J's Surgery | Tympanoplasty

Jordyn had her third ear surgery, a Tympanoplasty {the first two were tubes here and here}.  Although it's not uncommon, it's definitely not as common as tubes.  The surgery was to patch a hole in hear eardrum.  Likely to be caused by her tubes.  In some cases, the hole heals on it's own, unfortunately for us, that was not the case for our Jordygirl.  The hole was causing hearing loss, so we had to get it taken care of sooner rather than later.  I'll spare the details of the surgery in this post, but trust me {or don't, you can google it} when I say it's much more invasive than tubes. :(

Doing anything we could to keep her mind off the fact that she hadn't eaten in over 12 hours.  

Fortunately, the surgery went well.  Unfortunately, like her mama, she doesn't handle anesthesia well, so recovery was a little rough.  But we knew this was to be expected as we've experienced it twice before with her.  Adam and I ended up making the decision to take her home for 'Phase 2 Recovery' as she seems to settle a bit more in her own environment.  Thankfully we took the nurse up on her offer to take the barf bag with us {sigh}

Once home, she took a good nap and woke up feeling much better.  We took her cone off first thing the next morning and are trying our best to follow the doctors rules to 'lay low' until our follow up appointment in three weeks. 

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Thank you all for your prayers, calls, texts, balloons, fruit, & face times.  They meant so much!

Cullyn's 1st Hospital Stay {Ileus}

I haven't worked a full day since last Monday and have done at least 20 loads of laundry {blankets, rugs, towels, clothes, bedding, etc.}, & my kids have logged roughly 40 hours of TV time!  I earned a few new mom badges by catching puke in my hands and spending the night in the hospital with a kid for the first time…

Tuesday | I got a text from the sitter that Cullyn had been acting 'off' all morning and woke up from his nap with a {low} fever.  So I left work and grabbed them.

Wednesday | I had an appointment in the morning, so Adam stayed home with the kids.  At 8a, he text saying Cullyn just threw up on him.  So, after my meeting & photoshoot, I came home.  Adam went to work and I stayed with them that afternoon.  We restricted him to the BRAT {Bananas, rice, apples, & toast} diet with Pedialyte and lounged the rest of the day.  He acted pretty good.  Extra cuddles, and he would tire easily and rest often, but didn't seem too sick.

Thursday | Our sitter text again saying he wasn't himself and had diarrhea.  So, I left work early again and took Cullyn home.  He had diarrhea, but was acting pretty good.  Again, he would tire easily, but was playing fine.

Friday | Jordyn had preschool and then Art Class, so I dropped Cullyn with the sitter for a few hours.  I text her to see how he was doing and to see if J & I had time to grab lunch and she informed me he was okay, but still not himself.  So we grabbed lunch to go and headed to pick him up.  When we got there, he was acting a little lethargic and stopped drinking.  So, on the way home, I called Dr Metts {a pediatrician I work for} and he said as long as we could get 5-10mL of fluids in him every 10 mints, we could avoid getting fluids from the Emergency Room since he hadn't .  He fell asleep at 12:30 {while I was talking to Dr. Metts} and when Dr. Metts called back at 3p to see how he was doing, I told him he was still sleeping.  He had me wake him up and try to get him to drink.  He was still refusing, so he had me get him to the ER.  So I woke Jordyn up and took the kids to the ER, fully expecting to get a bag of fluid and be home by 6p or so.

We got in right away.  They applied numbing cream {to four areas} of his arms for an hour.  Adam had arrived by the time they started an IV & fluids, thankfully, so I didn't have to hold him down.  Luckily the nurse was great and got him on the first stick, despite his dehydration.  We spent the next couple of hours walking the halls, at Cullyn's request, waiting for the fluids to run their course.  Around 7p, they decided they wanted to do an x-ray because he still didn't seems settled.  I took him to radiology and they got 2 photos.  About a hour later they said they were doing to admit us because he had an obstruction in his bowels.  At this time, I told Adam to take Jordyn home {who hadn't even had dinner yet--she was SUCH a trooper at the hospital!} and I would stay with Cullyn overnight.

About 9 we finally made it to room 388 on the Pediatrics Inpatient floor of Mercy.  We got settled, met our nurses, etc and started to wind down for the night.  Cullyn got to bed around 10 and the Nurse Practitioner on shift came to talk to me.  She was recommending an NG {nasogastric} tube through his nose down to his intestines to relieve the gas/fluids.  Since he was passing gas & sleeping at that point, I  {talked it over the the NP, Dr Metts, another pediatrician I know, & Adam} made the call not to go through with the 'procedure'.  It seemed a little invasive and we were having a hard enough time keeping his mind off of this IV tube, I couldn't imagine trying to get him to leave the nasal tube in.  We were up every hour that night {for about 30 minutes each time by the time they checked his vitals and I rocked him back to sleep}.

