OK. Where to begin. The end of July Meredith was having increasing problems swallowing, breathing, and snoring at night due to her very enlarged tonsils. Plus she just wasn't herself. So I called her ENT first thing Monday morning insisting that they need to come out...NOW! (her appt. was set for Aug. 26th). Monday afternoon the office called me and got her scheduled for surgery Tuesday morning (July 29th). So, we were in Cranbrook brigh and early, check in the hospital and all was well. THEN it all started to fall apart. I was reading in the waiting room when one of the unit clerks came and got me and said that I was to go to the recovery room now. She had no idea why. When I got in there I was told that A. she had a very large pus filled abcess on the back of her tonsils and that in the dr.s 5000 plus cases this was the first time he had been surprised by an abcess like that and was very happy that we got them out when we did; and B. her blood pressure got dangerously high during the surgery. She came out of anesthesia with a smile and a severe headache (if any of you know blood pressure numbers and what they mean...it was 188/127 at its highest). They did blood tests and an ECG right away in addition to giving her some medicine to bring her pressure down. Her labwork and the ECG were all fine. After about an hour her pressure started coming down and staying down. Believe me...she was the center of attention during the whole day in recovery. Her one doctor did call a doctor at Alberta Children's Hospital as to what else we needed to do...and of course the answer was 'watch and see'. So instead of coming home that afternoon like we had planned, we ended up staying the night in the hospital. Now, I have to say that she was a real trooper through all of this...of course, with a smile; and won the hearts of all the doctors and nurses in there. Now...that's our Meredith. So she's back to her ole chipper self...giggling and wondering when we can start scheduling playdates. So now we just need to check her blood pressure regularly (it's been really good now) and she has to go to the ER for IV antibiotics for 2 days. We still may need for her follow up with the pediatrician in Trail but other than that it's still....watch and see. OH! I do also have to say....she's hardly complained of pain at all, too. What a girl!! What about the other kids? Well, we have this awesome friend...as the kids call her...SuperBetty. She watched them all day yesterday and during the day today. Shawn had them last night. They were all worried about our dear Meredith and are very happy she's home.UPDATE: It's been 2 weeks since her surgery and she is definitely back to her old Meredith self. Her blood pressure has still been high for a 6 year old but will be following up with Dr. Fitzsimmons a pediatrician from Nelson sometime in September. Will let all know more when the time comes. OH! The above picture was taken while she was in the hospital....note the orange around the mouth...that came from the 4 orange popsicles she ate when she finally got out of the recovery room (plus the 2 cups of green jello).
