Happy Halloween '13

Zuri's second Halloween was pretty fun!  After just having her tonsils and adenoids out I wasn't sure how it would go.  I was even more unsure when she woke in tears from her nap.

Luckily going to see your cousins is always fun!

She had a great time trick or treating.  She loved to go up to the doors and take the candy out of the bowl.  Pretty sure she would have taken the ENTIRE bowl of candy from people because she liked to take pieces and put them in her bag.  Zuri also loved the houses with dogs, "woof woof"!

Saying "Who-o-o Who-o-o"

She did a great job and had a lot of fun.

Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy Day 3 and 4...

Days 3 and 4 have been very similar in her recovery.  Both mornings she woke very weepy.  I went in and she was weeping and shaking.  Literally shaking.  She doesn't have a fever or anything, I think she is shaking from pain.  My assumption is based on the fact that after I get her to take some ibuprofen she stops shaking.  Both morning she wants to be held and wants to go and sit downstairs before we do anything, including changing clothes or diaper.  

Day 3 she was still weepy and clingy for most of the morning so I decided to give her a bath!  This made her much happier.

Then we went and got her medicine (just in case ibuprofen and tylenol don't work) and I got her a slushy and a shake because I wasn't sure which one she would want.  She drank some slushy and was getting tired in the car (although she woke up super late at 9am) and so we got home and I gave her 1/3 dose of her rx meds and she slept from about 1:15-5:15.  She woke sobbing.  She got a little better after she had part of her ibuprofen for the night, then she ate a bit, had another bath and back to bed.  Day 3 she probably drank about 14oz if you include a 6oz drinkable yogurt she had for breakfast.

Day 4 the morning sobbing got better after about a half hour. Then she wanted to eat.  She ate some oatmeal and drank a tiny bit.  She was in a decent mood in the morning and then I laid her down for her nap with some tylenol.  She talked for a bit then went to sleep.  She again woke up sobbing.  This time it took awhile for her to calm down and I'm glad she eventually did because we were heading to her cousins (Grey and Ashby) to go trick or treating!

She ate dinner (2 pieces of pieces), drank some water, had bites of my tortilla and then a kit kat.  She drank about 16oz today, if I were to guess.  She drank about 6 of them of milk on the way home before bed.


A paper the doctor gave us says that days 5-8 can be the toughest.  So, until we get out of the 2 week window of her being in pain I won't relax!

Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy Day 1 and 2.

Zuri is 21 months old and has officially completed her first (and hopefully last) surgery.  Our day started bright and early on Monday.  Usually when I wake her up she is a total grouch and cries.  Oddly, this time I woke her up at 5:20am and she was ok, I left her in her pajamas and changed her diaper and gave her Dora and kept things pretty calm.  I brought her out to the car and I told her we were going to the hospital to have surgery.  I have been telling her this, but I know she has no idea what I am talking about.  We got to the check in at 6:00am.  We did the normal check in procedure while Zuri was wanting to play with a wagon (note the must have's: Basketball, Dora, Dog and Donkey were in the bag, along with the video player and a few books)

After check in we headed upstairs to the waiting area.  We waited here for a bit.  Zuri and Pedro played, Zuri also got some stickers.

 At about 6:40am they sent us back to pre op.  The biggest ordeal was that Zuri didn't want to get weighed.  I think she definitely associates it with the doctors office!  She weighed in at 27.75lbs.  And measured (standing) at about 36 inches tall.  The nurse commented that she looks and seems so old for her age.  After doing those things, we needed to change Zuri into a gown.  She wasn't super happy about this, but she got it done and was fine with it.  The nurse needed to put on her hospital bracelet and Zuri didn't like this either.  The nurse put one on Dora so that Zuri might like it, but it wasn't too much of help.  The nurse was nice though and decided that taking blood pressure and other things at that time were not necessary because Zuri was pretty touchy about stuff.  She did love the hospital socks and wanted them on throughout the whole hospital stay.

Zuri then ran around playing.  She loved the wagons, big trucks and a fire truck.

After meeting with the anesthesiologist and doctor they said they were ready to go.  I dressed up in a white suite and carried Zuri to the operating room.  She was fine during the walk and was laughing and talking.  When we entered the operating room she seemed to know this wasn't right and started to cry a bit, nothing hysterical, but some crying.  I had her give me a kiss and I laid her down, I took one hand and the nurse had her other hand.  The process of putting the mask on and putting her to sleep wasn't too bad.  She went to sleep, I gave her another kiss and left the room, it was 7:45am.


