Miraculous, really

The placement of Jeric’s ear tubes on Friday went very well. Because of his young age, he was first on the schedule for the day (Friday is kids’ day, and they do the littlest ones first). We arrived at about 6:40, registered and waited a little while, and they took him back at about 7:20. They called about 5 minutes later and said it was done! We waited for the ENT and spoke with him about it briefly, and about 15-20 minutes after they let us know he was done, he was awake and we went back to recovery to be with him. He was not a happy baby! I sat down and rocked him and nursed him for a while and then he wanted Daddy, then he wanted me and to nurse more, then he wanted Daddy, and back and forth. Poor thing was so disoriented.

After discussing what we needed to know about caring for Jeric’s ears with tubes, we left for home at about 8. I gave Jeric some children’s Motrin and we all went straight back to bed. We slept about 3 hours. Jeric woke up in a good mood and stayed that way! After a while he pointed to his ears and said “ow,” so I gave him some more Motrin and that was the last he needed of it.

When we took Jeric to the doctor 2 weeks ago, he said that both ears were infected but the left was worse. On the day of the tube placement, the opposite was apparently true — the doctor said Jeric’s right ear was really bad. He said the two ears had probably been going back and forth like that for months and that for all that time, Jeric had probably been hearing like he was under water or like everyone was talking into their hands.

Within half a day of the tubes being put in, Jeric was pronouncing words he had already known much more clearly. He said several new words that day, and has continued that pattern in the three days since. He wasn’t behind verbally for his age, but apparently he was quite a bit behind where he could have been, because his speech has just exploded! He was always one to jabber about things that caught his interest, and  it was clear that he was trying to say something and we just didn’t understand, but he didn’t do a lot of repeating words after I said them. It seemed to take him a while to be able to say a new word. Now, he follows me around repeating everything I say.

He is a happier little boy. From the first ear infection, he hadn’t been the same — I’m sure some of it is because he’s getting older and testing boundaries and all that — but the last few days he has been more like he was before, just older and more capable. He hasn’t pitched as many fits, he has been more patient, he doesn’t squeal as much. It’s amazing. He has also started sleeping through the night again instead of waking up in pain at 2 or 3 am.

I am so thrilled with the results of this procedure already! I was nervous, but it has been really good for my boy. We have a follow-up appointment in a month.

Other good news: he doesn’t have to wear ear plugs — no restrictions on bathing, swimming, or showering!