16 February 2009

T&A recovery requires ER visit

1 pump




2 pump, 3 pump



more....

4 IV boluses

5 hours in the ER

6 IV sticks

plus....

2 doses of IV Morphine, 2 chest x-rays, and lots of tears from 2 incredibly weak, tired, hurting little boys...




The IV fluids seemed to hold them well for the afternoon and evening yesterday and they downed their milk this morning....I am hoping that is a good sign that we have turned the corner.
For me, "Not Me!" Monday is on hiatus this week....though I have plenty of "not me"s that I could share, it is more about "whoa is me" for now.

Please forgive me for the cell phone pictures, but when I awoke to boys with 105+ fever at 0400 on Sunday morning, somehow I forgot to grab my camera amongst the whirlwind of dressing, juicing, Tylenoling, and speeding (hazards on) to the Emergency Room.

i heart faces ~ Week 6

This week at





the theme is




Here's my entry...





To view more entries at i Y faces, click here....

14 February 2009

going GREEN...

Seeing as our Valentine's Day festivities are low key and somewhat mundane this year, I decided (as I am cooped up indoors with two ailing boys on a dreary day) to move forward in "greening" our blog for St. Patrick's Day.

No...we are not Irish, but St. Patrick's Day is quite a hoo-rah where we live. Our city hosts a large St. Patty's Day parade that our boys truly enjoy.

The upcoming month of March holds Buck-a-roo's birthday and St. Patrick's Day for our family. I like the new look of our blog and hope you do too....bring on the GREEN!

random photo challenge 6.0

It's Saturday and that means it's time for our weekly look back into old picture folders. This week's challenge....
January 2007
3rd picture

It's Frank-o.... fashionably ringing in the New Year of 2007 sporting a festive Happy New Year bib and showing off his newly learned skill of sitting up unsupported.

For more random photo challenge participants, visit 4 Little Men and Girly Twins.

13 February 2009

second guessing

The trials of today have had Daddy Buck and I second guessing our decision to have both of the boys having their respective surgeries at the same time. I still maintain that it was a wise idea but, man oh man, has post-op day #1 been tough!
They were parched.....yet wouldn't drink.
They were in pain....yet fought taking their medicine.
They were medicated....yet whimpered in their sleep.




On two occasions today, a trip to the ER for IV fluids seemed eminent. They have both had fever all day, at once as high as 104.6 and were dehydrated to the point that their lips were cracking and they were tearless when crying. Somehow, by the grace of God, we were able to "force fluids" in them using whatever tactics necessary....bribery, persuasion, coercing, pleading, begging, competing....

During the high points of the day, they mustered up enough energy to play PlayDoh and puzzles and tolerated a handful of Goldfish.




For the most part, however, the activities of the day consisted of rest, medicate, sleep, medicate, moan, medicate, sip on fluid, medicate all combined with many, many, many episodes of various animated shows that I can only tolerate for so much longer if you get my drift :-)






Removal of tonsils and adenoids in 2 and 3 year olds is h***....
My alarm is set for 1200 to administer more medications....come on post-op day #2!

Flashback Friday

Little Casanovas from two years ago...


Happy Valentine's Day

12 February 2009

Brave Beloved Boys

My dear Buck-a-roo and Frank-o,


Today was the much anticipated, somewhat dreaded day that you took your "big nap" and the doctor "fixed" your ears and your noses and your throats. You were both very brave and were super patients.





Though you awoke early in the wee-hours of the morning and were made to wait for almost three hours, you were on your best behaviors. Despite not having anything to drink since 7:30pm last night, you only requested to have milk on three occasions.







Frank-o...You passed the time waiting by applying stickers all over your body over and over again.






You were most antsy regarding "juice" and were first on the schedule, which worked out perfectly.




You donned your bouffant surgical cap and trekked to the OR without skipping a beat. Mommy stayed with you as you inhaled the gas and went night-night. You didn't cry, not even one tear. You were a big boy!




You were quite a handful for Daddy as you were waking from the anesthesia. You kicked, thrashed, flailed, bucked, screamed, cried, and required seven doses (5 doses of IV Fentanyl and 2 doses of IV Morphine) of pain medications before you finally threw in the towel and began to rest peacefully.







Buck-a-roo...You and your brother were quite patient as we waited for the doctor to arrive and for our surgeries to begin. To pass the two hours of time, you and Frank-o watched TV and colored pictures of Uniqua from the Backyardigans.




While Frank-o was in the OR having his surgery, you too prepped for yours. You experimented with the bouffant surgical cap, as well as, the surgical mask that made you look like the "doctor". As Daddy headed to the recovery room to help your brother as he was waking up, you and I made our way down the winding halls and into the OR suite. You jumped up on the OR table, "blew up the balloon" as instructed by the anesthetist and were out like a light within 45 seconds.






As Mommy and Daddy continued to try to console Frank-o, you were undergoing your surgery. The anticipated 25 minute surgery lasted 55 minutes because your ears and nose were really "yucky". You emerged from the anesthesia much calmer than your little brother; but once awake, your were quite vocal in expressing your desires for the removal of all wires, most especially, the IV.






Our brave beloved boys....the two of you spent 2 hours in recovery where you shared slumber as Daddy and I gained our composure, persevered through our exhaustion, and prepped for Round II-going home (without IV drugs and nurses).



We are incredibly proud of the two of you and pray that these surgeries, though painful at times, will decrease your runny noses, ear infections, and restless nights; thus improving your quality of life drastically.





As it has taken me 6+ interrupted hours to compile this post, our boys have developed a high fever, tolerated minimal fluids by mouth, and have increased pain. I have consulted with the on-call doc and we are currently "forcing fluids" in an effort to avoid a return visit to the emergency room to receive IV fluids. I will post an update tomorrow, Lord willing.