Surgery

So. . . . This post is destined to be filled with LOTS of news. First off, Hannah had her ENT appointment today and it was decided that her tonsils and adenoids have to go or her apnea will most likely get worse as she (and the tonsils and adenoids) continues to grow. She'll also have tubes put in her ears to keep the fluid draining from her Eustachian tubes so that the hearing loss she's currently experiencing won't be permanent. I have to call tomorrow to schedule the appointment with the surgeon, but it will likely happen soon-most likely within a week or so. Because she's so young, the surgery won't be done outpatient like it usually is. They'll do it at the hospital and she'll be admitted for at least 24 hours after to be sure she's ok, drinking well, and staying hydrated. Do I sound calm, matter of fact, even happy to hopefully be getting my little girl some relief? I hope so. I'm trying very hard to be. BUT I'm not. I'm not in the least. I'm freaking out. The thought of my little girl having surgery, any surgery no matter how "minor" scares the begeezes out of me. Please send some prayers our way that we stay calm, Hannah stays calm, and that everything goes smoothly both during and after the surgery. I'll be sure to keep you all posted on when it's scheduled for and how she does.

Now, just in case that isn't stressful enough, here's the rest of our big news. We're moving. Not just moving like across town or even across the state, we're moving across the country-from Indiana to Rhode Island! I've been sitting on this news for about a month now, but have been unable to make it public because of Kyle's current (soon to be former once Friday rolls around) job situation. Being in limbo for so long has been stressful and now with the surgery it just got more stressful because they want Kyle to start on March 2nd, but we still have to put our house on the market, take a house hunting trip to Rhode Island, secure temporary housing, pack and move, Kyle needs to defend his Master's thesis, and allow Hannah at least 10 days to recover from her surgery! That is A LOT to do in 2 weeks. So, since we just found out about the surgery Kyle is going to attempt to negotiate a later start date citing extenuating and unforeseeable circumstances. Please pray that the new company will be reasonable and allow us the time that we need so that I do not have to stay behind alone to help Hannah recover and that Hannah will be recovered well enough to perform normally at her psychologist evaluation on March 5th.

While we feel that this move will generally be a positive thing for Hannah as far as the resources that will be available to her there, I am definitely concerned about how the actual moving and adjustment will play out. She's already on edge from our schedules being disrupted, our house being in disarray, and her sensory playroom dismantled. Two months in temporary housing might not be fun for any of us if we don't find access to things to keep her sensory diet in tact while the weather remains cold. I'm not sure a corporate housing company would be keen on us hanging a swing from the ceiling of their furnished apartment or bolting a hammock into the walls! Right now I'm praying we find somewhere with an indoor pool. It may be wishful thinking, but that would certainly make things much easier. Leaving the support network we've built up here will be hard on us all. Besides family, there are only two couples we have ever trusted to watch Hannah and who know how to handle a meltdown, we adore her therapist and don't relish the thought of having to find a replacement as great as she is, finding kids (and their parents) who will immediately "get" Hannah and her quirks and love her just the same just won't happen-it'll take time and for that I'm sad for Hannah. She doesn't make friends easily so for her to lose (at least for regular play dates) the only two she really has is heartbreaking to me. Though intellectually she knows that we are moving and is totally pumped about it, I'm positive she doesn't get just how far away Rhode Island is and that Evelyn or Addie won't be just stopping by to play anymore. :(

PS. Speaking of friends, Hannah recently hosted a "slumber party" for her best friend for 4 days and I got some great pictures. If these aren't the picture of happiness then I don't know what is. We've had a long road to get to this point, but we made it with two little ones so I know she can do it again. It'll just take time. Now, it's not all roses, shortly after both of these photos the happy moment was spoiled by Evelyn pushing the personal space issue just a tad too far and Hannah hauling off and hitting her, but those happy moments DID happen. That's a testament to the hard work both of these little ones have put in and all that they have weathered to make their friendship work.

PPS. Doesn't everyone have an old mattress in their living room for their kids to jump on? Don't even pretend you weren't thinking it! If you've ever spent a considerable amount of time with a sensory seeking kid with SPD then you'd understand.