Surgery #1: Tonsils and Adenoids

Yesterday began bright and early.

Chad, Amelia, and I headed over to Mass Eye & Ear at 5:30 AM to check in for Amelia's tonsillectomy.  (Chad's mom, Audrey, graciously extended her Thanksgiving trip for a week to watch Ramona and Louisa during the surgery, and to help out with the aftermath.) 

All checked in and dressed in her tiger hospital garb -- and not too happy about it...

Before shot of poor Amelia's throat -- we'll add an after once the swelling is down

Two hours later, after answering the same litany of questions for multiple nurses and doctors ("No, she is not on any medications."  "Yes, she has a heart defect."  "No, she does not have any loose teeth."), she was wheeled down to the operating room.  After her reaction to being put under for her MRI (lots of tears and refusing to let go of me), I expected the worst.  The administration of the anesthesia actually went very smoothly, however, thanks to one of the hospital's iPads and Angry Birds Space!  She got to bring the iPad onto the operating table with her and played her game right up until the moment that she fell asleep, with the brilliant anesthesiologist incorporating her "space" mask right into the game.  Phew!

The surgery was finished about an hour later, and Chad and I were taken to the on-floor recovery room to see her.  The first half an hour was messy, while she was coming out of the anesthesia, just like it was after her MRI.  Amelia was crying and clingy and kept trying to cough, poor girl!  I gently suggested (I know that doesn't sound like me, but I seriously was being gentle about it!) that she try not to cough so that she didn't make her throat feel worse.  Her response?  "No, I am NOT going to stop coughing."  At that point, it was evident that she was starting to feel more like herself.  :)

Once Amelia was a little less groggy, and had downed a popsicle and a cup of apple juice, we were released from the surgical floor to her recovery room on the pediatric floor, where we set her up watching Brave on the iPad (thanks to Nonna for the movie!) and all the popsicles and Italian ices she could eat (five).  She also spent some time cuddling with Molly, her Aunt Lindsey's American Girl doll who flew out to help Amelia get better, complete with her own hospital gown. 

Red popsicles make everything better



Purple popsicles help, too

Molly and Amelia watching Brave

When we spoke with Amelia's doctor, he said that both her tonsils and adenoids were even bigger than expected, and that she should experience "significant relief" from their removal. Despite the swelling from the surgery, her voice already sounds improved, clearer. I hadn't realized the degree to which her tonsils were impairing her speech, and I can only imagine how much easier it will be for her to breathe and swallow once her throat has healed.

The view from Amelia's hospital room

Three hours after she got out of surgery, Amelia was doing so well that she was discharged home!  The afternoon and evening involved a couple more movies, lots of popsicles, some tylenol, and even a little oatmeal and mac and cheese.  We tried giving her the narcotic/painkiller that she was prescribed before bedtime, but it made her sick, so I think that we'll stick to tylenol from here on out, unless it seems like her pain level increases.  So far, she's doing well today: more movies, more oatmeal, some yolky eggs, some yogurt, tylenol every four hours, and lots of cuddles!  We'd be in great shape if it weren't for one little wrinkle... Audrey, Ramona, and I all seem to have come down with some sort of stomach/flu bug.  Fingers crossed that it's just of the 24-hour variety!