The Pennington's

This little girl .............

is awesome!! {if I do say so myself}

We went to see Dr. Canonico on Friday for a 1 month re-check and to have Anna Claire's hearing tested. The hearing test was first and Anna Claire did not pass all of the tests due to having fluid in her ears. I knew before they told me that she didn't pass all of them because she seemed to be having a hard time hearing in her left ear during the tests. I was in the sound booth with Anna Claire and could sometimes hear the beep myself and she didn't. {Kerry says that I don't have the average persons hearing. LOL!!} Dr. Canonico said that she did have a double ear infection and he was concerned that she still had the same stuffiness that she had a month ago. I explained that she had only been off of antibiotics for about 7 days before we saw him on Friday due to an upper respiratory infection. I could see his displeasure with that information. He said in her case if she were his daughter he would go with the tubes. He said he felt like it would help clear up the sinus mess that she can't seem to get rid of. So, Tuesday morning we had to be at Dr Canonico's office at 7:30am to have tubes put in Anna Claire's ears.

I have heard mixed reviews on tubes and on Dr. Canonico and his staff. Needless to say we {Kerry and I} were very nervous. I was afraid I had made the wrong decision. What if something went wrong? What is she doesn't wake up from the anesthesia? I had all of these doubts and Kerry just didn't want to talk about it at all. In Church Sunday, as I stood there with tears in my eyes, I tried to give what I could over to God. Monday afternoon I gave the rest over to my Church family. Monday night I explained to Anna Claire what was going to happen and asked her not to be afraid. I promised her that Daddy and I would be there after she took her nap at the Dr's office. Tuesday morning I woke up with a whole new attitude and outlook on the procedure. Deep down there was still that worry, but it was NOTHING like I had been feeling the 3 1/2 days before. I got up Tuesday morning and got ready. I packed some crayons, coloring book, Anna Claire's DVD player, a Minnie Mouse DVD, and Pups. We couldn't go without Pups. I woke Anna Claire up while her Daddy showered and got her dressed. We arrived at the office about 7:20am. There was already one family in the waiting room and 5 other families had already been taking back. Anna Claire colored while we waited.

At about 8:15am we were called to the back. The regular rooms were full, so we were in a room with just curtains as privacy. Anna Claire got her gown on and all the necessary information was given. I started her DVD player and the 3 of us sat on the bed and watched Minnie Mouse. I heard just about every child that woke up from the anesthesia. They would wake up SCREAMING!! The Nurse came in their a few times to check on us to make sure the screaming children were not freaking Anna Claire out. Thankfully the DVD player occupied her and she never heard them. At about 9:00am Dr. Canonico, Dr. Collins, and 2 Nurses came in to our "room". The Nurses were talking to Kerry and I, while the Dr's talked to Anna Claire. The next thing I know, I hear Dr. Canonico say "love you Mom and Dad" and off he went with Anna Claire. No tears at all.

While Anna Claire was gone, we were moved to a private room. They brought in a rocking chair for me, so that I could rock Anna Claire when she came back. The Nurse warned us that Anna Claire may come back very mad and screaming or she may come back asleep. After about 20 minutes Dr. Canonico came in to the room holding my sleeping Anna Claire. They handed her to me, put a blanket on her, and put the heart monitor on her index finger. Dr. Canonico said everything went well and that he got a lot of fluid off of her ears and he cleaned out quiet a bit of mucus from her sinuses. The Nurse then warns us that more than likely Anna Claire is going to wake up mad at the world, very confused, and disoriented. She said that most children will get very upset when they see her because she wears the same blue scrubs as the Dr's do. Anna Claire's heart rate start to rise and she said that was a sign that Anna Claire was waking up. We went over the paperwork and she told me to go ahead and try to wake her up. Anna Claire woke up like a champ!! She was as happy as could be and never even acknowledged that anything had happened. At 9:35am we were in the car going home.

She pulled at her ears a few times after she woke up, but hasn't mentioned anything about her ears since then. She cried a little last night when I put the ear drops in her right ear and then a little this morning when I put them in her left ear, but she hasn't fought me yet.

The Dr's and Nurses were amazing and I am so grateful everything went as smoothly as it did yesterday.

Giving all my worries and fears over to God and my Church Family Sunday and Monday was the smartest thing I have done in a while. They raised her up, he wrapped his arms around her, and I am grateful.