Torgesen Family Times


{We are trying to enjoy and record the moments that make life special}
Related Posts with Thumbnails

Ear tubes are out!

The ear tubes are out. 

 

 

Remember putting them in? 

 

Well, they were irritating her ears.   After being in for almost 2 years and they were ready (they were supposed to fall out on their own!).  She got an ear infection where blood was coming out of her ears instead of puss.  Although, this is a bit shocking, it’s not as horrible as it sounds.  She wasn’t complaining about her ears hurting, or even feverish, just saying that her ears were popping.  When we were coming over the mountains in August, at the top she was crying a bit.  Which is weird, since ear tubes are supposed to prevent that, unless they aren’t working properly…

 

duh duh duhhhhhhh

 

Ding ding ding!

 

So, with the first round of antibotics down, which actually cleared it up nicely from the outside, a few days later ---- blood in her ears again…

 

I wasn’t going to the pediatricians again…  They would just refer me back to ENT or give her another antibiotic.  So, I called ENT myself and with the symptoms, they had us come in within a few days. 

 

The diagnosis:  They were irritating her ears and needed to come out.  The left one was plugged, which was why her ears weren’t clearing over the mountains. 

 

Unfortunately, the ENT doc put “easier to fall out tubes” than Alex’s, which were easily removed in clinic with tiny little tweezers and some serious bribing to stay still.  Sara’s were supposed to fall out within a year or so, but since they hadn’t and were a different shape and material, they would rip her eardrum if he pulled them out.  So, going under anesthesia was the only way.  Seriously?

 

Well,  Children’s is the BEST!  We got a fast appointment right in Bellevue.  We had been to the Bellevue clinic before, but had always had the surgeries to place the tubes in Seattle.  The quickest surgery was in Bellevue, so we were lucky.  It’s a new facility and designed so smart for the little ones. 

 

First, the elevator is always the coolest part.  We had packed her a backpack with all sorts of distractions and toys (new).  She was so excited to find out what was in there.   Since it’s surgery, you have to have no food past a certain time, and for Alex (who’s HUNGRY in the morning) this was challenging.  But, for Sara, it wasn’t too bad.  She doesn’t seem like a wake up and eat as fast as she can kind of gal.  Not a problem at all, but the distractions are nice. 

 

IMG_8110-small

 

 

But, the waiting room was so cool – that we didn’t really need it!  Painting!!!!  One of Sara’s favorite things.  She painted many rainbows and had so much fun and this was just the waiting room.  They really think of the kids here. 

 

IMG_8115-small

 

IMG_8118-small

 

Then we got called back to her pre-op room.  In Seattle, it was a room where they prepped her, but then would take your child from you to go to the OR.  Or, if you’re me – they you beg/borrow/steal and swear you’ll be OK – and beg them to let you gown up and carry your child back to the OR so they won’t be so scared.  I did this with both kids and it was great.

 

But, this was EVEN BETTER!  The room where she would be put to sleep was right there!  They had the moving Brave going, very kid friendly, and we did all the pre-op in this room.  There was a bed there and we would be able to stay right there with her. 

 

I must say this was genius!!!!

 

She peacefully went to sleep to the sleeping gas they gave her – flavored with strawberry scent.  Her favorite fruit.  We held her hand and she was so peaceful.  They took her to the OR on the bed and we were escorted to another room to wait the 10-15 minutes.

 

At Seattle, there was a recovery room where we couldn’t go.  So, not only do you not be there when your kid goes to sleep (although I did and was so glad I did), but you are definitely not there when they wake up.  Even though I tried to beg/borrow/steal my way in.  Promising that I wont’ touch or do anything that they didn’t want me to.

 

At Bellevue Children’s, they wheel her back into the room with her still asleep  - genius!!!!!!

 

 

 

IMG_8120-small

 

 

 

 

She stayed asleep for ~5 minutes more, and the nurse assured us she was good.  The longer it took her to wake up, the better.  She was getting all the sleepy meds out of her system.

 

Then, with one big breath – she was up and awake.  She sat up groggily and I was able to be right there. 

 

IMG_8124-small

 

 

We snuggled for a bit, with a precautionary barf thingie. 

 

IMG_8127-small

 

 

But, she knew what she was after.  The nurse didn’t even have time to start naming the colors before she answered “green” to the question of what popsicle color she wanted.  She scarfed it down. 

 

The ENT doctor came in to let us know how it went.  He said that the ear drums had grown behind the ear tubes, so that was what it was causing the problems.  He said removal was easy and she was good to go.  We will be back in ~ 2 months to check to make sure the hole has closed and everything looks normal. 

 

 

IMG_8130-small

 

Then, I also brought some muffins and other things to eat and she ate those too, with some help from Dad who was “starving” since he hadn’t ate since 7:30 am. 

IMG_8134-small

 

IMG_8136-small

 

 

 

She was quickly back to our normal “Brave” girl.  It’s funny that the movie Brave was showing in the first room, because I had bought her a Brave barbie with red hair and all.  It was one of her “new” toys that day. 

