Ears by the Numbers

Sixteen doctors appointments since February 17th.
Twelve weeks of chronic ear infections.
Six Rocephin injections.
Five rounds of antibiotics.
Four different antibiotics.
Three additional medications.
Two infected ears.
One surgery: Bilateral Myringotomy with Tubes.  Hopefully the resolution of a long three months of ear infection, after ear infection, teeth and a couple more ear infections. Poor kid.

In addition to traditional treatment, we also tried a few chiropractic visits.  I was hopeful it had helped, but I brought Parker in to the pediatrician to have his ears checked, since he'd had a cold for about a week, but hadn't ever spiked a temp, and... Nope. "Raging bilateral ear infection."  Sigh. Rocephin injections. Again.

Our arrival time for Parker's surgery was set for 6:45 a.m. Today was the first time in quite a while we actually tried to, and managed to, get up before the kids (who are notoriously and unfortunately early risers).  I'd last nursed Parker at 1:30 a.m., since orders were for no milk/formula after 1:45 a.m. We had to wake him, and he was pretty okay with that. A sleepy Maia was dropped off at daycare with a cereal bar and some milk at 6:10. 

Then off to the outpatient surgery center.  Parker got his cool new bracelet, which he played with until he managed to get it off, about 15-20 minutes later.   Until then, he was cruising happily along the waiting room furniture,

 and reading a book with momma,

 or cuddling with daddy.

 When it was time for surgery, they took him from us with paci in mouth and jammies on.  We saw the ENT surgeon in about 15 minutes, to advise that surgery was fine, and that yes, there was an infection (we knew that) and we should go ahead and get that third (and hopefully final) Rocephin shot.

A few minutes later, they were bringing us back to a recovery room. He was cuddling the nurse and they told us he did really well.  They often expect them to be irritable, sometimes inconsolable, but Parker was content to look around sleepily and lay his head on my shoulder.

He didn't nurse much, and wasn't acting particularly hungry. After another 5-7 minutes of cuddling he perked up and was ready to play.  He remained snugly for the rest of the day, and finally seemed more normal and ate well at dinner time.

It was actually kind of nice to have a cuddly, snugly baby for a day.  He's on the move so much, that cuddling has become minimal of late.  We had designs to get a bunch of things done while we were both home, but with cuddly sleepy baby, cold rainy day, and serious sleep deficit (see above for 12+ weeks of illness and teething) made napping seem much more appealing.  Our fingers are crossed that this is the end of this issue, and we don't have to repeat this in a few months.  Poor Parker.