Under the knife

Carson had his first ear infection at 8 weeks, and he's had one almost consistently since then. After 5 doctor visits, 3 rounds of nasty antibiotics, 2 chiropractic adjustments, and a whole host of eardrops, tears, and nights of pain and screaming, we decided to bite the bullet and have tubes put in his ears.

The procedure would be fairly routine, but it still meant going to Childrens Hospital and being put under general anesthesia so an incision could be made in each of his little eardrums. We were fine until they wheeled him away on the gurney in his pint-sized hospital gown. As he and the surgical nurses disappeared down the long corridor, Carson looked back to find us. They might as well have taken my beating heart out of my chest, wheeled it away, and said "stay calm...this won't be long at all."


The surgeon reported that it went well, and that Carson had been in the midst of a terrible double ear infection, which they were able to clear and treat during the procedure.

The recovery nurses reported that he woke from the anesthesia "hopping mad and starving." We were able to connect once they brought him back to us; he latched onto me, and his eyes rolled backward. He hummed and cooed, all sleepy-eyed and red-faced. For the first time, our little man had NO pressure behind his eardrums!

It's the start of a new day.