We made it...or, We are in the process of making it

Brice had his tonsils and adenoids out this morning. He was so excited. I really had him pumped up about it. He woke up and said, "this is the best day of my life!" (see? intense, emotional). The nurses were super sweet to him and gave him a teddy bear and a doodle pro, which he happily accepted. He was sitting up in his bed, wearing the surgical shower cap, hands to the sky yelling "abracadabra!!" when the automatic doors opened up to take him into the surgical unit.

Fast Forward 45 minutes to the recovery room. He was screaming and sobbing in bed, barely coherent as the effects of the anesthesia wore off. I hugged him and held him and he ate popsicles while the nurse continued pushing pain meds through his IV. By the time we left, he was okay. I thought maybe we'd be that lucky case where the pain isn't too bad and the kid bounces back quickly (right, Ellen??).

It seems that will not be us. He went into hysterics when I told him he had to take some medicine. He managed to get the antibiotics down, and even the Tylenol with codeine. However, when we went to pick up Harry, things quickly went downhill. We had to pull over on the side of the road while Brice threw up and SCREAMED, his feet wet with puke, mixed with dirt (I took him barefoot, thinking he wouldn't have to get out of the car). A cop stopped to help us. Thankfully, it appeared he had a weak stomach. He gave us some napkins (clearly leftovers from a lunch run) and some wet wipes and just stood by us and waited till we were back in the car to take off. Which was a good thing, since Harry was bouncing around in the backseat with no carseat or booster (Seth forgot to leave it with Ellen, woops).

The night was no better. Worse, actually. Nobody really slept for more than a few hours. Harry, who loves nothing more than eating and sleeping, even woke up at 4:30am. Today has been slightly better. We figured out ways to give him medicine that doesn't require big gulps. Now he's sleeping. Thank you, Jesus.

So sue me...

Is it so wrong i'm giddy with excitement about Brice's upcoming surgery? Like SO EXCITED. On Wednesday morning he is having his tonsils and adenoids removed to relieve him of sleep apnea. For years, YEARS, Seth and I have been trying to work with Brice. Help him manage his moods, express his feeling, deal with his anger, learn self-control. He's been an extraordinarily difficult child. Lovely in so very many ways. Brilliant. Intense. Emotional. But always so very very tired.

We've read every single parenting book out there (I might exaggerate a teensy bit). I'm afraid to show you our bookshelves--your spirited child, your defiant child, your strong-willed child, your explosive child. These books are dog-eared, highlighted, underlined. We've gone to counseling. I've gone to counseling. I have prayed and prayed and prayed. And talked and talked and talked. And googled and googled, etc. Then, as a last ditch effort (if you read my blog, which you obviously do), we took him to an ENT which led to a sleep study, which is why we find ourselves 36 hours aways from the surgery that will allow to him to sleep. Really sleep. Like, all night--with no waking. Deep REM sleep. Maybe he'll hit 9 hours or 11. Heck, 12!!!

We are hopeful that this will help Brice better cope with life. Who can deal with the difficulties of daily life on so little sleep? Not me, at least not on a regular basis. Certainly no 5 year old. I am looking forward to those ever-present dark circles under his eyes disappearing for good--to seeing him rested and refreshed and able to deal with, and actually enjoy, his life.

Fingers crossed that life is about to get very sweet for a very sweet little boy.