Today was a Harper day! After battling croup, ear infections and colds over the past few months, we finally scheduled her ear tube procedure, to stop the constant ear infections causing hearing issues. Harper was very excited for it all, unusually so since it’s a medical procedure, and likely because she finally gets her “day in the sun” and one in one time with the parents. After Emerie experiencing this a handful of times throughout the past five years; it is not lost on the other two kiddos that she received special treatment on those days. They seem to be unaware of all the other aspects that go with surgery, such as pain, coming out of anesthesia, naps to sleep a procedure off, and all the dreaded eye and ear drops. But you know, other than that it’s all fun and donuts right?

Harper and I arrived at the ENT’s office at 7 AM, bright and early on a single digit temperature day, leaving Emerie and Reagan cozy in their beds until Craig took them to school for the day. Leaving the house in pajamas is a rarity for the girls and not something we do often -especially on one of the coldest days we’ve had- and Harper was quite the hit with the nurses in her matching pink, cozy pjs, pink boots, and furry pink coat, and baby seal and Princess Aurora in tow.

During all the pre-op questions she was pumped and noticeably excited, singing, hollering and making goofy faces, which cracks me up. She hollered the numbers on the pulse monitor at the nurses in the hallway, thinking she was so darn funny. The anesthesiologist checked in and noted they had the same birthday, which did NOT impress my six year old who already shares hers twice over. So funny. She was giggly and jolly even, having way too much fun with the pulse ox machine and the name bracelet tied around her ankle.

Either we didn’t wait long enough to find out, or she doesn’t react to versed quite as strongly as Emerie, who can barely hold her body straight or her head up after a dose. After reclining in the chair and sporting her hairnet and heated blanket, eventually she was a little more “jello-y” and chill, just in time to ride the wheel chair with her very own nurse! She asked ten questions about all the parts and pieces on that wheel chair, and then was whisked down the hall to the operating room, waiving goodbye to me with a slightly confused look, but no concern.

Sitting and writing a blog always distracts me from that concerned and stressed feeling you get when a kiddo is in surgery, and there’s nothing you can do to determine outcome. It’s not a fun place, but definitely one we’ve been to many times before with Emerie, and fewer times than many of our friends with littles.

After about thirty minutes the doctor emerged, saying everything went great. The main reason for tubes was fluid buildup by her ear drums, and he noted after getting in there, it was less like fluid and more like a glue buildup; not infected but definitely contributing to hearing issues and restricting vibration. He cleaned it out and put in the tubes, and she should have noticeable better hearing right away.

They put her under a bit deeper than planned because of the lingering croup cough; she slowly emerged from anesthesia without any negative reaction or indication of pain. She pepped up after a few minutes and finally peeked at us after a promise of juice. The highlight of her visit was getting a sticker, a mini pink slinky, and getting wheeled all the way to the car in a wheel chair (because she was still a little wobbly!). Sisters were also informed the nurses had PINK gives and let her take them home. In fact, in true Harper style, she was wearing a glove on each hand before surgery and one of them made it through the ride home!

After picking up Craig and the promised donut stop, she chilled for the day and all is well in the world, other than achy ears. When asked if today was scary or fun, she instantly responded fun, and that the highlight was watching seal videos with Craig at the crack of dawn before we left for the day, and getting a little iPad time. Glad to know her first surgical experience was met with no stress and a good experience! The next kid on deck will not be quite this easy…

❤