Tubed!

Emily got her tubes put in today.

Here she is, waiting with Daddy before the surgery, looking resplendent in her princess nightie. What a trooper she was. She cried when they wanted to take her to the operating room, but then agreed to sit in the wagon to be taken over. They said she never whimpered as they brought her in, laid down and then they knocked her out.

The doctor said he found a "raging" infection in her left ear, complete with bulging red ear drum. Awesome. She'd been on Zithromax for the past 5 days, but apparently that didn't stop this infection from developing.

Just proves that the tubes were truly necessary.

Post-surgery, enjoying a popsicle and a snuggle from Oscar. She had some mild pain from the surgery but some Tylenol cleared it right up. She was cranky and tired for a while, but she laid on the couch and watched The Little Mermaid for a while and then felt well enough to play Play-Doh with Daddy. She took a great nap and then helped Mike mow the lawn this afternoon (the first time of the season!).

After dinner, we went and got Emily's hair cut. She's been fighting me in the morning about getting her hair put up or brushed and I threatened to cut her hair. After some consideration, she decided that she would like to get her hair cut.

A few minutes after the picture above was taken, a weird man came in and asked for a hair cut, all while staring holes in Emily. He started complimenting her hair and while I am sure he didn't mean any harm, he totally freaked me out. I didn't like the way he was looking at her, to the exclusion of every one else in the place. The lady who was cutting Emily's hair apparently felt the same because she told him to come back later if he wanted to get his hair cut. After he left, I thanked her and told her how uncomfortable he'd made me. She agreed and said she was feeling protective towards Em, too.

And the finished product!! I love it. I would be ok with it slightly shorter, too, but this length lets me put it up in a pony tail without stragglers. She seems to be happy with it, too.

Y'know, it's funny, I was so freaked about Emily getting the tubes when Dr.Sara said she needed them. Today, I was ... fine. I knew it was simple surgery and I was working so hard to be calm about it in front of Emily that I actually believed my own press. The hardest part for me was when she walked away from me to get in the wagon and then chickened out. She came running back to me, her face crumpling as she started to cry. I was having a very hard time not getting all teary myself. Once she was gone, I concentrated on not losing it and then, in what seemed like five minutes, they were back, telling me that she'd done really well.

I am very hopeful that the tubes will help us this summer and winter to avoid going to the pediatrician's office once a week. It would be nice to NOT spend $6,000 in medical expenses this year.