I went out to the waiting room and Pedro left to get us some breakfast.  At 8:20am the doctor came out and told me that Zuri had done great.  He said her tonsils were bigger than he realized and her adenoids were blocking her whole airway.  I was happy to hear this because I was hoping she really needed the surgery.  At 8:50am we went back and Zuri was just waking up.  She needed some oxygen and laid in my arms for awhile.

She was really groggy and the nurse told me that she had just given her some morphine.  Not my first choice to give her, but I guess that is what they usually do.  Her breathing was pretty shallow and once she was awake a bit more they moved us to our room.

Up in the room we sat in a chair for a long time.  Zuri would wake briefly and cry for a second and go back to sleep.  She threw up twice, even after they had given the anti nausea medication.  She drank a bit and slept until about 11:45am.  She wouldn't let me lay her down, she wanted to be held.

When she woke up she was actually decently happy.  She talked, had two popsicles and seemed pretty good.  Pedro left to get us lunch and when he came back Zuri wanted our lunch.  I wasn't sure this was a good idea with her throat, nausea etc, but she was adamant about wanting some of our food.  So, I gave her some of the bread from my sandwich and Pedro gave her some too.  She also ate about half of a dunkin donuts muffin I had gotten her.  Then she wanted down to go get my bag of cheetos which I had hidden from her, but she is clearly too smart for that.  We got the nurse and asked to remove the IV from her foot because it made it impossible for her to walk.  She took out the fluids wire (left the IV in for later) and Zuri ran to the cheetos.  Zuri wanted to go for a walk and carry the cheetos.  We walked the halls for a long time and she ate almost the whole bag of cheetos (crunchy).  I was definitely worried it would all be coming back up.  I then gave her some water and she drank about 6oz.  We played with a wagon and in the play area with some big trucks.

People kept asking me if she was there for a sibling surgery because she was being such a good girl.

 Holding the ball and cheetos

It had been a long time since she slept, but naps at home are difficult, naps at the hospital would be impossible.  We went back to the room to try to keep her relaxed.  At around 3:00pm the nurse came in and said she didn't need the IV for fluids because she was drinking well.  The nurse told me she would be back around 4:00pm to give her some ibuprofen (I said no to narcotics unless she needed them).  4:15pm comes and no nurse.  At this time Zuri was becoming psychotic.  Not from pain I don't think, but from tiredness and hunger.  At 5:00pm, we called for the nurse to bring pain meds.  She brought them and we ordered her food (which was an ordeal because the orders in for her said liquid only and we wanted to give her something more than liquid since she had already eaten!).  I ordered a variety of things, but she liked the chicken noodle soup and a chocolate milkshake.

At about 7:00pm, I told her it was time for bed and she drank some milk and laid down in the crib and went right to sleep.  Pedro left to go home.  I went in about 10 minutes later with a nurse and she put on the pulse ox sensor on her foot, since that was the concern and a reason to be staying at the hospital was to make sure she was breathing ok.  Drugs and surgery make breathing more shallow and oxygen levels can drop.

I went to bed around 8:30pm on a tiny sofa that was not comfortable.  Luckily I am short enough that I could manage.  At 9:00pm (4 hours after medicine and vitals) a new night nurse came in.  She opened the door wide, so LOTS of light came in the room and told me that she knew Zuri was super tired from the day that she would be quick and quiet.  Yeah right.  She was not either of the two.  I tried to not let Zuri see me because I knew that would make sleep a lot more difficult.  But the nurse, besides doing vitals decided to change the foot the oxygen level sensor was on and I think she put it on too tight or something that bothered Zuri.  Then she had to give a steroid to keep swelling down, in the IV, she struggled with this and eventually I had to get up to help keep Zuri calm.  Well seeing me made matters worse because she wanted me to hold her.  I was thinking at this time that maybe she needed more pain meds (tylenol) but by the time I nurse answered my "page" Zuri was calming down and going to let me lay her down on the bed.  It was about 10:00pm before Zuri calmed down enough and started to sleep.  After the nurse switched the foot of the sensor and Zuri went to sleep the alarm for her breathing kept going off.  It was soo annoying.  Her levels would dip down and bit and then go back up.  At about 11:30pm the nurse came in and said that Zuri needed oxygen, not on her but next to her.  This helped and we slept until the nurse came in for vitals at like 12:30am!  I was thinking really?  This was 3 hours not 4!  This woke Zuri and she cried.  I didn't get up and eventually she went back to sleep, only to have the alarm go off again because the oxygen wasn't near her face because she rolled over.  UGH!  I had to keep getting up and move the oxygen to where she was sleeping so the alarms wouldn't go off and her oxygen would stay ok.  At 1:30am Zuri woke up and ripped off the sensor on her foot.  I got up to put it back on but Zuri said no, took her blanket and laid down.  I figured we would be better without it! At about 2:00am the nurse came in and put the sensor back on.  This time it seemed to be ok and not bother Zuri.  And miraculously the alarm stopped going off.  I think it wasn't on right before plus Zuri was sleeping on her face.  We slept good from 2:00am until about 4:30am when nurse came in to do vitals again (and again opens the door WIDE!).  At 7:30am the day nurse peeked in and Zuri was still asleep so she left.  She came back at 8:00am and 8:30am and since Zuri was sleeping each time she just left.  At 8:45am she came in and Zuri was laying with Dora quietly, so she took her vitals and we gave her some ibuprofen.    It was a LONG NIGHT!

