All in all, things went very well. So much for all my fretting! We arrived on Tuesday morning at 6:30 am and waited. Soon the girl that shared the room for one night (a 2 year old Downs Syndrome girl and her mother) came and we all waited. He had some medicine to make him relax and if I could figure out how to upload the video and post you would see how funny a 3 year old is...he acted like he was really on something. Giggling and not able to control his arms or legs. It was a hoot. The little girl was first up for surgery and it was about 8:10 that they came to the room and wheeled Niki to the elevator (he thought that was fun riding his bed in the elevator). In this picture he was a bit serious since he wasn't sure what was going on.
They had me kiss him goodbye in the hall and they took him into surgery. I didn't even cry or anything. Hooray for medicine! (Can I have some?!)
Then I had to wait (with the other mother) for a while. He was actually under anestesia from 8:15-8:45 (I read the chart). They came and got me while he was in recovery and was beginning to come out of it. He was crying and it was the part that just made me feel so guilty (for agreeing to put him through this) and sad to see him suffering. Eventually when I told him fairy tales (3 bears etc.) he fell alseep and so we stayed there until 10:45 for monitoring. Then they took him back to the room.
He was subdued that day and they kept him on pain medication and antibiotics. He wasn't allowed to have anything to drink (not to mention eat) until after 2 pm. Then he got some push-up pops. He gobbled down 4 in a matter of minutes. I am sure he got tired of the soft foods (puddings, white bread etc) but he endured it. The 4th day they let him have a bit more and some classic lines: when he saw a pat of butter on his plate he got all excited and as he opened it said "A present! They got me a present!" another one is once he he told me "The pudding doesn't make you sneeze!" (What is his mind thinking?)
The thing he hated the most was the IV in his arm. He would cry and tell me to call the doctor and get it out. Especially in the night this would bother him.
The 2nd day after the roomate left it was quite nice. We had our own room and I felt more relaxed. I brought cars, painting, playdough, beads, books and a variety of other things to keep him occupied. The best thing of all was the laptop with DVDs. He doesn't watch kids movies but does like to watch the BBC shows so we recorded a bunch and that is what he watched. Also he loves Dora and Signing Times.
Here he is with the "boy doctor" (really he was a nurse, but I didn't feel like trying to sort that with him).
It was a long 6 days but I finished a great book (Midwives) and watched a bit of CNN (kept up to date with the election propaganda) and a few other interesting shows too.
A few friends visited--and I appreciated that more than they can know! Günter brought Jenna every day too. Things got a bit loud then...
One day Niki asked why Oma and Opa didn't come to visit so I had Günter call and they drove 1.5 hours (one way) to see him for 40 minutes--the love of a grandparent!
This hospital experience was so different than Jennas. I was so traumatized at the end of the week with her, but Niki's almost seemed like we were at a hotel or something. They hardly bothered us and we had good food. The only thing that annoyed me was the 9 year old kid in the next room kept stealing our icecream bars. We put our name on it and eventually told the nurses when he still would take them. His own family should have brought something. Oh well. The great thing is that they let a parent stay with the child (for free) when the child is under 9 years. So I got to hang out with him and give him medicine, food and generally wait on him.
The doctor came and said Niki was healing well and we could go home on Sunday. Yipee!
Now I am doing loads of laundry and trying to get things ready for leaving on my holiday on Wednesday. This is my yearly holiday without kids or husband. I am going to the Turkish Riveria for a week on the beach and will read and relax to my hearts content. Call it my mental health break!
So expect me next post to be after I return on 5 Nov!
Posted by Krista at October 27, 2008 04:03 PMIt was so nice to read your post about the hospitalization. We are glad everything went well. The recovery seems much easier at a younger age! Have a great time on the Turkish Riveria! Think of us Americans enduring the last week of blah, blah, blah prior to the elections. I turn it off most of the time but still feel the ailment of 'election fatigue'. Enjoy!
