I've been prolonging this entry because I don't want to relive the experience. However, I'm taking a deep breath and going to do a little at a time.
Rebekah has had huge tonsils for years now. I noticed their increase in size right after she had pneumonia (I think at 3). He doctor said to keep a watch on them but some kids just have huge tonsils and it's okay. She even sent us to an ENT who charged us an incredible amount of money to inform us that yes, Rebekah does have large tonsils and to keep a watch on them but some kids just have huge tonsils and it's okay.
Skip ahead a few months to Rebekah being not herself and I finally break down and take her to the doctor to find out she has strep. There was an entire summer where this happened over and over. I would look at her tonsils and they looked huge and red. But they always looked huge and red. I couldn't see the pattern.
Apparently there's a big check list one has to go through before one's tonsils are removed. Strep 7 times in one year, trouble swallowing, or sleep apnea.
She would snore some at night when she slept and she woke up a lot at night. The doctor suggested I get Rebekah in for a sleep study but we have such a problem sleeping and Rebekah is so full of anxiety as it is, I didn't want to go through the stress of a sleep study. Add to that the fact that she really only has full on major sleep apnea when she is sick and what's the chances of getting the study done when she is sick? I just didn't feel comfortable with the sleep study idea.
Right before we moved we had a well visit for Rebekah and came out with strep medicine. Seriously!? I had no clue!
Then we move. It was late in December and I had that concern that Rebekah had strep again, however now her doctor is over an hour away. It takes months to get into a doctor for the first time so I take Rebekah to Don's clinic through his work. The doctor took one look at her tonsils and said they should come out. I give our current tonsil history to this doctor and even mention our frustrating visit with an ENT. He said we should see an ENT he would refer. I suggested I didn't want to be charged an exceeding amount of money to hear they are large and it's okay, but we made the appointment anyway.
At this time I knew that nothing the ENT would tell me would be good. Either they are large and okay and we continue to deal with strep and sleep apnea issues or they want to do surgery which is scary as well.
Turns out the doctor suggested surgery. I was not a fan of the man: he sent in another doctor (not an ENT) who made the diagnosis. Then the doctor came in and said he would do the surgery. I practically had to force him to look at her tonsils. And even then he only said, yes they are big....
After much praying and weighing consequences, and learning that Don and both his kids had to have them out, assuming that Rebekah would eventually have to do the surgery eventually, and remembering a 17 year old from our old ward who had her tonsils out and the horrible experience she had, add to that everyone says its an easier surgery when they are young.... about a month later we walk into the surgery center.
Both Don and Rebekah look like they are handling it well but they are both extremely nervous.
The surgery itself went pretty fast. I snuggled her pre operation and post. She seemed to be in a lot of pain after surgery but the nurse said it's typical for kids to break down when they see the mom. They offered her juice and a popsicle. Rebekah asked for a red one. I've been warned no red things because they are going to throw up and you don't want it looking like possible bleeding. But red it was.
We were finally released to go home and on the way Rebekah threw up in the car. I was semi prepared, but man! Poor little girl.
We got her home, changed clothes and put her to bed. She slept a little but basically refused because the last time she fell asleep she woke up in pain.
At this point the nights were horrible. She would wake up just enough to kick and scream and convulse but not enough to be rational. I could barely calm her.
We spent the days doing crafts and even got a few gifts. This one was from nana - my mom. It's a little bunny holding a carrot.
Some pictures below of the crafts we did. Rebekah hung them up right after we made them and I was not allowed to move them.
Kayla sent her fuzzy pictures to color.
Grammy and Rebekah painted a tea set. Apparently it was poor quality. Lesson learned: when buying paint crafts, don't go for inexpensive.
But they turned out okay. And it was fun for Rebekah to do. Grammy, however got frustrated with the poor quality. Rebekah gave me one to paint and I totally felt grammy's pain. It was not easy to get a good result.
Daddy came home and we had a tea party.
Best air tea ever....
Another craft - a glitter stick page. Rebekah had a great time with this one.
They turned out pretty nice. Melissa and Doug brand has great quality stuff.
One of the things mom gave her for Easter was a little container to plant and grow grass. Once I realized the estimated growth time was the same as Rebekah's estimated feel better time, we planted it and I told Rebekah when it started to grow she would feel better. One day I caught her singing to it. She said she was feeling not so good and she knew that sometimes singing to plants helps them to grow.
During the healing process also designed a princess car that she and her daddy would build together.
Eventually she was feeling well enough to go out for walks. I thought we were in the clear.
Little did I know....
