Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Karl had his surgery yesterday.

Karl got tubes inserted in his ears yesterday. It all went well and after we got home, it was as if nothing had even happened. I can't say that for when we were at the hospital. Karl got what they call the "anesthesia screams". It was terrible. But let me back up a bit ...

We had to check in at 6:30am, which was extremely early, but very good for Karl. (and thanks to Laurel for coming over before the sun was up to watch the girls. She's an awesome friend!) Since he couldn't eat or drink after midnight, not letting a baby eat in the morning is too confusing for the baby. So we were able to just scoop him up out of bed and get him to the appointment without any fuss.

Our time before the surgery went well. Karl was as good as always, smiling up the nurses and other patients. We got him in his little hospital gown and he was so darned cute! I then put on my garb - booties, gown and hat - and I carried him into the surgery room. They put the gas mask on him while I was holding him and within seconds, his eyes rolled back in his head and he was out. The nurse then took him from me and had me leave the room. That was the hardest part - leaving my baby in that room. I knew he was safe, but still. Ugh.

About 15 minutes later, his surgeon came in the waiting room and told us everything went well. He had lots of fluid behind each ear, so he should feel better immediately. Then a nurse came and got us to take us back to recovery. As soon as we walked through the doors - I heard him.

He was screaming and crying. Louder than I have ever heard him. We walked in the room and a nurse had him in her arms, trying to soothe him. Thank goodness I knew about this reaction or I would have freaked out. He wasn't in pain, but he was confused as to why he felt the way he did. Waking up from anesthesia is even weird for me, so I can only imagine what it's like for him. He was squirming and just crying so hard. Inconsolable. He cried in my arms the entire time we were in recovery and into the car. As we started moving, he got better and then passed out. The rest of the day was normal and had I not known, I'd never guess he had surgery that morning.

I'm wondering if the fluid made him uneasy on his feet. I say so because he kept letting go of things while standing and stood on his own more than I've ever seen him do. And suddenly, his little push behind walker is his favorite toy - he pushes it all over the house, walking on his little legs behind it. He's never done that yet and now he's up and down the hallway with it. Hrm, something to think about.

You know the song "rock a bye baby"? Have you ever thought of the lyrics? It's horrible!

14 comments:

Elana Kahn said...

Definitely there's a correlation between the fluid and balance. So no surprise he's doing better on standing. As for the lullaby, Shmuel won't even let me sing it to the twins because it's gruesome. :-)

areyoukiddingme said...

I sing Rock-A-Bye Baby to my 3yo and pretend drop her when appropriate. It's fun for her, but, yes, it is a bit morbid.

Sorry Karl had a poor reaction to the anesthesia, but I'm glad he got through the surgery so well. I'm sure he'll be an even happier little guy (is that even possible?).

Mareike said...

When the bow breaks the cradle will fall (and mom will be there to catch the mother fucker)

Jennifer said...

I'm glad he's feeling better. I had surgery on my ear at 15 and was very dizzy afterward, so that could definitely keep him from walking and make it easier now.

I sing Rock-a-bye-baby to my 2 year old and "drop" her too. She LOVES it. She request for me to sing it and rock her like a baby then either pretend to drop her or drop her (carefully) on a bed or couch.

Denise said...

Poor baby. Glad he got through it okay and I hope it helps! There are a ton of nursery rhymes that are horrible if you pay attention to the words, so I guess lullabies can fall in the same boat. Any chance you're going to make it up to Denver this weekend?

Jamie said...

I'm glad Karl is doing so well! Yes - I bet having that fluid gone makes a ton of difference in his balance. Go Karl, go!!

Skeeter has a stuffed toy that plays "Rock a bye, baby" and I can't bring myself to sing the song to him. My BIL got him a book of Mother Goose nursery rhymes and most of them are terrible as well. Who comes up with shit like that? And then markets it toward children?

jenn said...

Poor Karl! I'm so glad he's doing better- but that aneasthesia must have been so confusing for him! I'm glad that you knew about it & didn't freak out (well- beyond seeing your poor boy so upset!)

He'll be hanging from the ceiling in no time!

And I think most of the classic fairy tales & lullabies are super morbid & grim- look at the stories in snow white & sleeping beauty, humpty dumpty, three blind mice... awful stuff!

Anonymous said...

Glad he is doing well!
My older daughter had tubes put in at 14 months, and like Karl, by the afternoon you would never have known she had surgery that morning. They were the best thing ever too--she never had another ear infection after that, after having them nonstop for 8 months prior to the surgery.
Glad his balance is better--I agree there is a correlation there with the fluid.
I agree with Jenn--most of the old fairy tales, nursery rhymes etc really are awful and morbid.

Sarah said...

Aw, I'm glad everything went so well! Hopefully he gets immediate releif from the surgery. Sorry he had the anaesthesia screams. :(

"Rock-a-Bye Baby" -- my mom said that when my sister was just a couple months old, she used to arch her back and cry if my mom started singing that song. Later on in life, my sister remembered this horrible song and told my mom about it; the thing is, my mom never told her the story! She really remembered being sung that song and hating it.

Lisa said...

Happy to hear he's ok and that the surgery went well.

Jenera said...

I'm glad he made through it okay. I would have lost it hearing my kids scream. I don't even like when they cry after their shots! And yes, the fluid would have affected his balance. When I had ear infections as a kid, I'd always be wobbly.

..Soo.See.. said...

That song IS way out there! I have a lullaby CD playing in the boys' room at night, and when that song comes on, I always end up listening to the words again, and wonder how that even made it to be on the most popular lullabies, ever!
Glad Karl is ok from surgery. Too bad about his reaction, but you can see it's already helping him w/ his balance! Your equilibrium has to do w/ your ears!

Jules said...

Glad surgery went well! He sounds like a tough little guy!

Carrie Ann said...

Glad the surgery went well!! Poor baby. He sounds like such a tough little dude.