My First Surgery

So, we finally did it! We had the dreaded surgery. Yesterday, we took Ben to Cooks to get tubes in his ears and to have his adnoids removed. I was dreading the surgery but I was so ready to do something to help my poor child breath better, sleep better, and avoid having his 8th ear infection! I prayed fervently that God would have his hand on things and He didn't let me down! He was with us every step of the way. Ben slept all the way to the hospital, even until we got up to the waiting room, after registration. Then, we were quickly taking into a couple of different rooms where they asked us all the questions they're supposed to ask, took Ben's vitals, etc. Then they had a play room where he hung out with other kids until the surgery. He had a ball. Every once in a while he would reach for his backpack because that's where we keep his sippy (he couldn't have anything to eat or drink), but that was it! They had a singing Christmas tree in the play area and we all know how much my son likes anything that sings. So he kept pressing that over and over again. I think we drove everyone else nuts, but it kept him happy!

Then at about 9:30, they took me back into another room with Ben and sent Hector to the waiting room where Mom, Dad and Mere waited with him. They gave Ben a sedative up his nose. He did not like that at all, but all it took was about 2 minutes and then he really liked it! He was playing with some Dora the Explorer stickers like they were the coolest invention ever! Then after about 15 minutes, I layed my baby on a little baby hospital bed and they rolled him back. I went to the waiting room with everyone else. They gave him gas before they put an IV in, so he didn't feel a thing. Then, about 15 minutes later, Dr. Palmer came out and said that everything went great. He said that Ben's adnoids were very enlarged so he should notice an immediate breathing difference. It took a little longer before we could go back there because Ben had so much congestion they had to give him a breathing treatment and CPT, which kind of concerned me. But they acted like it was normal. Of course the day before his surgery, in addition to trying to get over a double ear infection, he develops a nasty cough.

Anyway, when they took me back to see him, he was still asleep. That anesthesia knocked him out! We had to wake him up to give him fluids and he did not like that at all. But even then, he just fussed a little. We all took turns going back there to see him. Kristen, my cousin, works at Cooks and came by to make sure everything was ok. Then when we got home, he was a little fussy, but he inhaled his waffles and wanted to play. Then I just knew last night would be a rough one. Instead, he slept through the whole night AND woke up in a great mood. We only had to give him tylenol once today! Isn't that nuts! God is good, and we are thankful! His adnoids are still swollen so it will be another couple of days before we can tell a difference in his breathing, but we're confident we will and we're hopeful that the tubes will help with his speech development.

Merry Christmas

So this Christmas was a white Christmas! What are the odds? It was great and made for some great Kodak moments! There's nothing cuter than a one year old bundled up and playing in the snow.

On Christmas eve, we always go to Mama Joys in the afternoon about 3 and then head to Hector's moms at around 6. We went to MJs as planned. Ben had fun with everyone but wasn't very interested in his gifts or the wrapping paper for that matter. Then when we left to go to Iris's, we almost slid through the first intersection we came to. So, we quickly decided a trip to Lewisville in this weather was probably not wise. So we headed to Mom and Dad's instead. We didn't want to get snowed in at our house and not be able to spend Christmas with the family, so we spent Christmas Eve at their house. On C.E. growing up, we always were given one gift which were always pajamas and we would drink hot chocolate and watch a christmas movie. Well, since I've been married, I haven't gotten to be part of that tradition b/c we spend C.E. with his family. So, as disappointed as we were to miss spending it with his fam, it was kind of neat to get to be a part of the tradition once again! My husband bought me the movie "this christmas" as an early gift, and that's what we watched! It was great!

Then when we woke up Christmas morning, I took Ben into each room to wake everyone up. What better way to wake up on Xmas?! Then we all went into the den together as always. Ben wasn't feeling all that great... probably had to do with his double ear infection and the antibiotic that hurts his stomach! So he wasn't the happiest baby on Christmas morning, but as always he still behaved perfectly. But once again, he wasn't very interested in his presents. All he cared about was a chair that mom and dad bought him. It's the cutest thing. He'll just lean back in it like it's his own little recliner! Anyway, next year I'm sure he'll appreciate our efforts more, but we still had an awesome Christmas and got some great pictures. We also had Christmas on Saturday with the Tappe side of the family, and then with Hector's family on Sunday night. Ben had a ball at both! See pictures. :)

Update on Ben

The last month, nothing extremely new or interesting has happened, but Ben has been so much fun. He is now not only walking, but pretty much running everywhere. Poor thing is still a little wobbly and we think it's because of the fluid that tends to stay on his ears.

On that note, Ben is set to have tubes put in his ears and his adnoids removed on the 28th. We're not looking forward to it, but we feel a real peace about it. We are really hoping that it will help him breathe better and stear clear of ear infections. It's supposed to be a very simple process. The tubes supposedly have no recovery time and the adnoid removal is supposed to have a 1-2 day recovery period. Hector will still be out of school, so he'll be there to help me. I'm just ready for my little boy to be able to breathe through his nose and not snore like a freight train!

We've had fun with Ben this Christmas season. We've taken him to see lights, Dad's bought him little Christmas singing doll things, he's heard just about every Christmas carol a dozen times and owns 4 or 5 sets of Christmas pajamas, thanks to Nana! Can't wait to see how much fun he has Christmas morning! A couple other cute things he's been doing. Now when he reaches for you, he opens and shuts his hands like, come here please. It is precious! That combined with that pitiful face he makes where he sticks out his lips is priceless! He's also started guiding your hand to what he wants you to do. The other day we were watching tv together and he started dropping something between the couch and the table and then would move my hand to the crack to go get it. He did that about a dozen times. He's also getting even more dramatic when he doesn't get his way. But he's so flippin cute, his new tactics tend to work! Anyway, I'm sure I'll have some neat pictures of Christmas to post in a couple of days.