Stella & Her Ears!

Yesterday morning around 10:00 a.m. I received that dreaded phone call from day care.  It was the director advising me that Stella's eye was draining and gooing some icky stuff.  With that said, they said someone had to pick her up and take her to the doctor to confirm whether or not she had pink eye.  

About three weeks ago, Stella's right ear was draining some brown / whitish liquid.  It definitely took me by surprise because since she had her tubes put in, we have had no further ear issues.  Turns out, she had an ear infection.  With the help of antibiotics and ear drops, I thought the infection cleared.

Yesterday, her doctor said the right ear was still infected, thus causing the eyes to drain.  I asked the doctor if her tubes were still in both ears.  She stated the left ear tube had fallen out and the right ear tube was about 90% out.  Ugghhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!  I was hoping the shelf life on the tubes were going to buy us at least 2 years or so with no ear problems.  Instead they only lasted a little over a year.

The doctor also stated that Stella was wheezing a bit so we might want to start Albuterol breathing treatments at least once a day.  Awesome!!!

In any event, thankfully Stella's mood hasn't changed much throughout the last three weeks.  She has seemed overall very happy and content.

Since I was unexpectedly off work yesterday and construction is under way at my house, I had to find something for Stella and I to do away from the house.  We ended up going to Ruby Tuesday (hello, salad bar) for lunch and took a nice 3.5 mile run / walk through the Greenway.  While loading Stella into my jogging stroller, she spotted her Minnie helmet in the back of my car.  She insisted upon wearing it on our run / walk.  She looked comical to say the least, but she was HAPPY!

Yes, my dad put me in a Christmas shirt this morning!!  Ha, of all days for me to have to pick her up and take her out in public, she is dressed like Christmas!  :)

Hilarious!!  I got a lot of stares!  People were probably wondering why on earth I would put a helmet on a child when we were just strolling!  

Every time, I would slow down to walk, Stella would scream at me to, "GO!"  I think I ended up running about 2 miles total.  Today I am SORE!!!!!!!!  Seriously, I can barely walk!  And my knees HURT!  I am never this sore after leaving 9Round!  I am getting old!  

Towards the end of our stroll, we stopped and talked to the duckies!  Stella is so sweet!  She was blowing them kisses and telling them, "Bye, See You Soon!"

I pray that Stella's little ear heals and is rid of infection over the next week!  I feel so bad for her.  Thankfully, she has been pretty upbeat and happy for the most part!  :)

2 Weeks I Wish I Could Forget

Oh the tears did flow.......................................

The past two weeks have been rough to say the least!  Not kidding, worst two weeks yet as far as the kiddos are concerned. 

The memories of Lottie and her ever present ear infections seemed so bad but so vague at the same time.  I remember having feelings of "will this ever end".  Sure enough with a bit of time, it did end and she was as healthy as any kid can be after her tubes were put in(13 Months Old).  We've only visited the doctor once for a sick visit after her procedure.

I am praying for the same result with Stella.  However by the look of things, I just don't see the light at the end of the tunnel just yet. 

Lets go back...............

In the last 11 days, I've been to the doctor 6 times with Stella.

Saturday: Pediatrician - junk in the eye, ongoing ear infection, referral to ENT
Monday: ENT - after an examination and our track record with Lottie, it was decided it be best to go ahead and put tubes in her ears.
Wednesday: 6 month well check up, ears still infected, cleared for surgery
Friday: Surgery
Saturday: Holy freak!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I ended up taking Stella to the children's urgent care due to respiratory problems, cough, trouble breathing.  In the end, she was diagnosed with bronchiolitis
Monday: Follow up with pediatrician due to respiratory problems. 

Everything just happened so fast.  The surgery (according to every doctor we've seen) went great.  The tubes went in great and all the infection was sucked out and gone!  Great news right????

Well, lo and behold on Saturday morning Stella started having a terrible cough.  She was gasping for air and although I planned to follow up with the pediatrician on Monday, I just couldn't for my sanity wait until then to follow up.  I ended up taking her to the children's urgent care in Blakeney on Saturday to get checked out.  OMG, talk about almost having a nervous break down....................  I can't tell you what a hollowing, helpless feeling it is seeing your child sick, miserable and crying. 

After a thorough exam, 3 breathing treatments and a chest x-ray (the most pitiful thing I've ever seen/been a part of in my life!!!) we were on the verge of being admitted to the hospital.  Thankfully my sister was in town (Godsend) who is a nurse and works closely with a pulmonologist / neurologist.  The urgent care doctor said that she felt comfortable allowing us to go home since she was there vs. going to the hospital.  In the end, Stella was diagnosed with bronchiolitis.  Basically, bronchitis for babies.  Somehow within the last week she developed a virus that dug deep down into her lungs causing a terrible cough and heavy wheezing.  So SCARY!

