Surgery!

This morning I woke Talia up at 6:15 to take her to the surgery center to have tubes inserted in both ears. After the saga that has included 8 or 9 ear infections over the past 9-10 months, we finally decided to go ahead with the procedure. Originally we thought we might wait until the fall, but the ear infections don't seem to be slowing down despite the warm weather and the end of cold season.

The patient was cheerful, albeit subdued, as we checked in and waited for our turn. When we were taken to pre-op, she was fitted with a little yellow hospital gown and commenced exploring the wonders of a hospital bed. Several minutes later she was given an elixer to aid in relaxation, including expected amnesia regarding her experience. It was funny watching her becoming more and more relaxed (read "loopy") as the meds kicked in. Her responses were very slow and her eyelids heavy by the time the nurse came to carry my baby away to the operating room.

The procedure was short--she was only away from me for about 10-15 minutes. The doctor came out just 5 minutes after I left her and told me everything went very well. Soon I was ushered back to the recovery room where the nurse handed her to me, explaining that she was not yet fully "awake" (from the general anesthesia) and would open her eyes for the first time in my arms. The recovery from the anesthesia was the worst part. Since she was waking up from a very deep sleep, she was very upset. A sippy cup of juice comforted her (until it was gone). She cried off and on all the way home.

Once we reached the house she accepted her daddy's offer to hold her and rested against his chest while sipping some more juice and taking a few bites of oatmeal. What she really wanted was sleep and once in bed she quickly dozed off.

The doctors and nurses assured me she would be herself by this afternoon.