3rd times a charm

It was cold and dark outside as we carry our half-awake 3 year old into the surgical center at Alta View Hospital. A day I myself have dreaded. It made my belly hurt. Today was the day for Rea to get some tubes in...again...and again....I'm thinking, third times a charm (hopefully)...and I also know what to expect since we've had 2 long, tiring, very emotional days like this in the past. We've been seeing the ENT every few months for some pressure issues she's had in her ears. She hasn't had a single ear infection since her last tubes in March of 08 and heaven knows she can hear well enough! We've adjusted to swimming under water, no paranoia as we wash her hair, etc. However, it was suggested that she was losing hearing in the one ear because of the negative pressure. So I consented and began to dread.

Long story short....it wasn't that bad. There were a few minutes of hysteria and it was still a really long few hours but now, hopefully, she is on the mend. I have to say that our experience at Alta was MUCH better than that at Jordan Valley. The nurses were great, she got a cute purple bear to take everywhere with her, and our anesthesiologist Dr. Blood (YEP, that was his name!) was so great. We checked in, changed into the fabulous-o gown (which is way cuter than the big size ones), and waited for the "giggle juice". This was a new experience as neither time before did she get this. It was great. Well sort of...sort of weird. I was "giggling" so hard I was crying because she was completely zoned out. Her voice turned into this sweet angel voice, she was saying things that were hilarious, and could barely focus on the book Mike was reading her. When Dr. Blood arrived he was so good with her. She asked what his name was and he said "Todd" then whispered "no need to scare her right". They went in search for lost kittens which apparently are seen in the building after a dose of the giggle juice. Thirty minutes later she was in recovery and it was over...well sort of. Her ENT said the one ear drum was totally collapsed so we were glad we decided to do it now rather than wait.

She didn't think it was a pretty dress

Peek-a-Boo

Giggle Juice taking effect



The other great of the day was an adventure to Chuck-E-Cheese. We were sort of using it as a bribe even though her "earning" this trip comes with another milestone...for a week, she has been going to sleep by herself at night. After the ritual 3 or 4 books read by dad, the lamp is left on and she enters dreamland. Dad's in heaven. No holding hands, rubbing the back, sitting there for an hour coaxing her to sleep (mom doesn't have to do all this of course, Rea knows she means business). It's been heaven. Thank heavens for Chuck-E-Cheese and manipulation of innocent minds. Probably not a night we should have ventured out but it gave her something to talk about as she was coming out of the grogginess of the surgery...."Can we go to Chuck-E-Cheese now Dad?" Good news is we all survived.

Yum, frozen pizza and Rootbeer

Her fav game

Watching the "band" play (she looks worn out!)