Maddie has been having strep throat issues since she started kindergarten. She would get it, take her meds, and then get it again a few days later. We became worried and saw a specialist. He said he thinks it's a good idea to go ahead and get them taken out. We scheduled all of the necessary things and had a date. Unfortunately, the hospital that her doctor performed at couldn't handle her pacemaker. That meant we would have to find a new doctor to do the surgery. We went through the process again, but this time the doctor said that he wouldn't perform it unless she had it a certain number of times within two years or unless she had sleep apnea. We scheduled the sleep apnea test to be done last year around Christmas. It make came to say that she has mild sleep apnea. She had just crossed the border. He left the decision up to us and said that a lot of kids grow out of both. We didn't want to put Maddie through a surgery if there was a chance she may grow out of it on her own. We decided to wait.
First grade started and she was doing well. No strep throat since the time before her sleep test. Things were looking up.
I got a phone call one day from the school nurse informing me that her throat was red but there weren't white marks (yet). I knew right then and there she would come home and have strep. Sure enough, she came home and had white spots. We took her to get checked out and came home with medicine. Her tonsils are enlarged to begin with. When you add strep to it, you can barely see down her throat.
That night she woke us up about 4 hours later and she could hardly breathe. Her chest was fully expanded and she was only able to get little breathes in. I immediately took her to the bathroom and threw my shower on the hottest it would go and closed the door. Jeff called 911 while I was trying to get her to focus on her breathing and not flip out. She told me she couldn't breathe and her forehead hurt. The paramedics came and gave her oxygen and brought her in.
After a few tests, it turned out her tonsils were so incredibly enlarged that it was blocking her airway.
The next day, I called her doctor to get an appt set to schedule surgery. I would not let her go through that again. That was one of the most terrifying moments of my life. We saw her doctor and he agreed it was time to do it. We set the date, but it was still weeks away.
The big day had arrived. Maddie was nervous and scared. She didn't want to be away from her brother or elves.
We have been doing the whole elf on the shelf thing with her. She has two elves that come and visit. Christopher and Christina left her a little message of encouragement in hopes of getting her through it.
It says" it's okay to be scared. Being scared means you're about to do something really, really brave. Good luck".
Later on that day, she asked me if I thought she was brave for going through with her surgery. After I told her how incredibly brave she was, she told me that the quote on the mirror is what helped her be brave!!!! Score one for Mom... I mean the elves!
Her surgery is at 1, so we don't have to be there until 11. We get Jackson dropped off at a friends house and make our way up. We check in and wait to be called. She walks in so strong and determined looking. You would never know she was about to get surgery.
We get checked in and go in the back getting measurements and sign more papers. She's told there is a playroom she's more than welcome to play in until they are ready for her.
That room was amazing. They had so many different things for her to do in there. They had homemade dolls and gowns available and markers to draw on their faces. She was drawn to it.
She didn't like that you couldn't see the pretty blonde hair she colored on, so she switched to brown.
A few minutes later, a lady came in and started talking to her. She introduced herself and her puppet- Sammy.
Sammy was getting ready to go through the same procedure as Maddie and Sammy wanted to know what steps there would be to the surgery.
Maddie got to play the doctor in his case and walked through each of the different steps. The Lasy explained each step and what every little thing was. She answers any questions Maddie had.
She was able to hear his heart beat.
She checked his blood pressure.
She, also, got to see the mask that he would be wearing to make him sleepy and how it all worked. She got to pick out a scent of Chapstick that they would put in her mask to make the air smell better.
She screamed in his ear to make sure he was fully out.
Maddie took the medical tweezers and took out his tonsils for him.
There's one of his tonsils. After that, she saw how he acted once he woke up and said goodbye to Sammy.
I have to say that the idea behind that was genius. She was nervous that a needle would be in her throat and this helped show her exactly what will be done. She seemed more relaxed. I can't say enough praises about this hospital.
After Sammy left, we took Uno back to her room and played with dad until it was time to go back for her surgery.
One of us was allowed to go back with her and hold her hand until she was asleep. Since I was staying the night with her, Jeff went back. I'm not sure I could do it without being nervous.
Jeff said that when she got back there, they told her they would help her move beds. She hopped on the other bed and was waiting for them. He said she didn't show one ounce of fear back there. She was talking and answering jokes while the meds kicked in. The doctor told her a joke, but she fell asleep before she could answer.
The procedure wasn't long itself. About 45 minutes was all it took. Jeff and I grabbed lunch while we waited because we were both starving. When she opened her eyes, we were able to go back and stay with her.
When we walked in and she hesrd our voices, she turned her face around, got big eyes, smiled, and then fell back asleep. She did that quite a few times.
It was really funny because for DAYS before this she couldn't wait for jello. She was so excited for it. The nurse started telling us what options of cold things she had and when she said jello, Maddie whipped her head around, got big eyes and a huge smile and said did you say jello?? Said she wanted some and fell back asleep. We explained the story and when we said jello, she did it again. Jeff spelled it out the next time and she still whipped her head around. Haha. It was so funny to see.
She was such a trooper. She enjoyed a nice orange Popsicle and drank some apple juice. Then she had two jellos and another Popsicle. She said her throat didn't really hurt.
She was able to get up and walk by herself. She was able to get to the bathroom by herself, as well.
After eating, we were able to move to a more quiet room because we were supposed to stay the night. However, her doctor said that if everything looks good, then she may be able to go home that night.
Until then, Jeff and Maddie took turns playing Minion Rush, having a brain freeze race, and goofing off together.
After dinner, the doctor came by and said she looked perfect. Her vitals were great. She was happy, eating and drinking. He let us go home!!
She wasn't happy at first with having to ride in the wheel chair. After a few minutes, she thought it was cool.
We picked up Jackson, stopped at the store so I could pick up pain meds for her, and went home. I gave her a dose of meds and sent her to bed.
She said her tummy hurt and that her throat hurt a little bit when we tucked her in. We got her settled in and off she went to dream land.
She did wake up and asked for medicine in the middle of the night.
She woke up this morning not feeling great. Her throat has been really bothering her today. We had to persuade her to drink and eat. Jeff even offered to do another brain freeze game in order to get her to drink. Luckily, she loves the game and wanted to beat him. Jackson even participated. 
We knew that yesterday was not the norm, but it hurts my heart to see her in pain. Hopefully, she can continue to do better as the days go on.
Nothing could have gone better yesterday. It went so smooth and stress free. I, somehow, remained so calm the entire day. Jeff was even surprised at how well I did. Jackson did amazing at my friends house. If you know him, you know he doesn't like anyone to hold him outside of the family. He did surprisingly amazing with her and even cracked a few smiles. He got in the car and passed right out.
I still sit here amazed at how everything worked out. How I have two amazing kids and one wonderful husband who will do anything to make my kids smile and feel better.
Thanks for reading the post!
Until next time... Have fun, be safe, and enjoy life!
Lori
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