Olivia's Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy

up with the sun to drive to the hospital

We are so thankful for TriCare's use of civilian doctor's and their willingness to accept TriCare.  After seeing the ENT on Tuesday, she's having her surgery today, Thursday.  Getting this done now will allow for 5 days after her two week post-op appointment before we leave and a weight lifted off my shoulders.

However, being that there is no TriCare doctor's near my parents, we had to travel about an hour away to the hospital were the ENT practices surgery.  Not complaining though, just grateful we can make the drive without any trouble on such short notice.  She and I were up at the crack of dawn to make sure we had enough time in case mommy got lost (which I didn't). What helped mommy with getting up so early...COFFEE! Starbucks opens at 5am, something I didn't know til now!

 The drive was easy and the prep room already had cartoons playing...she was glued to the TV! All the nurses were great.  Showering her with stickers, being goofy to help easy her nervousness, and asking her all their administrative questions knowing she would just giggle. Spent about an hour and a half in the prep room waiting for her turn in the OR, so we entertained ourselves...

...with our new cool hats!

She truly was an angel this morning who was clueless as to what was exactly going to happen.  I purposely kept her in the dark as much as possible to keep her fears down and help her up until the very end. Told her the doctor was going to take his magic wand and say "Bibbity Bobbity Boo" and make her tonsils disappear.  The nurses told her their names and what they would be doing to help her today.  Her anesthesiologist showed her all the cool smells in chapstick form that she could have for her mask...she picked Berry!

She was so happy putting the mask on herself...until we got into the OR. The nurses asked her to climb on over onto the operating table which she did enthusiastically.  Once the nurse started to apply the stickers to monitor her vitals, her eyes indicated panic and fear.  The anesthesiologist showed her the cool lines on the monitor's screen that moved when she wiggled her fingers and that seemed to calm her for about...oh, two seconds.

Once that Berry flavored mask was applied and the gas started to flow, she freaked out.  I completely expected her to freak but she didn't freak out as much as I thought she would.  I couldn't hold her down myself, and she tried to sit up a few times, so the anesthesiologist said, "Ok, plan B."  He kept the mask on her through her screams, while two wonderful nurses held her arms and I talked to her and rubbed her forehead (while wearing my awesome hat and yellow paper robe).  After she took several deep breaths between screams, she was out cold.  I kissed her forehead and left...giggling to keep myself from crying and because she was snoring very loud and very deep, it surprised me.
 

Surgery took less than 40 minutes and the doctor said her adenoids were a bit small for the decent size of her tonsils.  I waited about an hour longer to see her up in her room.  We're staying the night.  After getting her iv's situated, she promptly fell asleep for about an hour.  Now she's pottied, had a few bites of lime jello...not her favorite, and is watch Go, Diego, Go!

UPDATE: Olivia is currently taking her afternoon nap after her pain meds kicked in.  She ate some ice cream saying she was hungry...a great sign.  Her grandparents visited and brought Dora the Explorer gifts which instantly put a smile on her face.  As long as she has pain meds in her system, I expect her recovery to go smoothly...knock on wood!

torn

I am torn about how to proceed with this blog.  Normally, I post more detailed info about our adventures than I post on Facebook but always feel I HAVE to post something here instead of WANTING to post here.  Reading other friends blogs, I'm so drawn into their adventure by the great writing, awesome pictures, and format.  Then I feel I can't measure up to the same great standards and I feel my blog falls short.

SO, I'm asking for your help.  Just a little feed back to let me know how I'm doing entertaining you.  If my posts are too long and detailed, tell me.  If my posts lack enough pictures, tell me.  Any feedback would be appreciated because I only want to entertain my friends about our family adventures! You can message me on Facebook or post something here, your choice!

Thank You So Much

Surprise Visit

Ryan came up for a surprised weekend visit! I knew about it but the kids were in the dark. He walked in and their faces lite up and they had the biggest smiles! It was well worth everything to see him, even if it was just for the weekend.

 Kids wasted no time roping Daddy into playing with them...like it really took twisting his arm to get him to play! They colored...

They read story's outside in a very tiny tent...

 Rode rides at the Mall of America...

 Then, just before Ryan had to leave, we drove to the U of MN campus and stopped at the ROTC Armory.  We, well mostly me, finds it very cool we can take our kids back to the place Mommy and Daddy met before Olivia was even a twinkle in our eyes.  The campus looks older, with taller trees and a few new buildings.