We were given a nebulizer and prescription for Albuteral.  We've been doing breathing treatments every four hours for the last few days.  It seems to help, but so hard to get her to actually take all of the vapor in.  We tried the mask which she hates and the mouthpiece.  The mouthpiece has been the go to for us.  She's also on steroids.  3ml twice a day.  Oh and ear drops, 3 drops in each ear for 3 days. 

I don't know whether to laugh or cry.  Laugh at how chaotic our lives are right now or cry because of how chaotic they are.  Thankfully Steve is his usual, normal, worry free self because I have been doing enough worrying and crying for the whole county. 

Since being back at daycare on Tuesday, she has just not been herself.  I'm pretty positive it's because she feels like poo and the steroids are making her crazy!  Baaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh.  I've been getting calls all week from them stating she's not taking her bottles like she normally does and just not being herself.  I want to scream!!!  I mean HELLO, what more can I do?????  Steve and I both have to work.  If we had the option of being at home with her it would be our number one priority but it just isn't an option and honestly probably the best thing for her after all the trauma she has endured is going to get back to some sort of normal routine. 

If you are reading this, please keep our little family in your thoughts and prayers.  Poor little Stella has been through the ringer!  And her mama has gone absolutely bonkers!!!  :)  I just hope she can kick this virus soon and get back to enjoying daycare and playing with her family. 

Until then we are just going to take it day by day - as I've said before, "We will get through this, it is only a phase!"

Here's a look at a few photos I took right before Stella's surgery on Friday.  I have never seen a hospital gown so itty bitty.  Thankfully the tubes are in and look beautiful.

Again, forgive me for my rant!  It's been 2 weeks I wish I could forget! 

 



TUBES ARE IN!!!!!!!!

Lottie finally had her tubes put in last Friday!  While much anxiety set in through the week, I was counting down the days for her to get relief from these ongoing ear infections this past year. 

Unfortunately Steve had to work so it was just Lottie and I.  We got to the surgery center at 6:15 to register, etc.  They placed an ankle band on Lottie with her name, DOB, etc. and gave me a wristband w/ all of her info.  It almost felt like being back in the hospital when she was born - every 5 or 10 minutes or so I was being asked to state her name, DOB and what we were there for. 

After being called back to the pre-op area, Lottie and I met with the anesthesiologist, nurses and Dr. Moss.  She was given a mini hospital gown and medication in a small tube to relax her before the surgery.  Basically it made her really, really drunk! 

Before the medication kicked in!!!!

After the meds kicked in!!!!

Lottie's surgery was scheduled for 7:30 a.m. so they took her back and I was sent to wait in the waiting area.  I was told the procedure was only going to last around 15 minutes and sure enough at 7:43 a.m., the doctor came out and said the surgery went great.  He basically went in and drained out all of the infection from the ears, then microscopically inserted the tubes in the eardrum.  He then gave me a sample of ear drops that we are supposed to put in her ears for a week (4 drops in each ear twice a day). 

After another 10 minutes or so, the nurse came and got me and I was able to go back to see my babe!  She was groggy and very, very HUNGRY!!!  Keep in mind that at this point she hadn't been able to have anything to eat or drink since midnight the night before.  I brought an 8 oz bottle of whole milk and a sippy cup of juice if needed.  I also brought her two favorite snacks.  She polished off her bottle of milk in no time.  She then ate a few puffs.  I got her dressed, was given instructions re: anesthesia after effects and we were sent on our way.  We left around 8:30 a.m.

For the remainder of the day, her gait was definitely off!!!  The girl was falling on her bum all day.  After a few hours she seemed to be doing just fine so since we had the whole day to spend together, I took her to the park.  She absolutely loved it, especially the swings!

Since the surgery, Lottie has been doing okay - she hates the drops we have to put in twice a day.  Thankfully only two more days to go! 

The biggest change I've seen in Lottie since the surgery has been her talking!  I'm guessing now that some hearing has been restored, she can hear herself more clearly and therefore loves hearing herself talk!  HA!  She has been talking non-stop!  I love it! 

1 more week until our trip to England!!!!!!!!!!!  We are so excited to visit w/ friends and family! 

Tubes - Delayed

2 whole weeks without a blog post must mean that we've been busy!!!!!!!!!  Between work, booking our trip to England, birthdays and getting Lottie's surgery sorted has prevented me from blogging!  :(

A quick recap regarding the TUBES................

