ENT twice

On Monday we headed to Tamworth about 120kms from home for ENT surgery for both Owen and Cy both got Ear Tubes (grommetts) and Cy also had his adenoids out. It is always so hard handing your child over for surgery and even worse having to do it for 2 children on the same day.

Owen went in first and did so well in his recovery. His ear canals are so tiny that the surgeon traumatised them putting the tubes in, so his left ear had quite a bit of blood coming out of it. He had lots of glue in both ears and infection which needs ear drops for the next 5 days - and to say putting the ear drops in is traumatic is an understatement - the Hulk returns !

But to top it off I get a phone call today saying that a swab taken at the time of surgery shows 3 different types of bacteria (we aren't that grotty are we???) and he needs an Uber strength antibiotic to knock them off, seems my boy has been putting up with a chronic sinus infection. Don't know how I am going to get an antibiotic into him - he HATES any kind of liquid medication and I have to hold him down just to give him paracetamol, Cy on the other hand is no problem with medicines which is lucky because his recovery was exhausting, painful and upsetting. My middle boy is so sensitive and once the drugs from the op wore off - it was on ! He bellowed and screamed and coughed and cried, till I ended up yelling at him, I was terrified that he was going to start haemorraging.

Finally and although we were advised that paracetamol would be enough for pain relief I sent Col out to get something stronger - 30 minutes after taking it Cy was sitting up in bed watching Iceage and giggling away at Sid - quite stoned but whatever ! Crisis averted. We stayed overnight in Tamworth in case of bleeding - so we stayed in a hotel it was a rough night between worrying about the bleeding from Owens ear and worrying Cy might start bleeding and trying to keep the pain medication up to him so that he (we) got some rest. In the morning it seemed everything had settled and we drove home Monday afternoon, exhausted.

Things are settled now -3 days after the surgery and I can tell already that Cy and Owen are hearing better but Cy still sounds like a cigar smoking Tweety Bird.

Next on the list of appointments is a review of the boys orthotics and Cys night splint - a 5.5 hour drive to Brisbane for that one - in 10 days time.

In the meantime there is painting to be done and train lines to build .........

Power Play

It seems like every. single. thing. is a power struggle with O right now. He wants to do so many things for himself and growls and swipes at me if I try to help him.

Most of these power struggles have to do with things that are not negotiable like for instance brushing his teeth. Usually I would take turns with him brushing -my turn to brush properly and then his turn -munching the toothbrush. Lately its become a wrestling match complete with growling and writhing, with my legs wrapped over his legs to hold him still, .... think WWF on the floor of our bathroom. Its all such a put on, because as soon as I am done with doing it properly and offer the brush for his turn he stops instantly, snatches the toothbrush and goes over to the shower screen where he can see his reflection to laugh at himself while munching the toothbrush, while I collapse in exhaustion from wrestling his 14 kg Hulk (Hogan) body, seriously this kid is uber strong. So, with teeth done its onto brushing his hair and getting clothes on, all with variations of the brushing teeth performance.

Hulk, lucky I love you and sometimes you are gentle and thoughtful, like when....you stack blocks !?

Just cause

Cause its my birthdaycooked up a batch of Deadly Choc Cupcakes with cream (of course)

SO GOOD