Multi Ear Infections Lead to Tubes

How blessed I considered us to be that Gabriel didn't have his first ear infection until July 2010. Brandy and Jeremy both had ear infections quite frequently before they turned 1. Jeremy had one that was so bad we had to take him to the ER for antibiotics to be administered through a shot because he couldn't sit up straight and had high fevers. Back in the 90's it wasn't a common practice for ear tubes to be inserted. Now a days, if a child has more than 3 ear infections at a young age they do consider the tubes as an alternative to help with drainage. 

Gabe was 11 months old before his very first ear infection!! We took him and Kien to the neighborhood pool for the first time early in the morning (so we could escape the sizzling heat by 11 AM). I used the bathtub rubber ducky as a "boat" for Gabe to get used to the water. Within 10 minutes of entering the water, Gabe had fallen asleep! So, since the air filled duck was cushy, and the swooshing (probably reminded him of being in the womb) eased him to a nice siesta! Little did I pay attention to the water inside the duck when I would splash a little water on his feet to keep him cool. Some water did get in his ears. No more that 24 hours later, he had a fever. 

Over the next 3 months it was a constant ear infection diagnosis with antihistamine and 3 different types of antibiotics with no relief. I finally after his last round of high fever that eventually hit 104. degrees, took him to the ER where they gave him a shot of antibiotic to really knock out the infection. When I talked with the doctor for the follow up the next business day, they gave me a number and scheduled an appointment with a specialist to have tubes put in his ears. The surgery was scheduled October 19th, and we had to be there by 5 AM!! 

Kien had a spend over at our sweet friends house with her children so that we could have a smooth transition getting to the hospital with out having TWO children up at such a terrible time of the day! It's even too early for the birds!! LOL 

When we got to the hospital, the scheduled surgery was for 7 AM but had to go through all the prep list. Finally, we got to the room where we dressed him the the cutest little gown for children. They gave him a nasal mist to to make him "not have a care in the world" to help with the separation from daddy and mommy back to the operating room. 

Gabe was a hoot being all loopy. It was so hard to hold back the tears watching him in this state. He was extremely "lovey dovey" with us. :) :)  

 And very drunk! Poor baby, he couldn't hardly hold his head up.

 When we first put him down, he didn't like the bed. But it wasn't too long after the medicine kicked in that he was ok with it.

 He had to give mommy love first. It was a different world in there!

 The wonderful nurses just love him, commented how adorable he was with the curls and big blue eyes. They gave him a teddy bear that had a gown and face mask on. He loved it!

 Then, to help him with getting ready to be wheeled back to the room, they gave him a toy! A driving toy! The batteries were dead though, so no noises.

 The surgery literally took 3 minutes to insert the tubes. We walked out of the little pre-op room, sat down in the waiting room and  posted on facebook that Gabe was in surgery and prayers were appreciated. Then, the doors opened, the doctor came out and said all went well and we could go back to hold our lil guy. The doctor did inform us that Gabe would have what he called a "6 pack hangover" and will be very fussy. Sure enough, when we went back to get him he was crying as if he had a bad headache. Nothing consoled him until I asked the nurse if I could possible give him a bottle since he hadn't had anything to eat but had been up since 4:30 AM. Anyone who knows Gabe is aware that this child doesn't miss a meal!! (HA!)
So I gave him his bottle with 6 OZ of formula and he sucked it dry. Then wanted more. Finally after 30 minutes of the nurses watching him after the anesthetic wore off, they gave us our instructions and we left.

I was on my way to the pharmacy to fill Gabe's prescription with plans to then pick up Kien from our friends house. Instead, she was right there at Starbucks a few buildings down from the pharmacy! So we met there and this is how the both of the boys were within 10 minutes!

Apparently, Kien and his friend Kai were awoken at 5 AM from the alarm in our friends house that had gone off when she opened her window to let some early morning air in and the boys never went back to sleep!

All in all, the surgery went great and will have to go for a post op check of Gabe's ears in 4 months.

****Update-- His appointment is scheduled for March 2011 with the specialist, and has seen our family doctor a couple of times since then and the tubes look great! They have not fallen out and their placement was perfect!