Posted by: Dana at October 27, 2008 04:55 PMWahoo! I'm so-so glad everything went smoothly and it was relatively stress free! Yay! He looked great in the pictures. What a relief! So, the Europeans keep you in too long and the Americans keep you in too short. Casey's and Laura's tonsillectomy's were out-patient surgeries. Casey's scared me to death because the next day he began hemorrhaging and I was literally freaking out because blood was everywhere and he fainted. If I had known it was as simple as shoving a popsicle down his throat to cut the bleeding, I wouldn't have freaked out as much. I think Americans keep you in too short of a stay. I'm glad you are back at home. How sweet of Guenter's parents to drive all that way to visit! What great grandparents!!! Hugs and kisses to Niki. And thanks for the tip on a new book! I'll check it out!! Tschuss. I' Lieb' Di'.
Posted by: Jeni at October 27, 2008 06:38 PMI am so glad things went well, Krista! Tyler had three times he was put to sleep for things before the age of 4 so I know how the whole waking up can be hard. Cody has had to go under twice (before age three) and his have been much different. You definately have earned a week off! See ya when you get back!
Posted by: Marie at October 27, 2008 08:04 PMSo they really did keep you that long? WOW! My friend who i was telling you about does have the same doctor as Niki's. He told them he would only be in the hospital 2 days or so. HE's NOT having them taken out by laser.
Glad to hear that Niki did so well. Take care!
I'm so glad that this experience at the hospital was much better. Niki was such a champ and I have to say that even in that state (so serious in his bed) he's just the cutest! I'm so glad that you're going to be able to go on an early holiday, have soo much fun! I can't wait to see the pictures and hear all about beig pampered on the riviera. Enjoy-you deserve it!
Posted by: Holly Domm at October 27, 2008 09:17 PMI can't believe they keep you for that long BUT let's just focus on the future . . . Turkish Riviera?! You are one lucky gal. Someday you will have to teach me how you worked that one out! Enjoy yourself completely!
Posted by: Leslie at October 28, 2008 01:23 PMWow, 6 days in the hospital for a tonisillectomy? Here, I think it would be outpatient and you wouldn't even stay 1 day. But I'm really realizing the difference between that sort of thin here in the US and other countries.
Poor Niki, I don't blame him for not liking the IV - that is my least favorite part as well!!
Posted by: Kari at October 29, 2008 03:15 PMYea! I'm so glad everything went well! I hope you are having fun on your vacation alone. I am so envious. ;-)
Posted by: Missy at October 31, 2008 08:00 PMI am so glad that you survived and everything went so well! What awesome grandparents! I am sure you are soaking up the sun as I type. Enjoy your much deserved rest!
Posted by: Melinda Terry at November 3, 2008 01:08 AMBetter late than never on the posting, eh? I'm so glad that everything went well. I can't decide if I think it is wonderful or miserable that a tonsilectomy is a six day stay. It is great if there are any complications, but what a strain on the whole family to have Mom and Niki out of the house for a whole week.
I hope you had a great trip in Turkey. I keep checking the blog to see pictures.
Posted by: Anna at November 6, 2008 04:56 PMWow! You have had some medical hurdles to overcome. Glad to see that things are going well considering. You probably don't remember me. I posted about a year and a half ago. My wife and I live in Spokane, WA and were stationed at Fairchild in June 1994. At the time she was nine months pregnant with our son Andrew who is now 14. He struggles with asthma, but is a fighter and is not letting him hold him back from sports activities. Our other two are out of the nest. Benjamin, 20, is going to school at Shoreline Community college over in the Lynnwood area and is a sophomore majoring in psychology. Danielle, 18, is a freshman at WSU and she is majoring in sports medicine. Spokane is still a great place to live, but is ever growing. Tonight is a typical November drizzly, foggy night. My wife Kimberly still works for Albertson's, but because of a severe knee injury a year ago I had to take a career change. Instead of working at the airport I am working for the Dept of Commerce / Census Bureau for the upcoming 2010 census. That is an update on life in the Price household. Glad again to see that things are going well for you all. Will pop in again over the holidays. God Bless!
Posted by: Tim at November 7, 2008 07:23 AM