Big Difference

It's been over two weeks now since Ethan's latest surgery for ear tubes, and even though it's a bit late I still wanted to do a post about it and put up a few pictures. As you can see from the pictures, what a big difference a few years makes!

Our little "scooter-bug" had his first surgery when he was 2 1/2 years old--he had the works: tonsils and adenoids out and ear tubes put in both ears. They don't let the parents come with when they take them into the back for anesthesia and surgery, so they had to literally pull him out of my arms as he screamed and cried all the way back (see picture). By then of course I was crying too, worried about him and feeling bad because he was so upset! The surgery went well, and although the tubes were easy the recovery from his tonsils and adenoids was a very tough process. But what a difference it made! At the time of his surgery he was barely talking (at 2 1/2!) and we were expecting several years of speech therapy. But that surgery helped our little man feel, hear, and sleep so much better that he almost became a different boy--the happy, talkative, healthy boy he is today (without any speech therapy!)

But gradually over the past year we've noticed his hearing decrease again and a lot of "What, I can't hear you" statements. So we took him into the ENT Dr. Barlow (who is awesome!) and he found that there was a lot of fluid built up again in Ethan's ears and recommended we have new tubes put in. Ethan was so excited--the staff at the surgical center made it such a good experience for him. He got to wear his pajamas and bring his favorite blankie, pick out a new stuffed animal (he chose a donkey!), ride to the back in a little red wagon, and breath banana-flavored air (the anesthesia.) He did awesome during surgery, and they were able to get all the fluid out (sticky glue-like stuff they said). He's doing great, and had a blast. Who knew surgery could be so much fun! I just couldn't help contrasting the difference from last time--what an amazing little boy!