 

IMG_8137-small

 

 

IMG_8138-small

 

We went home and Lance went back to work.  Sara and I watched movies, played with stickers and snuggled.  I tried to get her to nap (I was tired) but with no luck. 

 

Overall – it was a great experience.  I’m glad those ear tubes are out, we loved them while they were in and working – but hasta la vista baby – when they are not. 

First day of school pictures

 

 

As with tradition, I took beginning of the year pictures.

 

Alex is in 1st grade this year.  He was so sad last year when he didn’t loose a tooth, like most of his classmates.  This year he has 2 loose teeth!  The bottom two middle teeth are loose and the dentist predicted there would be at least one out by Halloween.  He still loves math, and although he doesn’t really know it yet, he’s doing “times” or multiplication.  It’s really crazy how easy math comes to him.  He can READ!  Last year his big thing was to learn how to read.  This year, he was reading something to me and read the word “remembering”.  That is one tough word to read!  He has a new love again - legos.  We even signed him up for an afterschool Lego group.  He still loves Superheros – Superman being the favorite.  His favorite color is purple this year – a complete change from either blue or red.  He explains it that red and blue make purple and more than just girls can like purple.  Alex has many friends, my extroverted boy.  I love watching him play with his friends.  He loves the 49ers, just like Dad.  In fact, every football game they watch, he asks his Dad which team he wants to win and Lance says it, then Alex says that is the team he wants to win too. 

 

Sara is in “big kid” Preschool this year.  My baby girl is in PRESCHOOL!  This year her classroom is working on saying “Yes” instead of “yeah”.  It’s so fun to hear her say “yes” very politely and carefully.  She’s been saying a lot of Yes’s lately!  She has the cutest lisp with her “S” sounds.  So, “Sara” sounds like “Thera”.  Sara is all about being a big kid.  If it’s “big kid” she wants to do it, unless of course, she doesn’t.  Then she doesn’t care about being a big kid.  Ahh – being a preschooler.  She can spell her name - s.a.r.a.  She is learning to count and recognize letters. Her favorite color is green – and often that is how decisions are made for her.  She is starting to really sing the preschool songs that she’s learning and I love hearing her sing.  She has lots of friends at school, but she has certain best friends who she loves most. She loves the Seahawks, just like mom.  Loves bubble baths and toe nail polish.  In fact, she loves painting each of her toenails a different color – rainbow toenails she calls them.  She has just started to learn how to draw stick people, I absolutely must get a picture and post it.  It’s amazing!  Her drawings have really taken a turn lately, she used to do a very simple coloring that was very “Sara”.  Now there are all sorts of shapes and different things she draws.  She has learned to ride her balance bike all by herself. 

 

This year is truly going to be amazing!

 

 

First day of preschool and 1st grade (1)-small

 

First day of preschool and 1st grade (5)-small

 

First day of preschool and 1st grade (7)-small

Sara Pee Wee soccer and my coaching debut

IMG_8166-small

 

I had my coaching debut this last weekend – a newly minted coach of Pee Wee soccer (3 & 4 year olds).  We have done this same program with Alex for 3 years and had a lot of fun.   Finally, it was Sara’s time to try out soccer and I thought – I can coach!  They are always looking for someone to volunteer and I can do this!

 

Well, I must say – it was fun! 

 

There are 10 kids on my team, which is challenging (it would be great if this was like 5-6 kids).  But, let’s be real here for a second – it’s not really soccer – it’s more like an introduction to soccer and it’s kind of similar to herding cats at that age. 

 

It was funny – someone was saying to me that they couldn’t coach since they never played soccer – and I blew their mind since I said that I’ve never played soccer either!  It doesn’t matter!  But, at this point its not really about soccer (see above).  It’s really about separating from your parents at this age, and playing something new, and starting to be social among the 3-4 year old crowd.  It’s also a bit about the beginners guide to an organized game.  I had kids that were the full spectrum – one kid who never even detached from his parents the entire time, one kid who already knew how to basically play and score, get the ball from other players, and everything in between.  I even have a set of brothers who wrestle the whole time!  Not joking!   

 

It was a ton of work, but a lot of fun.  And the best part was watching Sara play with a BIG smile on her face! 

 

Sara’s favorite is that our shirts are her favorite color – green!  And our team name is the Giraffes.  Sara got to kick the ball and made a goal.  And after a big day of playing soccer for the first time – we ate lunch, played a bit, watched a cartoon – and she was lights out for about an hour (a rarity these days) on the couch. 

 

 

IMG_8162-small

 

IMG_8167-small

 

IMG_8169-small

 

IMG_8172-small

 

IMG_8174-small

 

IMG_8178-small

Seahawks vs 49ers

 

 

One of the biggest games of the season and it’s a contentious one here in the Torgesen household.

 

IMG_8210-small

Dentist


The kids love their dentist!!!  

And we found out that Alex should be losing some teeth soon!!!  Happy boy!!!