Last Thursday I received a call from the surgical nurse to discuss past medical history and what time we needed to be at the surgery center for Lottie's tubes.  After going through what seemed like 15 minutes of nonstop questions/answers, she finally asked the one question I knew was coming:  has she had any recent diagnoses of RSV?  Of course I said that she had and that's when everything seemingly went down hill. 

She asked what the date of the diagnoses was and I explained it was January 27th.  She then started calculating the exact amount of time between then and now.  It was approximately 5 weeks.  She said that she would have to check with the anesthesiologist to see if he'd be willing to do the surgery since she was not quite 6 weeks out from the date of diagnoses.  Of course I anxiously waited by the phone all day to see if we were going to be able to do it and around 4:45 p.m. they finally called back and said the anesthesiologist refused to give her anesthesia until at least March 12.  Uggghhhhhhhhhh really???????

I mean I'd obviously rather be safe than sorry but dang I feel like we've been waiting forever for this surgery.  I know ear infections are painful and I can only imagine how Lottie must feel.  Throughout this past month +, she has been nothing short of a trooper.  She has been mostly happy which I am so very thankful for.  I can't wait to see how she feels after the tubes are in - she is definitely going to be loving life!

On Monday, I was able to get the surgery rescheduled for next Friday, March 16th.  When speaking with the nurse on Monday to reschedule, the doctor actually got on the phone with me and said how sorry he was that his colleague refused to do the surgery.  I thought that was very cool of him to speak with me and apologize for having to reschedule. 

At this point, I am praying she has the surgery on the 16th and nothing happens to delay it any longer.  We booked our trip to England over the week of Easter and will be leaving March 29th.  Lottie's pediatrician said that she MUST have the tubes in before we fly to England due to the air pressure, etc. on the flight.  Yikes! 

Oh and on another note, Lottie still needs her 12 month vaccinations and must have them before we can fly.  Apparently there has been an outbreak of measles in young children and babies in England due to the lack of parents getting their children vaccinated over there.  Crazy huh????  And since we do a good bit of traveling, the doctor has suggested her getting an additional Hepatitis vaccination to make sure she is protected.  Awesome!  So, between the ear infection, tubes and now measle outbreak in England, I just might be on the verge of a full on PANIC attack!  But nothing a glass of wine won't fix!  So vino, I will be welcoming you with open arms tonight!

For now I'll leave you with this.........  a trip to see Lottie's great grandma, a little trip to Walmart and me trying to teach Lottie about being a Duke fan! 

She loved the fishies!!!!

Can we bring one home?????????  

Serious time!

GO DUKE!!!!  

Charlotte Eye Ear Nose & Throat

1 week ago today Lottie had her consultation for tubes with Charlotte Eye Ear Nose and Throat. 

Back up a minute - About a week and a half ago I received a call from Lottie's daycare saying she had a fever.  I rushed out of work and made her an appointment with her pediatrician that afternoon.  Once I arrived at daycare, they stated they had a confirmed child with RSV.  When we arrived at the pediatrician's office, I informed them there was a confirmed case of RSV in her classroom.  After sticking a q-tip the length of a pencil up her nose (RSV check) and taking a quick peak in her left ear - he said she has another ear infection.  Uggggghhhhhh - really?  Another ear infection!!!  Noooooooooooooooo!!!

After the RSV check (q-tip swab), you have to wait 10 minutes for the culture to come back.  At this point Lottie was so ticked off and in pain - the tears, screams and cries went on for what seemed like a lifetime.  Of course seeing her in pain got me crying so Lottie and I cried together like babies in the exam room.  But it doesn't end there.............. because of the ear infection, she had to have another Rocephin injection to help clear out some of the infection.  At the same time, he confirmed that she has RSV.  He also said that right now is peak time for RSV.  He has seen numerous cases in his office throughout the last month. Unfortunately there is nothing you can do for it.  It is basically one of the worse little colds an infant can have.  Tear!

On the plus side, we finally got our referral for tubes.  Lottie had her consultation last Wednesday.  We met with Dr. Moss who sat down and explained the process.  As we were talking, I explained that Lottie was diagnosed with RSV the Friday before.  I knew something was wrong when he gave me a "look".  He said that unfortunately they are not able to do tubes until 6 weeks after a RSV diagnoses.  He said that the anesthesiologist will not give anesthesia to a child until after the 6 weeks is up.  He said studies show that there are complications with breathing, etc. but once the 6 weeks is up, the risks are minimal. 

As bummed out as I was about Lottie having to wait a whole month for tubes, there is no way the doctor or myself would take any risks especially when considering what a relatively easy procedure this is. 

Tubes have been scheduled for March 2nd!!!!  Hopefully we will all make it until then - especially Lottie. 

10 days until my little munchkin's first birthday!!!  We are all getting excited!  A sneak peak coming soon!