The Merrick Family has grown: Update on little Ben

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Update on little Ben

Our little Ben is doing so well and recovered nice & quick after his tube surgery last Thursday. We heard it was quick, but were in awe of how quick it actually went. Ben and I left at 5:30 Thursday morning for the surgery center, Sean came later once our sitter got to the house. They got us registered and back to our room around 6:00. Ben was jumping around, giggling, smiling, and flirting with all the nurses. I think many were surprised he was suffering from chronic ear infection by his happy demeanor. Ben fell asleep around 6:40 and Anesthesia took him back during his sleep around 7:10 a.m. Doctor was done and out to see us by 7:17 a.m and Ben was back with us around 7:25. We had a bottle warmed and ready for him as soon as he came back to us. He fussed a little on and off for 15 minutes or so and we were on our way home at 7:55. The hardest part for mom and dad was handing our sleeping baby off to anesthesia and hearing him cry as they carried him out to us from surgery. I felt a million times better once I had him in my arms to snuggle and feed him. Doctor shared that his ears were still infected, which was bittersweet...poor Ben still had an ear infection while on his 4th antibiotic, but yet it reassured us we made the right decision to fix little Ben's ears.
We told Luke Wednesday night before we put him to bed that we would be gone when he woke up in the morning because we were taking Ben to fix his ears. He said, "Doctor Joe fix Benny ears." We told him it was Doctor Joe's friend, and said "Ok, fix Benny ears." Miss Judi took Luke out that morning to the gym and museum to keep him busy because we weren't sure how Ben would be that morning. Little did we know...Ben was full of giggles and smiles the second we stepped foot in the door a little after 8. He took a quick cat nap, back up for more playtime, then conked out for a long 2 1/2 hour nap! He was a trooper and has been a happy camper! He is really expressing his vocal chords more and more these days. Sunday while in church he was showing us and the rest of the congregation how high he could scream! It was a little embarassing, but also a little cute because he was having so much fun jabbering, screaming, and girgling bubbles. We are happy to have the procedure behind us and glad to have our little boy feeling better.
Thank you to our family & friends for the many calls & texts of concern the morning of Ben's surgery, and for checking in on our little guy. Ben is a special little boy, Bop & Nannie sent a little care package (& treat for Luke), Uncle Mitch stopped by to see the boys later that day and dropped off a gift for Ben, and we were blessed with two delicious meals from dear friends. It was nice not to have to worry about "what's for dinner", so we really appreciated the kind gesture!

Ben getting ready for his surgery

All smiles at 6 a.m...Ben really has been a happy baby considering he has had an ear infection for a couple of months. We hope that with this procedure it provides him so much more comfort on a daily basis.