Surgery day.... :(

Danielle had another ear infection about 2 weeks ago. We last met with her Odo doctor in IC back in September, at that time her ears looked great. He asked though, that if she got another ear infection or started to get them this winter that we contact him to possibly think more about tubes. Well Danielle finished her antibiotic a week ago today, I was talking with Brad and we decided that we should contact her doctor in IC to tell him she had got another ear infection.

Upon contacting him he at first did not look back in her chart to see that she had subsequent ear infections. In my e-mail I reminded him that she has had 7 since she came home from the NICU, needless to say....too many. Upon review of her chart he decided that we should do tubes. He suggested we do them this week, Tuesday.....well nothing like short notice, right?! Well since she had just come off antibiotic we decided that it would be best because from Thursday until Tuesday there was less of a chance she would develop another ear infection in that time, versus waiting longer. So we did it.

Poor little thing. It was a fairly quick procedure. But it sure broke mommy and daddy's heart. This was 2 kiddo's with 2 surgery's in 2 weeks time....that equaled too much. Danielle was a trooper. Surgery meant no food the morning of and Danielle loves her breakfast! That is hard but she didn't complain one bit. We bundled her in some comfy pj's as they suggested and headed off for IC bright and early. Her surgery was at 8am. The Anesthesiologist carried Danielle back to the OR and mommy met her in recovery after the procedure. It went great, without a hitch. The nurse that brought her into recovery had her drinking Pedialite, I was shocked. Danielle isn't much for juice and I was totally floored that she was taking it, but she was a hungry girl. She wasn't acting groggy at all. The anesthesia they used was just a 'gas mask', and she tolerated it fine. Her ears were a little ouchy any time she would cough or hiccup but Tylenol helped the pain. We were back home around 10am and snuggled on the couch all day long.

Danielle and mommy don't often get one full morning and afternoon to snuggle but we did that day. It was perfect. We took a couple of snoozes and just giggled at each other. It was pretty amazing that literally right after surgery she was talking so much more. She even talked in the carseat on the way home from IC and she never does that. Wednesday both kids got to catch up on some much needed sleep and sleep in. It was a day of recovery and that extra day really helped Danielle.

Brad and I really hated to see our little girl go thru another surgery. We wanted to take that pain away from her, but deep down we knew she needed the tubes. 7 ear infections in just a year is way too many. We are hoping that this will help her especially going into winter. As we were leaving recovery her doctor came over to me and said, 'thank you for letting me help your daughter.' It just melted my heart. He is the same doctor that did Dylan's tubes also, we are so comfortable with him. Just after he made that comment I knew right then that we had made the right decision for Danielle.

Today Danielle is doing great. We are putting ear drops in her ears for the next few days to help them heal. She is a happy camper, she is talking so much and eating great and just being the sweetest little thing ever. We love you Danielle Marie, we are so proud of you and happy that your ears will be feeling much better now. Thank you lord for protecting our little girl.~