Saturday | Around 5a he was up for the day, but we couldn't leave our room until 6a {they have 'quiet time' from 10p-6a & 2-4p}. Around 8, Adam, Jordyn, & Adam's parents came to visit.  The resident rounded and gave us the official diagnosis of ileus {a blockage of the intestines typical due to a virus}.  We were given the okay to start clear liquids around 10a {I think}.  My in laws took Jordyn home for lunch and a nap.  Since the liquids were staying down, we started a regular diet around 2p {again, I think--it's hard to keep track of time in the hospital!}  At this point he hadn't had a stool since 1a on Friday morning.  We were warned that we would probably have another night in the hospital since they wanted him eating & drinking {peeing & pooping} normally before we left.  Considering I logged at least 5 miles of hall walking by this point, I was pretty defeated with that news.  But, we wanted whatever was for Cullyn {obviously} and didn't want to go home to turn around and come back, so we embraced the news.  We tried so hard to get him to take a nap, but it just wasn't happening.  Every time we got him to sleep, someone came in to check on him and woke him up again.  Luckily, Dr. Eggbalackin understood how difficult it was keep a 2 year old corralled in a hospital room and approved our request to monitor him from home as long as we closely monitored his fluid intake.  So, around 7p {I think?} we came home.  He was happy to be home {he'd been asking all day!}

Sunday | We skipped church, opting for a relaxing day at home.  All was well, until 7p, when Jordyn threw up.  Ugh!  We put the kids to bed and made arrangements for me to be home {again!} with Jordyn today.  Is it summer yet?! :)

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Man alive, I have no idea now parents do it with terminally ill children.  We barely survived 24 hours with the help of friends and family.  It truly takes a village to raise children and we were reminded of that yet again this weekend.  So many thanks to my in laws for stepping in to help with Jordyn, and my sister & bil for the visit and offering to take Jordyn if we needed it, to our good friend J&J for offering many times to help with Jordyn, Murdock, or me! :) And to our sitter, for stopping up to check on our little Cully man!  Biggest thanks of all to the team of nurses, students, residents, & physicians that helped get Cully back on track.  Huge shout out to the Ronald McDonald House foundation who held a nightly meal at 6p and offered to launder our clothes {amongst other things} during our stay.  I think we've found our March Pay it Forward project! :)

Tubes {take two}

On Monday, December 2nd, both of the kids got a set of tubes {this was Jordyn's second set}.  I was alittle concerned that they weren't going to start surgery until 8:30a since the kids couldn't eat or drink anything after midnight {I actually called about this since Cully is only 8 months, I didn't feel like he should be going without a bottle for 12 hours, so they allowed me to wake him and give him one last bottle at 2:30a}.  They ended up doing great.  They took Cullyn back and were done with him before they started on Jordyn, so we weren't ever away from both kids.  It was wonderful.  They sure have this procedure down to a science at this surgery center.  Jordyn ended up coming out of anesthesia MUCH better than last time.  We spent the afternoon cuddling and lounging around home as a family. 

As for follow up...both of the kids took their ear drops like a champ {twice a day for five days}.  Jordyn actually asked for them each day {an improvement from last time--although she did good last time too}.  

We went to the clinic for a follow up last Friday morning.  Cullyn's ears looked great.  So follow up in 6 months.  Jordyn on the other hand had dried drainage in both ears {again}.  They swaddled her and I had to lay on her {again} while the nurse held her head so they could suction both ears out.  :(  My poor baby!  {See also: This is when having Friday's off is a downfall, because I'm stuck taking the kids to all their yucky appointments--by myself!} :(  Anyways...they told us to mix equal parts water and white vinegar together and syringe it in her ears, dry them, and then give her the prectription ear drops in both ears, twice a day for another week.  We go back tomorrow for a {hopefully, FINAL} follow up. 

Follow up from the ENT

I thought I should probably publish this {it's been sitting in drafts} since we're headed to into surgery at 8:15 today.  I'll update after surgery.

Two weeks ago, I took both the kids back to the ENT.  They had hearing tests {Jordyn's 2nd and Cullyn's 1st since he wasn't 6 months lat time} and then follow up appointments.

They did Jordyn's hearing test first.  It wasn't good.  The tubes weren't doing what they were supposed to to.  And she was still dealing with hearing loss in her right ear.

Cullyn's hearing test showed fluid in one year. They don't test for hearing loss at his age, because they are unable to communicate properly.