The PA came in and talked to us and said that Zuri could go home (although watch the breathing) and warned me that Zuri might be in a lot more pain in the coming days.  But she was impressed that Zuri was up and drinking water and eating ice.  You could tell Zuri's throat and tongue were swollen from the surgery by the way she talked.  But she sat in bed drinking and watching a video.  When breakfast came she ate tortilla dipped in green chile, a blueberry muffin and ice.

Then I got her dressed and she wanted to ride the wagon up and down the halls, so we did this until it was time to go!

We came home and she was ok.  A little fussy here and there, but she drank some more, ate cheez itz for lunch.  I laid her down for a nap and she did the usual talking for about 1.5 hours then slept for 2.5 hours.  She ate a little for dinner, drank a little slurpee, a little water and a little milk, then went to bed.   I have given her advil and tylenol today and hoping we can manage with that.

Wish us luck in the coming days!

Nice Fall Day..

Zuri has been definitely having some nap issues.  I have no idea what is causing them, but today she spent an entire 3 hours in her crib talking, singing, laughing hysterically and jumping.  For nap time I have even removed all stuffed animals and books, still hasn't helped.


  After she spent her nap time playing, I decided that it was way to nice out to just sit at home in the evening.  I am trying to take advantage of our nice days (this evening it was 70).

So, I took out the stroller and we went for a jog.  Well I jogged and Zuri watched me while I pushed her in her stroller.  Seriously, it was funny she kept looking at me!

We got to the park and Zuri ran off and started playing.  She was having so much fun.  About 30 minutes later a neighbor and her daughter that is just a little bit older than Zuri came to the park.  Zuri quit playing and ran over to the girl, waving and chatting away.  She intimidated the other girl a bit.

Then Zuri went back to playing.

Climbing back up the slide requires intense concentration!

 Yay! She made it climbing back up the twisty slide, she was definitely proud of herself...

She figured out how to climb up on this wobbly seat they have, but she wanted to STAND on it, so she was reaching for me to help her...

When it was time to go I told Zuri that we were going to go home now and so she started her "good bye tour."  She waved at all the play structures and tables.  Then ran up to the little girl and her mom and gave them kisses and waved goodbye.  This was hilarious because she is just now getting better giving kisses to people, but has never given one to a random person, other than family.  And that includes the people at daycare that she spends time with everyday.  She was definitely in a great mood for no nap!

Then we jogged home, ate dinner and off to bed she went!

Pumpkin Farm!

Zuri is old enough now to actually have some fun at a pumpkin farm.  She doesn't like sitting still or looking at the camera so pictures are always a bit tricky!

 The pumpkin farm had lots of things going on.  Zuri loved the wild chickens and animals the most.  However, I did get her to sit on a pumpkin for about 1 second.

 Zuri is too intrigued looking at the tractor that would carry us for our "hay ride"!

Zuri being a great helper for us to get through the child's maze!

I think she was wondering why we stopped and dad was holding her!

Much better!

Then she spotted the ponies.  My child the animal lover....it was love at first sight...

We decided it was best that I took her on the ponies because of Pedro's experience with her at the carousel.  It was the right decision...she LOVED it (after I got her on the pony, she really wanted to just pet them all)!  

Everyone commented on her love for animals.  It was a difficult task getting her to leave when we were done with our ride.

Upcoming Surgery...

We have an unwanted first milestone.  Zuri is going to have a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy next Monday, October 28th.  It will be her first and hopefully last surgery she will have to experience.  How did this come about?