 Many wonderful memories about our time there together were thought about today.  It was great!

 Then it was time to say 'See-You-Later."  Olivia really misses Daddy.

As do Justin and I.  It was truly a blessing to see Ryan, even for a short time.  The kids needed to have him hug them, kiss them and read them stories.  Everyone really enjoyed themselves and it is less than a month, Ryan will be back and we'll hang out a bit before taking our time driving down to VA.  Olivia is very excited to go to our new house in VA!

A Pirates Life For Me!!

Princess SweetPea and Queen Mommy

Memorial Day Weekend Fun

Ryan receiving his latest medal

I was extremely lucky to be able to visit Ryan in Oklahoma for Memorial Day weekend.  His parents kept both kids for almost 6 days so we could spend some one on one time together.  We splurged and got a killer deal for the Skirvin Hilton Hotel in downtown OKC.  It was the Skirvin Hotel back in the 1930s and 1940s, with very detail woodwork in the lobby.  Classic architecture has stood the test of time and the hotel stands out beautifully against the stark modern buildings nearby.  I was also lucky to witness Ryan getting his latest medal.  Can't remember what it was for but he definitely deserved it! Ironically, all the guys receiving the metal are married and I'm the only wife that could show up, the one who lives out of town (but I also didn't have any kids to tote around either).

After the award ceremony, we headed up to OKC and took an unexpected nap before heading out to Mantel's in Bricktown.  It was by far our priciest meal but worth every penny.  Ryan's pork, seasoned potatoes and asparagus melted in our mouths.  We could taste the smokey bacon in my tortellini and ate every bite.  Yes, we crazy love birds fed each other our meals and it was wonderful! Then we strolled around Bricktown before making a stop in Bass Pro Shop! Awesome store even if you don't purchase anything!

We met up with great friends on Friday, the Thomas Family and the Ritchey Family.  Both were traveling up to Tulsa for the weekend and stopped in to say hi in the city. The Thomas family met us at Toby Keith's Bar and Grill, allowing us to check off another eatery off our list.  It was great to see them and their wonderful daughter's one last time. FYI: the restaurant offers a one time deal to military members with an ID for a free meal...cheeseburger, fries and a pop!

After lunch with the Thomas Family, we walked all the way over to the OKC Bombing Memorial.  It is by far the best memorial outside of Washington D.C. I have ever seen.  The reflecting pool is flanked by two huge iron gates marked with 9:01 and 9:03, forever indicating the time when the city was changed forever, 9:02am on April 19, 1995.  I was in 5th grade, living in TX at the time, and remember seeing the destroyed building on the news.  Not quite understanding the full magnitude of the event when it happened, it is wonderful to come and walk through such a beautiful memorial.  The chairs behind us in the above picture represent every person who died in the bombing.  There are nine rows for the nine different floors of the building and behind the chairs, the wall is actually the back of the first floor of the building. You can see the destruction on the concreat even after all these years.

Friday night we met the Ritchey Family for dinner at the Bricktown Brewery.  Again, it was great to see such awesome friends before leaving the area for good.  Then we headed to the ball park to take in the Big 12 College Baseball tournament.  Oklahoma University played Kansas State University and even though they lost the game was great.  The ump made horrible calls against us (OU) and it was fun booing the ump and cheering on our team!!

GO OU!!

Friday was by far our busiest day.  Saturday we headed down to Lawton to hang out with the Ross Family and BBQ.  It was great just to relax and hold their new baby girl (who's 4 months old but still a snuggler).  I even made homemade chocolate covered strawberry's, something I will be doing again in the near future.

Sunday we did absolutely nothing.  The wind was kicking up all weekend and walking around downtown and Bricktown became quite difficult. We were literally getting blown over!  After lunch we headed to the Myraid Gardens, which was a bit of a disappointment due to the fact they just finished construction and everything was still growing.  Not many blooming flowers, and we weren't about to pay $6/person to walk through the Crystal Bridge containing flora from around the world.  It would be our luck to see a tree or bush from Thailand or Japan, places Ryan got to see for free! Between naps, we even saw the finish to the Indy 500. We both feel bad for the Rookie who almost won!!

I left on the first flight Monday morning and dreaded leaving Ryan back in OK but knew my babies needed me.  Olivia met me at the airport which was a complete and awesome surprise.  I enjoyed my time with Ryan, a much needed vacation, but missed my kids more than I thought.  It was great to have them back in my arms!

Found this at 5:30am.  Put money in and the gate opens!