ears are so small. that’s what i’ve been thinking about today: tiny, tiny ears.
little hal’s ears, apparently, don’t work so good. i thought that his delightful and charming babble (nearly constant) and refusal to make actual words was creativity, disgust for the system, a sign of independence and precociousness. today the ENT told me that henry’s constant ear infections are affecting his hearing.
oh.
his hearing. those tiny ears and its tiny bones: the incus, malleus, and stapes, are so far out of my reach. i can’t fix ears. i can’t fix canals. i can’t fix drums and drainage and cochlea.
i’m sure this isn’t the last time i will sit in on uncomfortable chair, holding my boy who is throwing his body this way and that to get out of my arms and push buttons on complicated-looking machinery. i’m sure this isn’t the last time someone will suggest surgery. assure me that it’s minor. only barely invasive. smile under his mustache, while i clamp on my mother-instinct to keep from crying. i’m sure it isn’t the last time. but i wish that it was.
So sorry to hear that Henry’s got ear problems
I hate every doctor’s visit I take Jacob to so I can’t even imagine what that was like. Keep me posted on how he’s doing.
I can imagine that was scary for you. I just wanted to let you know that the little girl I nannied for a few years ago had the surgery done. It really was minor. She didn’t even have pain during her recovery. The only difference that was apparent was that she no longer got sick (and neither did I – we were passing it back and forth for months). It was so much better afterward. Henry will be fine – and you will be too!
Jes-I’m so sorry to hear that your little guy is having ear troubles. Ben and Noah both had chronic ear infections. We finally got tubes put in up at UH when Ben was 13 months old. He worked with both Dr. Sprecker and Dr. Arnold in Bowell and they were both super nice and all knowing. I’d highly recommend them. I was so worried about putting my little boy “under”, but it was totally no big deal. The surgery lasts 5 minutes, recovery was like a 1/2 hour and then we went home. He was walking around, albeit a little drowsy, about an hour after his surgery. He’s now 3 and still has his tubes in. The great part about the tubes is that every time he does have an ear infection (which has only been 4 or 5 times in the past 2 years) his ears drain. That means no more guessing as to whether the no sleeping at night and crankiness is an ear infection or teething. His ears just drain and we put eardrops in for 10 days. Anyway, I hope he stops getting the infections and you can find a way to be comfortable with whatever outcome you choose. Good luck and let me know if you have any questions about the doctors at UH.
So sorry to read about Henry. Poor little guy!
I know what you mean about sitting in an uncomfortable chair, I do not do well when Julia is sick. I do not like the stress and the unknown, nor do I like those chairs in the waiting room- just think of all the germs on them. I hope Henry is better soon.
there is nothing more horrifying than realizing how little control i have over protecting my children. after awhile the words just sound like ‘bla blah bla’ and i can barely see doctors through my squinty, teared up eyes. i wish i had some great, comforting words. i don’t. just hang in there and have joe give you lots of hugs.
Nothing brings out the mother bear claws as quickly as somebody telling you that you need to do something that will make your baby cry, even if it is for his good. Good luck with that! I’m sorry you have to go through this, but I hope it will make everything better!
I’m so sorry to hear about poor little Henry’s ears. That is really scary to think about surgery when he’s still so young. It must be really hard on you too always having him with ear infections. Hope everything goes well and that you’re hanging in there, we miss coming to play group!