Zuri has been sick a lot.  The first photo is when the doctors swore she had strep and scarlet fever.  She had a very high fever and a terrible rash with ginormous gross tonsils.  The second photo was just a cold as far, as far as I know.  I don't go to the doctor unless it is really terrible.  Zuri has had at least 3 cases of tonsillitis in the last year (Oct-Oct), including one last month.  I say at least 3, because she has been sick a lot but I only bring her in when she is really bad and if it has been days without any improvement at all.

She also breathes very heavy.  She breathes almost like she has just been out for a run.  I always knew this and I thought it was odd, but figured it was just the way she breathed.  I never really thought about it.  I have had people ask me, but what could I do to help?

Well that answer came.  I brought her to an ENT (ear nose and throat doctor).  I decided to make an appointment just to have her checked out.  My PCP never even mentioned anything about going, but I started thinking that the tonsillitis, every time we have gone, we have seen a different doctor.  So, it hasn't been consistent.  Then her breathing, I never mentioned it to the doctor because I didn't think anything of it.  Besides I was usually dealing with a crying kid every time we walked into the actual room at the office so it wasn't forefront in my mind.  I decided we would at least have her checked and I was hoping that it was nothing, just a sick kid from gym daycare and a loud breather (like her dad!).

We brought her in and surprisingly got her in the room without any hysterics.  It is a pediatric ENT and they had some fun things to play with and Zuri got to work playing.  When the doctor came in he talked to me and got Zuri's history, all the while Zuri was playing.  Then he stopped and asked me if she always breathes like she was.  I told him that, yes, that was one reason I brought her in.  He said that it could be a sign of her adenoids blocking her airway.

We got her in the chair and I pinned her down and he checked her ears.  He spent more time in one ear and said that there "might be some fluid buildup in the ear."  Then he looked in her nose and said it was wide open and clear.  There was nothing blocking her nasal passage, but she wasn't breathing through her nose.  He said that the likely cause was adenoids blocking her nasal passage.  Then he checked her throat.  She isn't sick right now, but her tonsils were still large.  He said that she definitely has big tonsils and with having big tonsils and three cases of tonsillitis that have been diagnosed (probably more cases since I don't go to the doctor), he said that she would, at some point need those out.

He gave me the option of trying a steroid nasal spray to try and shrink the adenoids.  He said he wasn't too sure it would help her as much as she needed, plus it would be a short term fix, as you don't put a kid on steroids for a long time.  Then he said her tonsils with the tonsillitis and the large tonsils, plus all the sickness' she has had, he suggested that we should have them out now.  He said he could do a sleep study but he was pretty sure she had some amount of sleep apnea because of the breathing difficulty (combo of tonsils and adenoids), so he said we didn't need to do one, because she has all of the other classic symptoms.  He also was going to do a hearing test, but the audiologist was out of the office.  He said that if we do surgery that he would check her ear.  If it did have fluid (he put the chances at about 20%), they would put in ear tubes to drain it.

We choose to have the surgery done because he said it would drastically improve her quality of life. When they are young like this there are upsides and downsides.  The downside is that I won't be able to explain to her what is going to happen.  I also won't be able to negotiate with her and have her understand that if she takes the medicine after she will feel better.  The upsides are that it should improve her breathing drastically.  It should help her with her amount of times being sick.  Less sore throats.  If her hearing is being impeded by the fluid, they said it could really help her a lot with language (she knows a lot of words, just doesn't say them a lot, so I don't know if this is an issue).  They also have you stay overnight for at least one day to make sure she is drinking (and hopefully eating).  The hospital stay can last up to three days depending on how well she is doing.  The other upside is that she probably will not remember doing it and hopefully recover quicker.

 I feel really bad because she has no idea what is about to happen.  Of course I worry about anesthesia, not just because she is young, but because that always has risks.  I am selfishly worried about the amount of effort this is going to take to take care of her.  She is very stubborn and very "sensitive" to pain (teeth, sore throats etc..) and Pedro is not much help at all, especially when Zuri is upset.  Although she usually won't go to him at that point anyway...but still, it could be a difficult few weeks.

I'm hoping she is well enough after to be distracted and be able to go trick or treating with her cousins (Grey and Ashby).  But right now I have no idea.  I have a lot of things that I need to figure out by talking to the hospital.  I need to know things like, is there a crib that she will sleep in?  Is it a regular type of crib or one that she could easily fall out of?  What are the seating/sleeping arrangements for me, as I figure I will be holding her most of the time.  What kind of pajamas does she need? Will she wear pajamas?  What else should I bring for her?  I have no idea!

This has been my first real tough decision to make as a parent.  I am hoping that I am doing what is best and right for her, to help her be healthier and happier.

I am really hoping and praying for the best!