that didn’t last too long.

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Day 4:

We got up and immediately wanted to send will back to LC. He was whining and complaining and fighting and fussing.. none of which he did for my parents of course. He tore up the house from one side to the next and all I could do was run around behind him trying to clean up. ugh. this boy.  My friend Megan kept him for about an hour for me to go to the dermatologist and I took audrey with me.  When we picked up will we also picked up Addison and she stayed to play for 4 hours! the girls had a ball together!!  Audrey had no meds after 8:30 a.m. and hasn’t complained at all. she even ate cheese-its.  Per her request she had pancakes for dinner and it is looking like we are back to normal….. somewhat.

 

All better!!! in just a few short days!  I will always cherish those sweet days we had together.. one on one time with Audrey was absolutely amazing and totally priceless. I haven’t had time alone like that with her since before Will was born and I didn’t realize what I was missing.  I would like to make an effort from here on out to spend more one on one time with each of my babies.  Big thanks to my parents for allowing me to focus on Audrey’s recovery by taking Will to Lake Charles (where he also had a blast!) It was a win win for us all.

All in all this experience was way better than I anticipated…. prepare for the worst and hope for the best –

Now on to preparing for the move!