All is well

Thanks again to everyone who sent their thoughts and prayers in for my little boy.

Ryan is resting well on the couch here at home. He’s still sleeping most of the time, but that’s to be expected.  He was a good little trooper most of the time, except for that interlude in the car on the way where he threw a tantrum.  Actually, he was cycle-kicking the back of my seat while I was driving — felt like Michael Flatley was back there.

A little background: there was no immediate infection or medical emergency that made this surgery required today. However, there were several indicators that made it a good idea.

• 70% of his airway was blocked by his tonsils
• about the same percentage of the nasal passage blocked by the adenoids
• Ryan was having difficulty swallowing
• also trouble with extraneous drooling
• slight effect on his speech
• genetic predisposition to sinus/tonsil trouble (I am the only one in my family to still have my tonsils – and I just narrowly avoided surgery myself.)

What we didn’t know until afterward was the blockage in his ears.  Apparently, there was a rather large, hardened buildup of earwax in both canals.  The doc cleaned both out, and told us there was enough there to have a minor impact on his hearing.  He added that Ryan’s speech ought to improve now that he will more clearly distinguish between certain sounds.

Laura is staying with her grandparents for the next couple of days, so Ryan will have his Mommy’s full attention (and Daddy when he is home.)  We’re keeping him off ice cream and all milk-based products for the next 24 hours, just in case he does get a little nauseous.

Since there was no immediate infection, they were able to do a newer procedure that removes about 95% of the tonsil/adenoid tissue, leaving just a little bit behind.  When it can be done, this technique cuts the recovery time significantly.  If there are no complications, Ryan should be up and around full strength within 7-10 days, and running again shortly after that.

And maybe – just maybe – he’ll hear his Daddy calling for him just a little better.