Turbi-what??? surgery

A week ago Jackson and I headed over to his ENT for his surgery. Even driving over there, a part of me still wondered if we were making the right decision. Because honestly, how do you know? We got there in enough time to run by Target, which always helps! Armed with a new sticker book in hand, we headed to the surgery center. We got there and didn't have to wait too long until they took us back to the pre-op area. There, we had to wait a bit as things were running behind. Jackson went with it all and was ok. He talked with Dr. P and gave a wave to the anesthesiologist. Luckily, the nurse didn't push the "putting in an IV issue." The difference with the surgery center and the Children's Hospital is that they don't just do kids as well...but they did ok for the most part. Jackson walked back with them when it was time for surgery and I got to wait in the place you talk with the doctor.

Surgery lasted about 45 minutes, which was the expected time. Dr. P came out and said Jackson did well. His turbinates were extremely large and gross. His left maxillary sinus was also filled with a whole lot of sticky mucus (I guess the alternative would be runny mucus?), and his right side had some. Dr. P cleaned them out, opened both sides up more and took cultures. He said we should have results back in a week. But he also said because he's on antibiotics, that could also affect the cultures. Which we knew going into it, but unfortunately there was no other way to get him into the OR. 

As I was sitting there waiting for the nurses to come get me, I hear them telling someone "no spitting." Then, "Jackson, no spitting." If I was the nurse, I would have gotten mom at that point. But no, it took a good 10 minutes before someone came to get me. When they did, Jackson's gown was off because he had spit blood all over the one he had one. A nurse had gone to change because she also got blood on her clothes. Jackson had a nurse up by his head, two on one side and one on the other. Rewind a minute and remember I had told the nurse and anesthesiologist that Jackson wakes up agitated. Very. At the Children's Hospital, they listen and give him something so wake up is smoother. Here, didn't happen. Jackson wanted to blow his nose because he lots of blood going down his throat. Since they wouldn't let him blow his nose, he was spitting. It made perfect sense to him in his not fully awake at all state. He was also crying and melting down a lot. After talking with him for a few minutes, he started insisting that he needed to talk with Dr. P in between his cries and screams. His nurse was done changing and came in to ask me if they could give him something. I told his nurse that they usually give him something to help take the edge off before he wakes up. So she gave him a little Demerol and within a short amount of time he had calmed down significantly. They did bring in his doctor, and he and Jackson had a good conversation about what he could and couldn't do. At one point, I had to turn my head to laugh because Jackson wanted me to blow his nose (not just hold the kleenex, but blow the whole thing) because he didn't know how "gently" he was supposed to do it.

Once he calmed down, besides being insistent that we keep the throw up bag so that his doctor could see how much blood he was spitting up, he was ready to go. He watched the whole time they pulled out the IV, and was insistent that we take a picture to show dad when it bled. 

They got him all unhooked and into the wheelchair and I went to get the car. In the car, Jackson just wanted my phone. We made a stop at Target to fill his pain med and then headed home. Thankfully Target was fast on the fill. We had time to grab a box of kleeex, some jello for Jackson and a snack for me.

He finally fell asleep on the way home, and kept his bag right under his mouth the whole way.

As we pulled in, he looked at me and asked me if we were going to Target. I told him we already were there and asked him if he remembered and he told me, "no, not really." He didn't have much of an appetite that night, which is completely to be expected. But he was a trooper and did really well!

Jackson slept all night and laid low pretty much the majority of the weekend. He had Monday off also, which was good, as he had one extra day to rest if he needed it.

So where are we now, a week later? Jackson had two REALLY good days. In fact, we were talking last night and he told me they were "they best two days of his life" because he didn't hurt. He didn't have pressure. He didn't feel yucky or have a fever. Two days. Then it started up again. And we're back where we started. Yes, his sinuses are open and his turbinates are smaller. But he's back to intermittent fevers and pressure. But he was on antibiotics through the surgery. Hopefully I get a call back tomorrow from the ENT with any cultures that grew. Keeping my fingers crossed for many more "best two days ever."

Universal Backlot and beyond

We got to see some cool facades that they film at. It's amazing how much it takes to put it all together.  During one of the stops, Jackson was insistent that he get a picture with Doug, the coolest guide around. 

