Ear Tubes: A picture essay ;)

Ella got her tubes on Thursday and she did really well. She already seems more responsive to sounds and is more eagerly mimicking more words. She also has MUCH better balance and has started to walk! Just in the last day. So I think ear tubes were a good way to go for her.

But I was so nervous on the actual day. I knew it was a simple thing, but it still seemed a little scary. So I brought my camera along and we documented the whole day. Getting ready to go. Ella had an ear infection, so you can see her pulling her ear as we put her in the carseat to go. Yes, she is still rear-facing.

Ella waits patiently in the waiting room, after we got signed in.

And then she decides...eh, enough sitting.

We're called back and she changes into a little t-shirt they gave her for the surgery.

She's starting to get a little sleepy and she plays with her hair. She is also hungry, since she has not eaten since 5 am.

Darwin walks her around as we wait.

All the stuff we brought (minus the camera...which I was using...)

More waiting. More walking.

And the anesthesiologist comes in and talks with us for a bit and then takes Ella. She snuggled right up to him. He was quite taken with her sweetness.

And there they go...

And we wait.

But within 15 minutes, they come and tell us to come wait in the recovery room. She's not awake yet, but she should be soon and they will bring her right to us.

She wakes up and immediately tries to remove the cotton.

Darwin holds her right after she's eaten a little and we wait for the nurse to come clean out her ears and give us instructions so that we can start home.

She puts saline in Ella's ears.

And then wicks them out. Ella is not pleased.

But we got to leave and pick up her prescriptions and get some lunch and then drive to the doctor's office to have her ears checked. On the way...Ella fell asleep.

So the final check was very peaceful and she slept through it.

It was a very easy day and everyone was wonderful. Mostly a lot of waiting. Ella is doing super already. I'm glad we went with this route. My only regret is that I didn't get more vocal earlier and have this done months ago.