Sebastian is my almost 5 year old and is most definitely my funny man.
While getting dressed this morning, he says, "Mama, I got a wedgie! When I get a wedgie, some of my parts hang out!"
I almost snorted my morning tea out my nose....
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Friday, June 24, 2011
Getting tonsils out
God, it's the WORST feeling, knowing your kids are in pain and not being able to do anything about it.
Our oldest son, age 6 (almost 7) had his tonsils out on Tuesday and watching him try to cope with the pain has been so difficult. I just want to take his pain and put it into myself.
We knew the whole tonsillectomy thing was coming. The poor boy had strep throat 5 times in the past year and a half, so it was not a surprise.
What made the whole process even more difficult is that our son has autism. He's smart and now very talkative (not so even a year ago!), but he still overly upset about things and can perseverate (or get stuck) on topics.
To prep him for the surgery, I took out several books from our local library on "getting your tonsils out." A few fiction and a few non-fiction books. We read them together and I know he looked through them again several times afterwards.
I went to our local Autism support group for suggestions from other parents, because I'm sure we aren't the only parents to have a child with autism go through surgery. One parents said that the hospital provided a story book with photos about the surgery center - to prepare our son, so he'd know what to expect. The hospital didn't know about the story book, but they did offer a tour of the surgery center. The night before the surgery we went to the hospital to check it out.
The tour was wonderful. The nurse met us at the door, called our son by name and took him back to the admitting area. There they had a bed with his name in tape on it, and all of the instruments the nurses would be using the next day in prep for the surgery - a stethoscope, a heart beat monitor, the hospital jammies he would wear... We even got to see the actual operating room!
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Our son was very excited about the surgery after the tour. He told everyone he saw that he was getting his tonsils out.
As his Mom, and knowing his challenges with Autism, I didn't think he would have problems getting into the surgery. I thought our challenges would come after the surgery, and I was right.
The nurse came and got us from the waiting room about 45 minutes later. My first words were, "How is he?" She smiled and said, "Well, he woke up MAD." And then I could hear him, and I knew what was happening.
A few things:
- He was mad because he thought this was going to be something fun, and it actually HURT, so it felt like a trick.
- He's aware of the IV. I mentioned this to the nurses before the surgery and they said they would wrap up the IV site on his hand in bandages to look like a mummy, but he KNEW what was going on.
So for 45 minutes, our son screamed. Non-stop. "Owchie," "I want to go home!" or "Get the tube OUT!"
The nurses smiled and said all kids wake up from anesthesia like this, but I've seen this kind of "freak out" before and it wasn't from being put under. He freaks out like this for any injection, strep throat culture test, and sometimes even getting his hair washed.
It's Autism.
He calmed down after the IV was taken out. "Despicable Me" was playing in the DVD player. Popsicles came at 5 minute intervals.
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And then we were home :)
Fast forward two days post-op. It's 10 a.m. and still in jammies on the couch watching Scooby Doo. But it's summer vacation now, so I don't care. He's been living off of grilled cheeses, french toast, bagels and water melon. And yes, popsicles.
We made it through just fine. We just needed a few more accommodations that others. And hopefully no more strep throat.
Our oldest son, age 6 (almost 7) had his tonsils out on Tuesday and watching him try to cope with the pain has been so difficult. I just want to take his pain and put it into myself.
We knew the whole tonsillectomy thing was coming. The poor boy had strep throat 5 times in the past year and a half, so it was not a surprise.
What made the whole process even more difficult is that our son has autism. He's smart and now very talkative (not so even a year ago!), but he still overly upset about things and can perseverate (or get stuck) on topics.
To prep him for the surgery, I took out several books from our local library on "getting your tonsils out." A few fiction and a few non-fiction books. We read them together and I know he looked through them again several times afterwards.
I went to our local Autism support group for suggestions from other parents, because I'm sure we aren't the only parents to have a child with autism go through surgery. One parents said that the hospital provided a story book with photos about the surgery center - to prepare our son, so he'd know what to expect. The hospital didn't know about the story book, but they did offer a tour of the surgery center. The night before the surgery we went to the hospital to check it out.
The tour was wonderful. The nurse met us at the door, called our son by name and took him back to the admitting area. There they had a bed with his name in tape on it, and all of the instruments the nurses would be using the next day in prep for the surgery - a stethoscope, a heart beat monitor, the hospital jammies he would wear... We even got to see the actual operating room!
Our son was very excited about the surgery after the tour. He told everyone he saw that he was getting his tonsils out.
As his Mom, and knowing his challenges with Autism, I didn't think he would have problems getting into the surgery. I thought our challenges would come after the surgery, and I was right.
The nurse came and got us from the waiting room about 45 minutes later. My first words were, "How is he?" She smiled and said, "Well, he woke up MAD." And then I could hear him, and I knew what was happening.
A few things:
- He was mad because he thought this was going to be something fun, and it actually HURT, so it felt like a trick.
- He's aware of the IV. I mentioned this to the nurses before the surgery and they said they would wrap up the IV site on his hand in bandages to look like a mummy, but he KNEW what was going on.
So for 45 minutes, our son screamed. Non-stop. "Owchie," "I want to go home!" or "Get the tube OUT!"
The nurses smiled and said all kids wake up from anesthesia like this, but I've seen this kind of "freak out" before and it wasn't from being put under. He freaks out like this for any injection, strep throat culture test, and sometimes even getting his hair washed.
It's Autism.
He calmed down after the IV was taken out. "Despicable Me" was playing in the DVD player. Popsicles came at 5 minute intervals.
And then we were home :)
Fast forward two days post-op. It's 10 a.m. and still in jammies on the couch watching Scooby Doo. But it's summer vacation now, so I don't care. He's been living off of grilled cheeses, french toast, bagels and water melon. And yes, popsicles.
We made it through just fine. We just needed a few more accommodations that others. And hopefully no more strep throat.
Back in the habit
Ok.
I've not been blogging in a while and need to get back in the habit. I always feel so much better when I'm able to put thoughts on screen, even if no one ever reads it. I write things down, and am somehow better able to let it go.
I've not been blogging in a while and need to get back in the habit. I always feel so much better when I'm able to put thoughts on screen, even if no one ever reads it. I write things down, and am somehow better able to let it go.
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