Jackson and Addison haven't seen "Back to the Future" yet, but we stopped at the Court House with the clock tower. That was cool. Addie was getting a bit tired as she had twisted her knee while running around on a play structure right after lunch. So the resting on the tour was good. She also needed a snack, but you'd think I was offering her liver an onions.

They took us into the prop rental building. We were looking for the props being saved for "NCIS-LA" and found a few.

The end of the tour was more of a ride as we drove through the cars used in "Fast and Furious" and "Jurassic Park."

We got to watch them simulate a flood.

At the end of the day, Addie and I broke off from the group and went back to Olivanders so she could choose a wand...excuse me, so a wand could choose her. The boys met up with us at a restaurant nearby. We had one meltdown at dinner, but were able to work through it.

After dinner, the kids donned their cloaks and pulled out their wand to do magic along Hogsmead. 

Our night ended with the Simpsons ride one last time and we trucked it back to the hotel. We had such a great day celebrating Jackson's 11th birthday. He declared it the BEST BIRTHDAY EVER and has since told us he wants to do that every year.

Universal VIP's

Birthday parties are a big thing around here. So this year, when Dave tossed out first to me that maybe we try something different, I was all for it. All I told him was that he would have to convince the kids. I don't remember the exact conversation, but Jackson opened it up somehow and Dave stepped right in. It didn't take long before Jackson was onboard with visiting Universal Studios as a family instead of the iconic "Nerf War" birthday party. 

We planned to go the weekend right after Jackson's birthday. Mind you, we canceled skiing the weekend before because Addison had a nasty cough and Jackson wasn't feeling great. Then, he ended up being sick the entire week and out of school. As we got closer to the weekend, we knew there was no way we could postpone. Jackson would have been devastated. So we went. We left Friday right after Addie was out of school. It was pouring, which made for a tad longer drive, but everyone did well. You could feel the excitement. 

Saturday we had breakfast at the hotel and headed over to Universal. Dave had a surprise for Jackson. He had booked a VIP tour, which basically got us to the front of the lines. (Never having really done an amusement park with them, and knowing Jackson, this was a good idea to make sure that they both really had a good time...plus, Dave isn't a fan of crowds!).

With Doug as our guide, we headed off to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I would love to go back. I could just spend all day there. We went on the rides, but there are a ton of smallish type shops here. It's just magic. (This is where being on a "tour" gets in the way). 

One of the cool "experiences" they have is Olivanders Wand Shop. Jackson got picked (perk of the tour) to be the one who gets to be fitted for a wand. As Olivander said, "the wand picks the wizard." Jackson did so well and loved it. He participated, didn't get flustered when everyone chuckled as his wand choices blew things up. It was awesome! This was one of my favorite parts of the day.

"The Wand Chooses the Wizard!!!"

After Olivanders it was ride after ride until lunch. Both kids were troopers. Addie decided the first roller coaster she didn't want to ride so we waited for the others. (She changed her mind later in the day and ended up loving every ride we went on, including the one she initially didn't go on).

We wore our ponchos proudly as we waited in line for Jurassic Park. I don't know what it is about riding a ride and ending in a splash of water (especially when it is cold out), but this was definitely a kid favorite.

One thing that's different about Universal, is that the majority of their rides are actually motion simulator rides. I was glad I had brought the motion sickness wrist bands. They made a huge difference!!

We saw a pretty cool animal show that showcased some of the animal actors that we see in the movies today. My favorite animal there was the owl. Wow!

There were quite a few 3-D rides, which both kiddos loved and Dave and I held on to our stomach contents. It's funny doing these things as a grown up, they definitely aren't the same as they were when we were kids. 

You can see me in his glasses.

The rest of the family! :)

Planning for these kinds of days is hard too trying to make sure that we have GF food Jackson will eat and at the same time, "gluten" food Addie will eat. As a part of the experience, they had a buffet set up for lunch. It was delicious. Jackson's favorite part was the crab legs, and Addie loved the crepes with nutella. The chef even spelled her name. 

During lunch, they got to meet Count Dracula. Luckily, he wasn't there to suck their blood. 

After lunch, we got to go on the backlot tour, which Dave and I found very interesting. It was a little long for the kiddos, but they enjoyed pieces I think.