They we saw the medical student, nurse, nurse practitioner, and physician {plus the three of us made it quite the room full!}

They checked Cullyn out and said he had fluid in one ear, but no infection {which is a great thing}.  But since he had C-Diff {and is no longer to take Anti-boitics} if it were to become infected {now or later} it would require emergent tubes.  So, he said scheduling tubes would be best.  Adam and I agreed {we feared we would be at the hospital on Christmas night getting tubes in if we decided to wait}.

Then they checked Jordyn's tubes.  As a recap, she got tubes about a month ago, at her one week recheck the right ear was still infected so we continued the drops, at her two week checkup {from surgery} they looked good.  This was here four week checkup {from surgery} and the right ear had a blood clot in the tube and the left had a bunch of dried drainage in the tube.  So he had me hold her chest and arms down, the student held her legs down because she was kicking, and the nurse practitioner held her head while the physician scraped the tube clean.  It was probably the worst thing I have had to do to my child, ever.  It broke my heart!  Unfortunately while cleaning the tube he saw that her ear is growing around the tube and rejecting the tube.  Plus she has a double ear infection behind the tube.  So, she needs a new set of tubes.

So on Monday, December 2nd Cullyn will get tubes and they will remove Jordyn's first set of tubes and insert her second set.

Uffdah!  I'm not sure how much more I can handle!  Not to mention we hadn't really budgeted for three sets of tubes in 2 months, right before Christmas.  :/  BUT…I am SO READY for my babies to feel good again.  They have both been through SO much the past couple of months.

Jordyn's First Surgery {tubes}

Well we survived Jordyn's first surgery.  Luckily  it was planned, and minor {5 minutes long & outpatient}.  It went smoother than I had anticipated {read: they didn't have to rip her out of her sobbing mother's arms!}.  We really like our ENT and the anesthesiologist & the team of nurses have the process down smooth.  It's quick.  Before you know it, it's done.  

I didn't quite realize how groggy she would be when they brought her back to us, but I'm glad they gave her back to us early so she could 'wake up' in our arms.  We also learned that anesthesia makes Jordy a bit agitated {well that and little sleep combined anyways!}.  Once she took an afternoon nap and had supper she was back to herself! :)  She is so tough!

Although she did come into our room in the middle of the night last night {which has NEVER happened!}  She 'snuggled' with us for a bit.  Since this was the first time that has ever happened, I was thrilled!  

Drops twice a day for 5 days and a recheck in 2 weeks.  Hopefully she won't have anymore ear infections after this!!

Jordyn's Dog Bite

Four weeks ago, I got a text from my sister asking if we had bandaids.  It was two days before we left for vacation {which I'll post about one of these days!} which my sister was going on with us to help with the kids, so she was already in town and watching the kids for us that day.  I didn't think much of it and responded where they were.

I couldn't get a great photo showing how deep it was.  {All iPhone photos}

About 10 minutes later I get a phone call from my {upset} mom saying that Jordyn was okay, but that she was bit by the neighbor dog.  I ran out of the office and flew home to take her to Urgent Care.  At Urgent Care they gave me the option of stitching it, but we both decided it would probably be more traumatizing to do that instead of just letting it heal on it's own.  Also, since it was on the back of her calf, I wasn't as concerned with a scar.  They also sent us home with antibiotics.

We joked that she did this just so that mama would let her have a sucker {something very much not allowed on a normal day}

 To say the homeowners didn't respond well would be an understatement, but since I have nothing nice to say, I'll say nothing at all about them.  Other than... ANYONE that is a pet owner should take responsibility of their pet's actions {as you have to with children's actions} and if you don't {or won't} you shouldn't have a pet at all!  {/rant}

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It should also be noted that it's healing beautifully and she handled all of it so well!  :)

Murdock {5 & an Update}

Happy 5th Birthday Murdock!

I still can't believe our 'first' baby is 5 today.  We've had him for nearly 4 1/2 years!  It seems like just yesterday when I woke up and Adam finally said 'Let's look for a puppy.'  I'd been saying it for a few months and he finally agreed. We went to a pound that afternoon and I picked him up a few days later. I'll never forget counting down the days until we could go get him...it seemed like forever!

We've had our ups and downs--both serious {spending months in Ames finding out he has an autoimmune disorder} and not {cleaning up diarrhea from the back of Adam's car a couple of weeks after buying him because he got nervous in the parking lot when we were out to dinner because I didn't want to leave him home alone--what was I thinking?!} but you have, hands down, been the best dog a family could ask for!  You've never chewed up anything {without help!}, you're always excited to see us, and you're the best big brother ever--you a kind, loving, and let the kids climb all over you without moving an inch!

We love you So, So much!

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So many of you have asked about Murdock and I know I've been promising an update for months!  Sorry!  To be honest, his status has changed about 5 times since then!  So here is the latest...

