Ellie's Adenoidectomy and Myringotomy

June 10th will go down in history as the day Ellie finally got to end her battle with ear infections. Booya! We battled her pediatrician for years in SLC over whether or not Ellie needed surgical intervention to fix her ear problems. We were always told that her infections were not frequent enough to warrant the need. SO...when we took her to the pediatrician for yet another infection here in Boise, he started asking her history, and was dumbfounded that she had not at least seen an ENT to give his opinion.  So, we went to the ENT, and lo-and-behold, he took one look in her ears and throat, and said she needed surgery.

So, for her first day of summer (wah!) she went in for the procedure to have her adenoids removed, and tubes in her ears.  It was outpatient, and done at the ENT surgery center.  Ellie was understandably nervous, but excited to have an end in sight to her ear problems.  We snapped a few pics while waiting for her to go back to surgery.

 checking her oxygen levels

 putting stickers on her oxygen mask

 "Hey Mom, it smells like watermelon!"

 Does this make me sound like Darth Vader?

 Claire came along since we weren't sure how long we would be at the surgery center

 Momma and her baby girl...both a little nervous.  They took her back right after this picture.  Two super cute young nurses came and had her laughing as they wheeled her away.  I know it was only a minor procedure, but there's something about knowing your baby is in harms way of any kind.  I had to choke back tears in that moment.  She says the only thing she remembers is laying back on the bed while they had her count backwards from 10...and only getting to 8. :) 

 Claire and I took a little walk to stay occupied and drop off a ton of the junk we had brought along...we definitely didn't need any of it.  When they say it's quick, they are right.  She was done and out in 45 minutes.  My guess is the anesthesia took longer than the actual procedure.  They came and got us, and we sat in a curtained off area with dim lighting while Ellie had horrible shakes and a popsicle.  The doctor said that it was a good thing we got her adenoids out, because they were 3 times the size they should be, and that the procedure went as smoothly as possible.  She didn't have any comical episodes from the anesthesia like she hoped for afterwards, she was just really groggy.  And that was it.  We were cleared to leave as soon as Ellie could walk to the wheelchair.  

 The long drive home - she asked us to stop and get her a Slurpee at 10am.  How could we say no to those eyes?  We stopped and they didn't have any ready that time of morning.  Sad.  We went home and made her a smoothie while she slept off the anesthesia.  When she woke up, Amelia was ready to be her little nurse.  It was kinda adorable. 

 "A kiss'll make it betta sissa"

She decided that a quesadilla might be something yummy...two bites in, she changed her mind and asked for a bowl of ice cream.  I obliged. :)  The crazy thing is by the evening, she was bouncing around telling me she was feeling better...and then the two hour pain killer window ended and she was miserable and headed straight to bed.  Her recovery was pretty slow, but not terrible.  I think that adenoids are a bit easier than tonsils from what I understand.  Ellie has already shown marked improvement, and it's been 4 weeks.  For the first time ever, she hasn't complained about ear drainage or inner ear pain.  I'm one happy momma, and she's one happy patient.  Here's to hoping that it continues that way!  Oh, and fyi, we heard that throat patients are gonna have death breath for a while...it's totally true.  Stock up on mints!!! :)