Getting ready for “happy juice” in her party hat and fish gown and pink gloves pilfered by Daddy.
Yesterday was a rough day, but I was prepared.
Or so I thought.
There’s nothing more frightening than being unable to comfort your child and succumbing to total helplessness. For a short while, and thank God it was fleeting, I had a moment when I saw my daughter hurting and scared and I could do nothing in my own power to truly alleviate that pain.
Miss A was scheduled to have a tympanoplasty, an outpatient procedure to repair her right eardrum, at 11:30, so we had to be downtown at the surgery care center at 9:30.
I am so thankful I married a man with a sense of humor, who is extremely gentle with his daughters but who is also tough as hell (side note to all you single women, this is a great combo). He could sense Miss A’s nervousness as she was prepped for surgery so he “borrowed” a few pink examining gloves that were in stock in the surgery prep area in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The surgery took less than an hour, as expected, and while I read a book in the waiting area the hubby walked with Miss C down to Rotiers, a Nashville mainstay from the 1940s known for its cheeseburgers and famous clientele, like Jimmy Buffett.
The surgeon called me back to a small meeting room and told me everything went well, although more than once he’s noted that she really “did a number” on her ear. I want my girls to be overachievers but I draw the line when it means self-inflicted BODILY HARM.
I went back to the waiting area for about 15 more minutes and was told I could come back to see her in the recovery area. She was out of it and as she woke up it was obvious she was in a lot of pain. That I was NOT prepared for. She is a tough girl with a high tolerance for pain and I knew she was really uncomfortable. The nurse gave her morphine through her IV and then about 30 minutes later Miss A was able to sit up and she gave her Lortab. That’s a lot of medication for a 41-pound little girl but after another 30 minutes or so passed she was finally able to make a few meager attempts at eating a grape popsicle and she was ready to get rid of her IV.
We headed home and she spent most of the afternoon dozing on the sofa and watching the same Scooby Doo DVD over and over, and I tried to keep small amounts of fluids in her but she kept getting sick.
I knew she was turning a corner about 5 when she wanted to sit in the recliner. She just wanted to sit and rock gently for a while and not read or watch TV. Trying to make her laugh, I lifted up my sweater to show her my tummy and told her I’d eaten way too many french fries at lunch.
She patted my stomach and said, “Ewww mommy cover THAT UP! You’re going to make me throw up again!”
And that’s when I KNEW she was going to be just fine.
All kidding aside, Miss A has had a great night and is sleeping as I type this. She woke up once at 3 a.m. and came in our bedroom to tell me she was thirsty and hungry and that she was sad that she never got to eat breakfast yesterday. She also told me that I was the best mommy in the world, that her daddy was the best daddy, and that Miss C was the best sister and that I was pretty even when I wear my glasses.
So sweet! I’m glad she is feeling better!! Spoil that sweet girl today while she recovers!
Aww, she is such a sweet girl! It sounds like she’s feeling a lot better and I love her spunky attitude—the stomach comment really made me laugh. I hope she’s 110% back to herself really soon. I’ll be thinking of you guys!
That’s a sweet husband you have there. It’s amazing how something such as a couple gloves can make a nervous situation a lot easier on a child. The idea of your child being in any pain I think is enough to make any parent want to rip their hair out. With that said it sounds like she’s doing a lot better now. Hopefully everything is only positive from now on
Glad to hear that everything went well and she is on the road to recovery. I remember that helpless feeling when my little one had tubes put in. I think that might have been the longest 15-20 minutes of my life waiting for them to bring him back from surgery. Having that support system really helps though! What a hubby you have!
Glad everything is over and she is getting back to her normal self. Sending your child down that hall for surgery is SCARY! It is amazing to watch how quickly they can bounce back. Glad mom is okay too!
How much Lortab did you give her?! Kidding. I’m glad she’s feeling better and that the worst is over. Now lock up the qtips!
I may have teared up at reading her say you’re pretty even when you wear your glasses. I hope she sails through the weekend and this is behind you all forever.
I’m glad that “everybody” is Ok this morning. It’s so hard to see your precious little ones go into surgery. So glad that she is starting to “be herself”
Hugs…Balisha
Sooooo glad to hear that everyone is fine (especially, you my friend) so scary when our little ones are hurting; even when they get big
Thank you everyone for the kind words and well wishes. She is doing much better today. The doctor said she should be fine for school on Monday. We just need to make sure she rests this weekend and doesn’t get her ear or the tiny incision above her ear wet!
That made me tear up a little. It really hit home for me as a pediatrician that there is no such thing as “minor surgery” when you are a parent.
I kept telling myself all along it’s “only outpatient surgery” but for a while Thursday it was obvious to me that that was not a comforting thought!
Awww! So glad she is feeling better and that everything went well
Having experienced several ER/ED trips with my children, I completely understand that every minute in a parent’s mind seems like an hour. We are so thankful that all is well and she’s on her way to recovery. Our prayers are with you!
The title is so true! Whenever my three year old starts acting sweet and/or lets me cuddle her – I know something is wrong or she is getting sick!
Glad to hear all is well!
—Tatiana