Overall, Murdock is doing GREAT!  We've been reducing his medicine which is huge since it's so hard on his body.  We haven't seen a new spot in months which is amazing.  He had a bath the other day and his skin is looking awesome!  Unfortunately, he's starting to have accidents {a side effect of his medicine} so we really have to watch you.  

Today he is doing great.  He's been up and down a few times in the past couple of months.  We know that the medicine he takes is very hard on his organs {especially long term, and especially with large breed dogs}.  The vet told us last summer he has a year or two at best, so we're just thankful for each day we get with him.  With any luck, the kids will remember his amazing of a puppy he is.  

Coming Home

I knew leaving this was going to be hard...  

40 floors, 18 elevators, multiple restaurants/bars

20* weather {as opposed to 60*}

No more room service {specifically maid service!}
'Me time' was over {all about the family's schedule again--can we say hello laundry!}

But I had prepared myself for that.  I was excited to get home and be with my family again.  {in fact, the thought of a missed flight, & staying overnight away from my family again almost had me in tears!}  What I wasn't prepared for was one of the world's worst Mondays to fall on my first day back to work...

In case you wondered, the fruit punch is no better than the orange! :(

Email crashing {so much for spending the day catching up in emails, I can't even open them right now!}
Non stop, pure madness of students & residents & last minute meetings {no, you cannot participate in surgery at this hospital without submitting your paperwork ahead of time}
Failing my Glucose test {this blindsided me...I had no issues with Jordyn!  So now I'm totally freaked out}

Hey reality, I didn't really miss you...

Struggling..

I'm struggling over here!  I don't know if I'm just being a baby or what, but it's kind of a big deal and I need to get it figured out.

Let me start by saying...I love [like love, love, loved] my OB physician with Jordyn.  He was knowledgeable, nice, and most of all personable with my husband and I.  We talked about his kids, we talked about his college/football/alcohol preferences, and we of course talked about the baby growing in my belly!  I know I wrote about [but I'm too lazy to look it up] when he quit [or whatever happened] with less than 2 weeks to go before my delivery.  I was crushed.  He was the only OB I had seen throughout my pregnancy which was my own decision, but we aren't even going there!  I ended up delivering with a doctor I had never met.  She was not friendly and had the personality of a cardboard box.  Yes, my baby and I survived, but I didn't like her.

So...this time around I wanted to find a group that I liked, a group that was close to my home or office, and a group that my insurance considered 'in network'  Two of those three could not be said about my first experience.

I called an office close to my work that carries my insurance and made an appointment for Monday, but I didn't really feel a connection don't laugh, the girl on the phone was practically reading off a script and typed so fierce I thought she had 31315 other people on hold, but it's close in proximity to our jobs.

Then I talked to a work acquaintance who happens to be an OB physician.  I really like her, but I didn't know if she would be comfortable having me as a patient since I work with her.  She casually mentioned that I'll need to see her for my next pregnancy [I haven't announced to my work that I'm expecting H2 yet]. 

Since I really like her and am comfortable with her and her skills, I decide to call and make an appointment with her group.  Her office is about 15 minutes in the wrong direction, but if the hubs doesn't throw a fit about it, I'm fine with it.  So...I call.  And the lady of the phone [a get the vibe she's been doing this for about 20 years of so] treats me basically like the girl mentioned above, a little nicer, and slower, but she insists that I see a nurse practitioner which I really don't mind for my first appointment, because i know they do this a lot and they are also very educated.  But, in addition to that, she refuses to let me be seen before 9 [nine!] weeks. 

Now, with Jordyn I was seen by a family practitioner around 6 weeks for confirmation and then my OB at 9 weeks.  We started telling people at 8 weeks.

This time, I'm a little more practical and decided to skip the whole peeing in a cup but basically just taking an in home pregnancy test in a doctor's office.  I knew I was pregnant, I didn't need to spend the money for a doctor to confirm it, and I'm already taking prescription prenatal vitamins.  We found out at 5 weeks, and told people at 5 weeks [!!]  I would honestly be okay not being seen until 9 weeks, but I feel like Adam would like an appointment to make it real Not that he doesn't think it's real now, because he does, but he's just much more of a worrier than I am and I think he would like to see on a screen that there is a sac with a baby and we're all doing well, ya know?! 

PLUS...We would all like to know what my official expected due date is.  I mean i think I know, but I wanted them to tell me what they think based on the ultrasound.

So tell me...
Am I making a big deal over nothing?  Should I keep the appointment with the office close to our offices?  Do I go with the physician I'm comfortable with and like, but office in an inconvenient location?  Decisions, decisions.  It should be noted that both groups deliver and the hospital I work at, which is a must. 

Oh, and once I finally get my appointment, I'll write a post full of deets!