After more than six ear infections in an eight-month period, we took Olivia to an ear, nose and throat specialist yesterday. Our family doctor had warned us that we were likely headed for tubes, and the ENT doctor confirmed it. One quick look revealed a common structural defect that prevents the ears from draining correctly.
Olivia was fast-tracked for outpatient surgery in Kansas City early this morning, which gave me just enough time to Google “risk of tubes” eight or nine times. I had already read that more than 700,000 children have this procedure each year, and while that should have calmed me, I instead started to worry that is was far too common and maybe a bit unnecessary. Then, I remembered how Olivia howls when we have to deliver a an antibiotic shot because oral antibiotics no longer work on her stubborn ears.
So, we loaded the girls up at 5:30 this morning. (Our sweet friend Dawn agreed to keep Ava overnight, but Ava came home from preschool with a bit of a stuffy nose. Since Dawn has a new baby at home, we decided not to share those germs with her. Instead, we spread them across the Overland Park surgical center…)
Olivia was in good spirits, and I was able to stay with her until she went back to surgery. The process only took about 15 minutes, and in addition to tubes, she also had her adenoids removed and her ears drained. She was able to keep her blanket and pacifier with her the entire time.
She was in a bit of pain when she woke up, but thanks to a dose of medication, she seems to be much better. (She’s not allowed to drive or operate heavy machinery for the remainder of the day, though.) We left the surgical center less than two hours after arriving, and Liv was quite chipper by the time we got home.
Her appetite is back, which is a great sign.
Smith Family Weblog 
Posted by Rebecca's Mom on February 24, 2009 at 11:49 am
She’s looking very ornery! Glad things went well.
Posted by Laura on February 24, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Thanks for the update! Livie looks very happy — and I can’t believe how long her hair is getting!
Posted by Liana on February 24, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Thanks for the good news. It’s a relief to see Olivia looking so happy and hungry.
Posted by Jessica on February 24, 2009 at 12:53 pm
I’m very happy all is well. I’ve been worried about sweet Livie!
Posted by Lori on February 24, 2009 at 3:14 pm
Glad she is back home and looking so happy. Amazing how fast that procedure was. Wow!
Posted by smithfamilyweblog on February 24, 2009 at 4:58 pm
Laura, she looks like one of the Jonas brothers with that hair, doesn’t she?
Lori, it was so fast, I just had time to go to the bathroom and call my mom before they called me back to meet with the doctor.
And, Mom, she is ornery. We were having a hard time wrangling her in this morning while we waited. Bry and I lamented that this is Olivia under the weather–she’s really going to be a handful once she feels 100 percent.
Posted by karyl on February 24, 2009 at 8:15 pm
So glad to hear that everything went so well!
Love from Grandpa and Grandma!
Posted by Katie on February 25, 2009 at 10:53 am
Glad everything went well! Wish I was there to hug & kiss her myself, but give her one (or ten!) of both for me!
Posted by Rebecca's Mom on February 25, 2009 at 1:16 pm
Dave sends his usual pre-concert comments. . .
Posted by smithfamilyweblog on February 25, 2009 at 1:19 pm
Ha!
Posted by Rebecca's Mom on February 25, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Sorry – got this on the wrong post!